NH Maker Fest
It's a rain or shine event!
Saturday, June 1, 10am-3pm
Inside CMNH, outside in the park, and on the stage!
Join us at the 11th annual New Hampshire Maker Fest, an all ages celebration of creativity and innovation taking place in and around the Children's Museum of New Hampshire in downtown Dover. From engineers to artists, to scientists, to chefs, the NH Maker Fest is a day for these "Makers" to show hobbies, experiments, projects, and for all of us to discover something new! It's a family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity and resourcefulness.
The Fest takes place inside the Children's Museum of NH and outside in the park and even on the stage.
Because we need to make room for all the Makers, some of the museum exhibits won't be accessible as usual. This is not a normal day of play at the museum, which is why you can't reserve tickets for normal play sessions. The Fest is family friendly, and admission is a suggested $5/person donation. You can reserve tickets here online, or donate when you arrive. We thank our generous sponsors for helping us keep this an "entry by donation" event.
Question: "So if I want to come play in the museum, I can't on this day?"
Answer: If you are looking to access ALL of our exhibits, then today isn't the best day to visit. However, some exhibits where we don't have Makers set up will be accessible. Some of these exhibits may include: Primary Place, Pattern Palace, and Cave Explorers on the 2nd floor of the museum.
Question: "I'm a Museum (or ACM/ASTC) Member. Can I visit the Fest for free?"
Answer: It's up to you! Entry into the Fest is by a suggested $5 for everyone, so it's totally up to you.
2023 NH Maker Fest Tickets >>
FEST SCHEDULE
Makers will be set-up in booths inside and outside the museum and you can visit them throughout the day at your leisure. Some Makers are performing on the stage at certain times, and a few workshops have specific times. See below for details:
CMNH Family Friendly Workshops outside in the park (under CMNH Tent)
10:30am-Noon: Maker Your Own Recycled Racers
Noon-1pm: Button Making
1-2:30pm: Egg drop Contraption Building Challenge (Watch your contraptions being launched from the museum's roof at 2:45pm!)
Family Friendly Performances on the Stage
10:30am: McDonough-Grimes student dancers
11am: Southern New Hampshire Ukulele Group
12:30pm: Rube Goldberg Expert
2pm: Singer/Songwriter and former American Idol Contestant Harrison Goodell
Egg Drop Launch off CMNH Roof
2:45-3pm: Gather just outside museum entrance to watch!
Trebuchet Demonstrations
Noon & 3pm: Watch dueling trebuchets launch ice balls into the Cochecho River down in the lower park near the river's fence.
The 2023 Call for Makers is now closed.
Makers, check out the 2023 Maker Manual which has all the details you need for the day!
Questions? Reach out to nhmakerfest@childrens-museum.org
I loved the diversity in the exhibits and the ability for my son to create things and bring them home. He absolutely loved the robots (that's something you don't see everyday) and being able to use his hands to make something grown-ups make.
2023 Participating Makers
Former American Idol Contestant Singer/Songwriter
Harrison Goodell from Dover, NH
Local singer/songwriter Harrison Goodell will perform some of his lyrically driven Folk-Pop music at this year’s Fest. He strives to relay relatability through his honest and introspective telling of growing up, learning to love, and the struggles which come with it. Harrison recently had the opportunity to be a part of the 21st season of American Idol on ABC, where he made it as a contestant to Hollywood Week. Learn more about Harrison here >>
Rube Goldberg Machine Expert
Zach Umperovitch from Merrimack, NH
Zach Umperovitch is a Rube Goldberg Machine expert but also so much more! He is the co-Host & creator of the Discovery Channel's "Contraption Masters", Guinness World Records breaker for the largest chain reactions ever built, owner and creative lead of ZynnLabs - an inventing collaborative comprised of the worlds top kinetic artists, engineers, and designers who combine art with technology to create video and film production projects that promote interaction, inspiration, and amazement, just to name a few! Hear him speak and present about some amazing contraptions! Learn more about Zach here >>
Acton Academy Seacoast’s Children’s Business Fair
Local students
The Chidlren’s Museum of New Hampshire’s next door neighbors happen to be some talented young inventors and entrepreneurs from Acton Academy Seacoast, and this year they’ve combined the NH Maker Fest with their Business Fair! Come support these hard working kids who will be selling products and services, ranging from food, to crafts, to face painting and maybe even a dunk booth! Learn more about Acton Academy Seacoast here >>
Kid Conservationist
Jack Dalton from Manchester, NH
Jack Dalton is a 12-year-old Animal Activist, Author, Public Speaker, and Educational YouTuber! He will be at this year's Fest selling his book Kawan the Orangutan: Lost in the Rainforest, and educating guests on Orangutans. There may even be an immersive orangutan virtual reality experience for everyone to try. Learn more about Jack here >>
501st New England Garrison
Volunteers from around New England
This group of Star Wars cosplayers who make their own intricate and detailed costumes will be roaming the Fest, greeting visitors and posing for photos! Learn more about them here >>
Dueling Trebuchets
We will have two giant trebuchets at the Fest again this year, and we'll be launching ice balls into the Cochecho River, once at noon and again at 3pm to end the Fest with a splash!
