BizBash
  • Production & Strategy
  • Catering & Design
  • Event Tech & Virtual
  • Venues & Destinations
  • Meetings & Trade Shows
  • Sports
  • Advertise
  • Events
Topics
  • Production & Strategy
  • Catering & Design
  • Event Tech & Virtual
  • Venues & Destinations
  • Meetings & Trade Shows
  • Sports
  • Advertise
  • Events
  • Industry Buzz
  • BizBash Lists
Resources
  • On-Demand
  • White Papers & E-Books
  • Podcast
  • Magazine
  • Events
  • Awards
  • Subscribe
User Tools
Follow BizBash
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconFacebook iconTwitter X icon Pinterest iconYouTube iconTikTok
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Get Featured
  • Press Releases
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Subscribe to Magazine
Follow BizBash
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconFacebook iconTwitter X icon Pinterest iconYouTube iconTikTok
  • Production & Strategy
  • Catering & Design
  • Event Tech & Virtual
  • Venues & Destinations
  • Meetings & Trade Shows
  • Sports
  • Advertise
  • Events
  • On-Demand
  • White Papers & E-Books
  • Podcast
  • Magazine
  • Events
  • Awards
  • Subscribe
  1. Venues & Destinations
  2. United States
  3. New York

13 Weird Installations and Interactive Games at the Maker Faire

Techies, science hobbyists, and kids gathered to check out robot boxing matches, 3-D printers, and Coke Zero fountains at the World Maker Faire New York.

Chad Kaydo
September 27, 2013

About 75,000 people turned out for the Maker Faire at the New York Hall of Science in Queens this past weekend for a two-day festival of tech exhibits, hands-on installations, robot boxing matches, and lots and lots of 3-D printing demonstrations. Maker Faire is put on by Make magazine, and it's the best place to sample what the magazine calls "the Maker Movement": a tech-focused D.I.Y. community of hobbyists and students who profess to be more concerned with creating than consuming.

The festival also enticed brands including Microsoft and Google, but their activations and demonstrations were more down-and-dirty than what they do at, say, C.E.S. or other tech industry shows. One of the highlights of the festival was a performance of choreographed fountains made from Mentos dropped into Coke Zero bottles. (The eruptions made when the two ingredients combine has been a YouTube phenomenon for years.)

With so many hands-on exhibits and installations—many of them geared more toward children than in years past, some people complained to The New York Times—Maker Faire had lots of ideas that could be tweaked for other kinds of events. Here's a look at some of the interactive activities on display.

