TinkerFair brings hands-on creative experiences to Longmont this weekend

John Toohey, 8, makes a butterfly with help from the Jeanine Brunetti TinkerMill makerspace in Longmont in July 2023. (Times-Call file photo)

At this year’s TinkerFair, Longmont makerspace TinkerMill wants the community to get a glimpse of local creatives in their element.

On Saturday, TinkerMill’s largest annual fundraiser will feature demonstrations and activities at every workshop the makerspace runs, from woodworking to laser cutting to pottery. The event will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at TinkerMill, 1840 Delaware Place.

“It’s a great day to show people what we do,” said Erin Hoard, TinkerMill’s general manager. “We’re just happy to have people come out.”

This year’s fair is a departure from previous editions, which have all centered around a carnival theme. There will still be some outdoor festival elements, including a dunk tank, but Hoard said the roughly 350 guests who attended last year were more interested in checking out TinkerMill’s equipment and stores.

“This year we’re really trying to focus on what we do best, which is a creative space,” she said.

At least one person will be present in each store throughout the day to explain what can be made with the resources and materials.

“We used to only do a few shops at a time,” Hoard said. “Now it’s an ‘all hands on deck’ operation, with every shop involved.”

Visitors can explore the makerspace and watch in-store demonstrations for free, but some activities will require tickets, which can be purchased at the door. New activities this year include T-shirt dyeing and, for kids, building cardboard forts. Members of TinkerMill will also be selling their creations on site, as in previous years.

Fundraisers will also be held at the various stations on Saturday. Hoard said visitors will be able to choose which stores they want to support financially. The stained glass shop, for example, will raise money for a new ring cutter, while the woodworking shop will sell tools to buy a new miter saw.

Hoard said TinkerFair offers an accessible way for people to experience the makerspace, regardless of their skill level.

“You can make a piece of welding on the spot for $5 and take it home with you,” she said. “I think it’s really cool to be able to walk away with a project that you’ve done yourself in a medium that you weren’t familiar with before.”

For more information about TinkerFair, visit tinkermill.org.