There is no way to not be smiling when you’re riding on the back of a 25-foot dragon as it growls at the crowds of people gaping and parting the way for you. The dragon I was allowed to ride on was one of the Twin Serpents, created by Empire of Dirt from Oakland California, which was brought to this year’s Maker Faire up in the Bay Area. The serpent and its equally long and amazing twin, one white and one a metallic brown, were only one of the mind-blowing project’s that were shown this year.

“Maker Faire is the greatest show (and tell) on Earth.” This is how the Maker Faire website, (makerfair.com), describes itself. Honestly there isn’t a better way of putting it. Maker Faires are a place where people all over the U.S. and the world come and show off, talk about, and see the amazing things they or other people have made.

Maker Faire has a wide variety. In multiple exhibition halls, there are booths that represent anyone from large name brands like Qualcomm to little kids’ science projects. Anything that is interesting (or kid made) can be part of an exhibition, and shown in one of the many halls. Major companies and other businesses are often sell different things while some are just there to promote.

“I thought it [Maker Faire] was amazing — like a candy store for adults. I could spend hours wandering around and seeing what people have created. I’m particularly fascinated by the virtual reality and augmented reality stuff — when I try on those glasses, it really does feel like we’re building the future,” said Kanjun Qiu, a speaker at this year’s Maker Faire Bay Area.

The main attractions, or large scale projects, like the Twin Serpents or a giant metal octopus, are just the face of Maker Faire behind that there are many interesting projects, companies, things to buy and speakers talking about Making.

The Maker Movement is the name coined for how people are starting to move back into making things with their hands and learning how things work.

“The Maker Movement is basically bringing manufacturing to the masses,” Qiu said.

And Maker Faire is simply an exhibition of that creative spirit.

The MAKE magazine started in 2005 and a year later, they launched the Maker Faire in the Bay Area, along with the Maker Fair in New York. This isn’t a new thing, and since the start of the Make Movement, Maker Faires just keep getting bigger.  In 2013, 195,000 people attended the Bay Area and New York Maker Faires. At the Maker Faire in the bay Area 44 percentof the people who attended were first timers and 61 percent  were at the New York Maker Faire. Maker Faires have popped up all around the world. There are now near a 100 independently run mini Maker Faires that go on annually all over the world. This year 35 Mini maker Faires have already concluded and there are 63 more planned to come.

While it may be a little out of our reach, the other large scale Maker Faire in New York is happening September 20 and 21. However, we also have our own mini Maker Faire that takes place in San Diego on Dec. along with several others within California and close to the state borders.

I love Maker Faires because no matter where one is or how big it is, it’s always full of ideas.

Every year when I walk out I leave with at least 10 different things I totally want to build. (This year a trilobite that I can ride to school is at the top of that list). But after the event is over it’s hard to get the motivation to do anything and being a high school student, excuses and procrastination are a specialty of mine. A common excuse I use is that I just don’t have the parts.

“One of my favorite projects around here is a guy who wanted to build a B-17 and so he did out of manila folders because that is what he had available to him,” Said Adam Savage from Mythbusters in his speech on Sunday at Maker Faire Bay Area.

So go to Maker Faire to get inspired, meet cool people and see amazing things. But also find the time to make something; duct tape is allowed.