One of the largest installations was a life-size version of the board game Mouse Trap.
One of the largest installations was a life-size version of the board game Mouse Trap.
Photo: Carolyn Curtis/BizBash
One of the highlights of the festival was a performance of choreographed fountains made from Mentos dropped into Coke Zero bottles.
One of the highlights of the festival was a performance of choreographed fountains made from Mentos dropped into Coke Zero bottles.
Photo: Becca Henry
A life-size version of the puzzle game app Flow Free let people walk on a game board of tiles that lit up in reaction to their steps.
A life-size version of the puzzle game app Flow Free let people walk on a game board of tiles that lit up in reaction to their steps.
Photo: Carolyn Curtis/BizBash
College student Jonas Lobo showed a giant interactive origami sculpture made from a single sheet of paper, which an electronic arm lifted and dropped to show it open and collapse.
College student Jonas Lobo showed a giant interactive origami sculpture made from a single sheet of paper, which an electronic arm lifted and dropped to show it open and collapse.
Photo: Carolyn Curtis/BizBash
In the New York Hall of Science's DesignLab area, kids could make inflatable sculptures with plastic bags.
In the New York Hall of Science's DesignLab area, kids could make inflatable sculptures with plastic bags.
Photo: Carolyn Curtis/BizBash
A Ford activation tent gave away speakers made from refurbished walkie-talkies.
A Ford activation tent gave away speakers made from refurbished walkie-talkies.
Photo: Carolyn Curtis/BizBash
An interactive installation let people slap the ends of tubes cut to different lengths to make different musical notes.
An interactive installation let people slap the ends of tubes cut to different lengths to make different musical notes.
Photo: Carolyn Curtis/BizBash
The Austin Bike Zoo brought its butterfly bikes from Texas.
The Austin Bike Zoo brought its butterfly bikes from Texas.
Photo: Carolyn Curtis/BizBash
A robot offered free hugs.
A robot offered free hugs.
Photo: Carolyn Curtis/BizBash
When someone sent a text message to the phone number listed on the exhibit by Joe Szuecs, different bells played for different letters in the message.
When someone sent a text message to the phone number listed on the exhibit by Joe Szuecs, different bells played for different letters in the message.
Photo: Carolyn Curtis/BizBash
A public art project by Kim Holleman called 'Trailer Park: a Mobile Public Park' had trees and benches inside a metal trailer.
A public art project by Kim Holleman called "Trailer Park: a Mobile Public Park" had trees and benches inside a metal trailer.
Photo: Carolyn Curtis/BizBash
One tent held a boxing match with remote-controlled robots.
One tent held a boxing match with remote-controlled robots.
Photo: Carolyn Curtis/BizBash
The New York University Interactive Telecommunications Program staged a competition for kids where two mechanical arms wrestled using power generated by the kids' physical activities.
The New York University Interactive Telecommunications Program staged a competition for kids where two mechanical arms wrestled using power generated by the kids' physical activities.
Photo: Carolyn Curtis/BizBash
Latest in New York
Sales 202502 2339203 Media Campaign X Thumb 700x467 Fnl
Industry Insiders
Everything You Need to Wow, All in One
Unveiled at The William Vale
New York
19 New Venues in New York for Spring 2025 Meetings and Events
Le Bar Penelope
New York
10 New Venues in New York for Fall 2024 Meetings and Events
Convene at 101 Park Avenue
New York
14 New Venues in New York for Summer 2024 Meetings and Events
Related Stories
Shed in Healdsburg, California
Social Events
The Creator of Maker Faire Shares Her Favorite Places
A scavenger hunt team participates in a special challenge.
New York
Watson Adventures Outdoor Scavenger Hunts
One Atlantic Catering's new fall menu features hors d'oeuvres such as bite-size gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, mini eggplant Parmesan bites on a spoon (pictured), and a dessert dish inspired by the classic combination of coffee and doughnuts. Located on the top floor of the Pier Shops at Caesars, the company can cater on-site events of as many as 425 people in one of four event spaces. Off-premise catering is also available.
New York
3 Ideas for Fall Entertaining in Atlantic City
Istock 000021951532small
New York
BizBash C.E.O. David Adler: Why New York Needs a Mayor That Understands Events
More in New York
Sponsored
Everything You Need to Wow, All in One
Meetings that hit big—made simple.
Sales 202502 2339203 Media Campaign X Thumb 700x467 Fnl
New York
19 New Venues in New York for Spring 2025 Meetings and Events
Take a peek at these buzzworthy restaurants, hotels, meeting and event spaces, and more recently opened in New York.
Unveiled at The William Vale
New York
10 New Venues in New York for Fall 2024 Meetings and Events
Take a peek at these buzzworthy restaurants, hotels, meeting and event spaces, and more recently opened in New York.
Le Bar Penelope
New York
14 New Venues in New York for Summer 2024 Meetings and Events
Take a peek at these buzzworthy restaurants, hotels, meeting and event spaces, and more recently opened in New York.
Convene at 101 Park Avenue
Sponsored
Picture-Perfect Venues for Your Midtown Manhattan Events
Newly renovated and expanded Convene venues can host events of all sizes.
A look at the newly refreshed Convene 117 West 46th Street
New York
12 New Venues in New York for Spring 2024 Meetings and Events
Take a peek at these buzzworthy restaurants, hotels, meeting and event spaces, and more recently opened in New York.
The Ranch at Hudson Valley
Most Popular
Event Production & Fabrication
5 Tips for Producing Events in Real-World Locations
Meetings
See How Fast Company Combined a Business Summit with a Black-Tie Gala
Strategy
How U.S. Event Planners Can Navigate Global Attendance Challenges
Meetings
How The Wall Street Journal Designed Its Future of Everything Event Around a B2B Crowd
Sports
Why Golf Is Suddenly the Coolest Brand Platform Around
Experiential Marketing, Activations & Sponsorships
Gov Ball 2025: 25+ Eye-Catching Brand Activations From the NYC Music Festival
New York
12 New Venues in New York for Fall 2023 Meetings and Events
Take an inside look at these trending restaurants, resorts, meeting and event spaces, and more recently opened in New York.
Maxwell
Sponsored
Venue of the Future: Only at Cipriani 25 Broadway
25 Broadway: Where every event is an unforgettable experience.
An example of the magic at Cipriani 25 Broadway
New York
11 New Venues in New York for Summer 2023 Meetings and Events
Take an inside look at these trending restaurants, resorts, meeting and event spaces, and more recently opened in New York.
Moxy Williamsburg
Sponsored
Top 5 Most Iconic Events at the Manhattan Center
The Manhattan Center’s versatility allows clients to transform the spaces into whatever they envision. Here are five of the most iconic events that have been hosted at the venue.
2022 Red Bull BC One Finals, produced by Listen Entertainment.
New York
17 New Venues in New York for Spring 2023 Meetings and Events
Take an inside look at these trending restaurants, resorts, meeting and event spaces, and more recently opened in New York.
The Highlight Room at Moxy Lower East Side
Sponsored
Book Your Next Event at UBS Arena at Belmont Park
Located in the heart of Metro NY, UBS Arena at Belmont Park is primed for exceptional events.
Nyi17518 Cs16610 Copy
Page 1 of 333
Next Page
BizBash
Follow BizBash
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconFacebook iconTwitter X icon Pinterest iconYouTube iconTikTok
  1. Privacy Policy
  2. CCPA: Do Not Sell My Personal Info
  3. Contact Us
  4. Site Map
© 2025 Connect Biz, LLC. All rights reserved.