Maker Toolkit Maker Faire Providence

Maker Faire Providence Date & Location

• September 6, 2025 (RAIN DATE: October 18)
• 195 District Park
• Providence, RI 02903

Set Up & Showtime

Please note that the event is entirely volunteer-run. Here’s what to expect during set up:

• We hope to be ready for your arrival by 10:30am but there’s always a chance the volunteers will still be getting the site ready.
• Plan to finish unloading by 11:30am and be fully set up by 12:15pm.
• You’ll be able to pull up your car to your exhibit location if necessary, but you must first come to the load-in point shown on the map. If at all possible, please unload your vehicle at the load-in point. It will only be a short walk from the load-in point to your exhibit area.
• After you unload, please park your car and return to set up. Keep in mind that PVDFEST will be going on downtown. We are not in the immediate vicinity of PVDFEST, but we are not terribly far from it.
• The map below shows the park and some nearby parking. There is street parking in the area as well. Click the image for a larger map.

Nearby parking

This is a private pay lot. When you enter, you take a ticket, and when you leave, you can pay with a credit card. Last time we used it, it was $5 on weekends. There is street parking in the area as well, and you may want to check out the South Street Landing Garage.

Load-In Zone

This is where you can pull up to load in (and out) for the event. If your exhibit is small, you may find it easier to park your car nearby and carry your exhibit in. If you need to bring your vehicle up to where you are exhibiting to unload, please wait for a volunteer to accompany you to your exhibit spot. We will allow vehicles in, but only on a one-in, one-out basis. You may not operate a motor vehicle in the park without a volunteer escort.

Maker Faire

This is where it’s all happening!

The Guild PVD

This is the Guild’s Providence Beer Garden. We’ve been told to expect them to be operating, and there may also be food available. If not, Plant City is across the pedestrian bridge, and Dune Brothers is very close by.

(Tentative) Schedule

Saturday, September 6:

• SET UP: 10:30am – 11:30am (if you need to set up earlier, let us know)
• SHOWTIME: 12:30pm – 5:30pm
• LOAD OUT: 6:00pm – 7:00pm

Preparing for Maker Faire

The Maker Toolkit is designed to help you navigate the logistics of the Maker Faire, and most importantly, to help make your involvement in the Maker Faire a positive, memorable event. Together we can make the Maker Faire a truly unique, educational, safe, and extraordinary experience for all by adhering to the rules and regulations outlined in this manual.

Leading up to the show, you will receive a Confirmation Letter outlining the details of your exhibit. Prior to arriving onsite, we expect that you have read this Maker Toolkit, that you will abide by the rules and regulations, and that we have agreed on the specifics of your exhibit as detailed in the Confirmation Letter.

LOCATION, MAKER AND EXHIBIT OVERVIEW

A Maker Faire is not designed like any standard trade show or conference — it is a fun, interactive maze of demonstrations, exhibits, workshops, and displays. We have tried to keep it environmentally friendly and simple in design. Imagine the historical state fairs where everyone arrives with their wares and sets up their exhibit! We have different kinds of exhibit areas to accommodate the diversity of projects, and we encourage Makers to create their own look and feel.

Exhibit Area

Your exhibit space will vary in size depending on your requirements. We have a variety of outdoor spaces on pavement or grass. If you requested power for your exhibit, we’ll be able to supply you from the power outlets that are located in the park. We’ll have extension cords and a limited number of power strips, so it’s best if you bring one. The circuits in the park are not capable of providing a tremendous amount of current, but if you’re operating something that can plug into a power strip, you should be OK. For example, if you’ve got a couple computers with monitors, a small 3d printer or soldering iron, you should be well within the limits. Each outlet we use is 20A, but it may be shared with other makers’ tables.

The park has public Wi-Fi. The network is TakeItOutside and you will be directed to a sign-on screen upon connecting. If you are not, try visiting the website http://www.example.com to initiate the sign-in process. You may be prompted to re-authenticate periodically throughout the day. We may also have a cellular hotspot for anyone who needs to connect a device that is part of their exhibit, but it only allows a limited number of connections.

TENTS, TABLES, CHAIRS

We have a number of small round tables and folding chairs available, but if you need a larger table, we’d appreciate if you could bring your own, along with anything else that you would like to have, such as extension cords/power strips and any hardware or supplies that will help you display your project. We trust that you will supply any equipment or supplies you need to make your project functional. Please feel free to make signs for your exhibit that help the attendees understand what you are making!

Maker Entry Passes

The event is free and open to the public, so we only ask that you identify yourself when you arrive to set up.

During the Event

Breaks: Each Maker exhibit should be staffed at all times by you or a colleague. If you do not have an assistant and you need a short break, please notify one of the organizers and we will do our best to assist you in finding someone to watch your exhibit.

Electrical: During the event, if you have a problem with your power, please report it immediately to an organizer or park staff.

Evacuation: Should the need to evacuate arise, staff and visitors will be notified by volunteers or park staff. Stay calm. Immediately stop any demonstrations or presentations. Do not try to dismantle your exhibit. Even if you cannot see any obvious reason for the alarm calmly make your way to the nearest exit or assembly point, encouraging others to follow you to safety. Once to safety, move away from any buildings and keep emergency access routes clear. When the necessary authorities deem it safe to reenter the area or buildings, Makers will be granted access prior to members of the public.