By Greg Woodman
Last weekend, something truly extraordinary happened at Axemann Brewery. The first-ever HappyValley Maker Faire brought together curious kids, seasoned engineers, creative artists, garage inventors, and everyday tinkerers for a hands-on, high-energy celebration of creativity and community. As someone who has spent a career in business and marketing, I have seen my fair share of expos and trade shows. But this was different. This was alive. It was a living network of community and connection, a space where people didn’t just attend—they belonged.
As a self-proclaimed hack anthropologist fascinated by how people find their tribes, this group captured me instantly. Artists, inventors, game developers, educators, and kids all brought their passions to life. It was the heartfelt convergence of STEM, art, entrepreneurship, and family in an inspiring setting where the history of manufacturing meets a brewery. They had me at seeing about 25 pinball machines all lit up! Children and parents explored side by side, inventing, experimenting, and discovering together. Everywhere I turned, I saw little Thomas Edisons explaining how their projects worked to adults, while retirees and exhibitors passed down skills with quiet pride. What is this, I kept asking myself, and how do I get more of it?
From the moment I walked in, I could feel the difference. The excitement was real. I arrived just as the combat robot competition was ending, and the room was electric. Kids and adults were on their feet, cheering on machines they had built themselves. Nearby, families were building and racing LEGO cars. Others were making jewelry from rocks or turning cereal boxes into sculptures. The energy was joyful, collaborative, and contagious.
Upstairs, Penn State, along with its partner 3D Systems, operates the Center for Innovative Materials Processing through Direct Digital Deposition (CIMP-3D) as a world-class resource for advancing and deploying additive manufacturing (AM) technology for critical applications had a rocking booth. At the Faire, CIMP-3D showed off advanced 3D printing technology. Toy designer Jon Gumble had children and adults wide-eyed with his working salamander, dancing robot, and K’NEX roller coaster. I had to video tape both the game Jon invented and him showing it in action to my oldest boy, who immediately ordered one off Amazon. These games and the spirit of this event were the stimulus to him now being a Medical Doctor. Guests tried their hands at encaustic wax art, rug making, fidget spinner construction, and even live rug tufting of the Maker Faire logo. From embroidery machines to stained glass to giant puppets, every table offered a new chance to learn, to try, to create.
This wasn’t a tech show or craft market. It was a community in motion. Every corner buzzed with stories, curiosity, and shared discovery. Retirees taught skills to kids. Engineers explained robots to students. People who had never met before teamed up to solve quirky challenges like racing to drill screws or measuring tape contests. It was pure maker magic.
The event captured the very spirit of Discovery Space and The Rivet’s mission. It wasn’t just an exhibit of talent. It was a showcase of curiosity, passion, and the power of learning by doing. It felt like the garages of Happy Valley had opened wide, inviting everyone inside to imagine and build together.
Connect HappyValley could not have been prouder to sponsor this event. It was proof of what’s possible when we celebrate local makers and invite others to join us. We even saw exhibitors travel in from other towns, eager to participate. The buzz was clear. Everyone kept saying the same thing: “I hope they do this every year.”
And they will. Michele Crowl Executive Director of Discovery Space and the Rivet and her team made it clear that this is just the beginning. Next year’s plans include more schools, more community groups, and more space for makers to shine. We expect the number of booths and attendees to double.
The HappyValley Maker Faire is now part of a global movement that began in 2006. It joins more than 200 Maker Faires around the world, each built on the belief that creativity connects people, and learning should be fun, hands-on, and shared.
If you missed it, check out The Rivet’s social media. Better yet, if you want to hang around this energy year-round, check out The Rivet at https://therivet.org, go learn to make stuff, and then exhibit next year. Because this wasn’t just a good event. It was a celebration of who we are and who we can become when we build something together.