Face Painting with Patti Spinelli
Children's Book Author Carolyn Watkins
Children's Book Author Regina Tranfa
Fun & Beautiful Multiple Use Clip-ons
2023 NH Maker Fest Tickets >>
Carolyn is an award winning author and will be sharing her books "The Knock", which is a powerful and touching story providing a picture of family life when a parent is in the military, and "I Don't Want to Move", which is an uplifting story that empowers kids to embrace change and build meaningful relationships.
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CharlieTag is an on-the-go QR code service for child safety and dependent support. Non-intrusive health and behavioral information is universally accessible via scannable QR code on a CharlieTag wearable accessory. This safety service will support caretakers and their dependents in times of need. Come meet the inventors of CharlieTag and learn all about this new business!
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PennyBennyandJess makes funky and fun STEAM hair clips and earrings from resin with glitter, various fillers, and bright colors from dyes, inks and powders. They founded this business because "girls love other things besides bows and cute animals!" They'll have a DIY "Make-your-own-jewelry" station using some of their handmade resin pieces.
--Jessica Paquette
SNHUG is a Southern New Hampshire based ukulele group, and they will be performing on the stage during Maker Fest! SNHUG’s primary purpose is to provide a forum for area ukesters of all levels to share & play songs, learn techniques and form friendships while learning more about everyone’s favorite instrument.
--Southern NH Ukulele Group
Zach is the Co-Host & Creator of Discovery Channel's "Contraption Masters'", professional video content creator with a YouTube Channel focused on inventions titled "Zach's Contraptions". He's a three-time Guinness World Records breaker for the largest chain reactions ever built, Owner & Creative lead of ZyynLabs - Inventors of Unbridled Creativity: an inventing collaborate comprised of the world's top kinetic artists, engineers, and designers who combine art with technology to create video & film production projects that promote interaction, inspiration, and amazement; and he's the author of the soon to be published STEM teaching manual: "Rube Goldberg's Big Book of Building: 24 Contraptions ANYONE can Build at Home".
--Zach Umperovitch
Blue Lobster Bakery is a home based bakery specializing in delicious cookies. Why Blue Lobster Bakery? A blue lobster is a rare find. One in two million lobsters wear a different colored coat of blue. We think our cookies are just about as unique. Blue Lobster Bakery LLC is proud to be a New Hampshire Homestead Licensed Kitchen as well as Servsafe Certified.
--Jenna Swain
Lindsey Castellon is an illustrator, cat lover, and maker from Portsmouth, NH. She makes art to bring joy and connection to others. When people see Angry Gato products, they often laugh out loud - sometimes because they see themselves or a loved one in a sassy sticker or other product.
--Lindsey Castellon
CMNH's next door neighbors happen to be some talented young inventors and entrepreneurs from Acton Academy Seacoast, and this year we've combined our NH Maker Fest with their Business Fair! Come support these hard working kids who will be selling products and services, ranging from food, to crafts, to face painting and maybe even a dunk booth!
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Thank you to our 2023 Sponsors!
