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BELLEFONTE -- Maker Faire Happy Valley will return Oct. 3-4 with an expanded lineup of makers, demonstrations and hands-on activities at Axemann Brewery and Titan Hollow in Bellefonte.
Following its debut in 2025, the free, family-friendly event will bring together artists, inventors, engineers, hobbyists and other makers from Central Pennsylvania and beyond.
"Maker Faire is a celebration of what happens when people are curious enough to ask 'what if?' and brave enough to try," said Michele Crowl, executive director of Discovery Space and The Rivet. "We saw that spirit come to life at our first Faire, and this year we're bringing even more people together."
This year’s featured makers include Leah Houghtaling, a self-taught woodworker from upstate New York; Becky Stern, a Brooklyn-based content creator whose work includes electronics, sewing and wearable technology; and Jay Mankita, a Massachusetts teaching artist, musician and founder of Playful Engineers.
Activities planned throughout the weekend include demonstrations in coffee roasting, glassworking and lapidary, as well as Craig Trader’s Chaos Machine, a large community-built marble run.
Pinball Joe’s Workshop will be featured Saturday, offering visitors an opportunity to play pinball and learn about machine repair. The first 500 visitors will receive a free pinball to take home.
The Bellefonte Historical Railroad Society will offer $5 train rides and free tours, while Doing Good with Wood will give visitors an opportunity to make wooden kazoos. Other attractions include a K’NEX toy designer and a cardboard fortress-building and battle station. A separate Maker Faire Happy Valley After Dark event will be held Saturday evening at Titan Hollow.
The main Maker Faire will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4. Activities will take place at Axemann Brewery and Titan Hollow, with a free shuttle connecting the venues and additional parking areas.
Admission and parking for the main event are free. The Saturday evening event at Titan Hollow is separately ticketed.