BENTONVILLE -- More engaging activities meant more for families to do Saturday at Tinkerfest.
"We're up to over 40 different stations (this year)," said Erik Smith, director of exhibits and programs at the Scott Family Amazeum. "We've even been able to bring in some locally featured artists as well as from across the county."
Amazeum
The Scott Family Amazeum in Bentonville features several exhibits scattered throughout the museum’s 50,000 square feet, all of which seek to bring learning to life and enhance family involvement. To learn more about the Amazeum, visit www.amazeum.org or call 479-696-9280.
Source: Staff report
Hosted at the Amazeum, the third annual Tinkerfest is a one-day festival celebrating curiosity, creativity and innovation.
What began at Old High Middle School has blossomed into a sprawling playground of exploration for youngsters. Actives at this year's festival ranged from pneumatic rockets and "yarnbombing" to 3D printing and do-it-yourself robots.
"We've increased activities by 30 percent from last year," Smith said. "There's a lot of funky new things for people to play with."
London Kaye was one of the world renowned known artists featured at this year's event. Kaye has mastered a technique known as "yarnboming" -- taking a piece of crochet or knit and covering and object in yarn. During Tinkerfest, Kaye assembled a mural of her bike-themed crocheted pieces.
Dan Dancer, who brought both of his boys back for this year's event, said he was pleased with the increased effort on engagement.
"It's always a lot of fun and this year was more engaging," Dancer said. "The kids had more do to."
Dancer visited for the first time this year the Learning Loft. The lofts are on the second story of the Amazeum and were packed with interactive technology that included a fully functional R2-D2 from Star Wars.
"It's a good time for the family," Dancer added.
Also exploring the lofts were Anna Hendrick and her son, Dessi. They were absorbed in a two-player version of Pac-Man displayed on a wall-sized projector.
"(The festival) is great," Hendrick said. "There's lost of hands-on activities."
Dessi said the festival was "pretty cool" and had no qualms about who won Pac-Man: "I did," he said triumphantly.
Meanwhile, downstairs, organizers had set up a station allowing youngsters to manipulate cardboard into everything from castles to artwork.
Isabella Adams, a volunteer at the station from Washington Junior High School, said this year's festival was a success.
"People were having a good time," she said.
Isabella's mom, Stacey agreed, saying Tinkerfest has opportunities for everyone -- from her 11-month-old to her 10-year-old daughter.
"We love it," she said.
As for the future of Tinkerfest, Smith only expects the event to grow.
"Ideas just keep coming," he said. "We're always exploring new concepts and getting inspired by people in this community. (Tinkerfest) brings a lot of people together and there's this cross pollination of ideas. getting inspired by people in this community."
Sponsors of Tinkerfest included 3M, The Walton Family Foundation, Cox Communications, TekTrendz, Lion Brand Yarns and George Nunnally Chevrolet.
NW News on 10/02/2016