LEWISTON — A troupe of Ford Model T owners from Maine will be special guests Saturday afternoon at the Lewiston-Auburn Mini Maker Faire.
The fair kicks off its third year at 10 a.m. in and around the Bates Mill atrium, just off of Canal Street.
Rachel Desgrosseilliers, executive director of Museum L-A and the host for the fair, said the Downeast Chapter of the Model T Ford Club happened to be touring the area this weekend.
“They called and wanted to come to the museum on Saturday, but they didn’t know about the fair,” Desgrosseilliers said. “I found out a bit more and they’re going to bring a cutaway Model T that people can crank to see how the engine works. I like that because it connects history with what is going on at the rest of the event.”
The fair runs until 4 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children 11 years and older. Those younger than 11 attend for free.
John Harris of the Model T Ford Club said the timing works well with the group’s annual Mainely T Tour. The group of is staying in Brunswick and taking their vehicles around the area this weekend, starting with tours of Freeport and Yarmouth on Friday.
They plan to spend the better part of the day Saturday in Lewiston/Auburn, giving special attention to the fair. Harris said the group does not mind talking to curious folks.
“That’s what we are looking forward to most,” he said.
It’s an added bit of flair at the fair, an annual event dedicated to tinkerers, artists, techno-hobbyists and innovators.
“But innovation is not just gears and robots,” Desgrosseilliers said. “It’s also art and the creativity of painters and others. We are trying to give a real balance of a lot of other things.”
There will be plenty of robots, including the FIRST Robotics Team from Spruce Mountain High School and the Gardiner’s Maine Robots.
The fair also features multiple performances from Maine groups. Mad Science of Maine will put on displays at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Oxford Hills Entertainment will do face painting and balloon puppets from a 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Portland Juggler and magician Michael Troutman will perform at noon and 2 p.m.
Norway’s Fred Garbo’s Inflatable Theater will present shows at 1 and 3 p.m.
In addition, Lewiston’s Baxter Brewery will offer tours of its operation and tastings — with Maine-made Green Bee Soda for children.
The fair features hands-on activities for children, including air rocket building, making a mini-marshmallow shooter, DIY Home Depot wood projects, electric play dough, Morse code lessons and a drinking straw structure.
“We’re going to make one big structure,” Desgrosseilliers said. “They can all come and contribute and, by the time the day ends, we’ll have a major drinking straw structure.”
Lewiston-Auburn Mini Maker Faire 2014
List of events
10:30 a.m. — Mad Science of Maine’s “Marvels of Motion.”
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Oxford Hills Entertainment offers face painting and demonstrates how to make balloon sculptures.
Noon and 2 p.m. — International Variety Artist Michael Troutman will present his King of Pong show.
12:30 p.m. — Mad Science of Maine’s “Slime Time.”
1 p.m. and 3 p.m. — From Norway, Fred Garbo Inflatable Theatre Co.
Roaming throughout the day — Maine’s Freelance Ghostbusters and Maine Red Claws Mascot, Crusher
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- The Downeast Chapter of the Model T Ford Club of America will take 50 of the antique vehicles through the Twin Cities on Saturday. The cars will be on display at the Lewiston Auburn Mini Maker Faire at the Bates Mill Atrium on Saturday.
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