Tinkerfest Returns to Indiana State Museum

INDIANAPOLIS — Makers, inventors, builders and imaginers of all ages are invited to experience Tinkerfest 2023, a daylong celebration of curiosity and creativity.

This family-friendly makers fair, which is sponsored by Corteva Agriscience, will take place from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16, at the Indiana State Museum.

Now in its fourth year, Tinkerfest will feature nearly 30 hands-on, interactive activity stations hosted by the museum and Indiana’s maker community — from techno-wizards to tradespeople, engineers to educators, crafters to coders and beyond. Spread throughout the museum, the stations are designed to engage tinkerers of all interests and ability levels.

Visitors can interact with robots and watch live demonstrations of chemistry, physics and weather science. Children will enjoy building mini bots, straw rockets, cardboard cars and other gadgets. Experienced do-it-yourselfers can gain inspiration from demonstrations in 3-D printing, laser-cutting, automotive technology, woodworking and high-tech making. Plus, musicians and artists will encourage visitors to explore new outlets for expression.

Afterwards, visitors can stroll through the museum galleries to view creations that were made by past generations of Hoosier tinkerers.

Tinkerfest is included with museum admission.

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The Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites is a statewide museum system with 12 locations, offering visitors a chance to engage with Indiana’s past and present and see how their actions help shape the future. At each location, visitors are invited to explore big questions and create lasting experiences that will resonate long after each visit ends. Whether interested in art or architecture, history or science, there’s something for everyone and every interest. The Indianapolis museum is located in White River State Park in the heart of downtown Indianapolis. The historic sites are located statewide, stretching from Rome City in northeastern Indiana to Evansville in the southwest.