Maker Faire Orlando has long been a premier destination on the bucket list for creators, engineers, and tech enthusiasts. After years of logistical hurdles, the event is finally within reach for attendees eager to dive into this year’s expansive exhibition floor. Featuring everything from private jet fuselages repurposed into street-legal vehicles to localized artificial intelligence assistants integrated directly into pickup trucks, the annual celebration of ingenuity promises an array of remarkable projects. Complicating and enriching the schedule further, organizers have recently introduced a second stage, effectively doubling the presentation and demonstration lineup to include insights from professional theme park makers.
The excitement surrounding the exhibition list highlights the diversity of modern making. As the schedule continues to evolve, several standout exhibits have captured widespread attention for their technical ambition and creative flair.
1. PlaneCar
Among the most visually striking creations heading to the event is the PlaneCar, engineered by Steve Woodruff of AutoBeYours. Woodruff took the fuselage of a 1982 British Aerospace Hawker private jet and mounted it onto the running gear of a 2004 Prius. The resulting hybrid art-car functions as a street-legal limousine where visitors can climb inside to inspect the vintage cabin, authentic flight controls, and exposed wiring. Equipped with working lights, signals, a horn, and seatbelts, the vehicle maintains legal width and height limits, raising amusing questions about how its transit to the venue might impact local traffic.
2. Freedom A.I.
In the realm of modern computing, John Bach is presenting Freedom A.I., a customizable personal-assistant system designed to give users complete ownership over their digital tools. Attendees can choose the character, voice, personality, and interface of the assistant, which can be carried seamlessly between compatible Windows machines. At the Faire, Bach is demonstrating his own assistant, named "Ghost," wired directly into a heavily modified Chevy Silverado. The system allows Ghost to hear and answer visitors through the truck, complemented by a physical character model that enhances the interactive experience.
3. Rocket Tracker
For aerospace enthusiasts, retired engineer John Smith is showcasing Rocket Tracker, an autonomous system engineered to follow and film rockets as they launch toward space. An operator utilizes a joystick to steer a gimbal carrying two dual cameras. Once the tracking camera identifies a boosting rocket, the system locks on and tracks its trajectory while a secondary telescope camera records the exhaust plume. Under favorable lighting conditions, Smith notes that the rocket body remains visible from more than 140 miles away.
4. 3D Printed Cameras
The intersection of traditional photography and modern manufacturing is well-represented by photographer Jacob Bates. While photographers have historically constructed custom cameras for generations, desktop 3D printing has vastly expanded the possibilities. Bates has spent recent years refining his ideal camera by blending existing open-source designs with his own custom-modeled components, offering a firsthand look at how open hardware is transforming optical gear.
5. Curtis Epperson’s Word Mosaic Art
Visual art takes a unique form in the exhibits of Curtis Epperson. From a distance, his works appear as striking portraits of historical figures, animals, landmarks, and pop-culture icons. Upon closer inspection, however, the images dissolve into hundreds of meticulously hand-drawn words and phrases relevant to the subject, with no single word appearing twice. The intricate technique highlights a high degree of patience and compositional precision.
6. Throwback! Jai-Alai Heroes
Celebrating a regional athletic tradition with a digital twist, the local Orlando studio Astro Crow has developed an arcade game dedicated to jai-alai. Titled "Throwback! Jai-Alai Heroes," the award-winning indie title exists exclusively within a custom arcade cabinet designed, coded, and fabricated entirely by local developers, merging Florida sports heritage with arcade nostalgia.
7. Jupiter 7
Transforming a standard convention booth into an active space-themed workshop, Jupiter 7 features live demonstrations of laser cutters and 3D printers alongside handmade creations. Visitors of all ages are invited to participate in building space projects grounded in science and engineering. The maker behind the exhibit operates a small manufacturing and education business spanning laser design, 3D design, and beekeeping, bringing an eclectic mix of disciplines to the floor.
8. Orlando Ghostbusters
Community engagement and prop building converge with the Orlando Ghostbusters, a local cosplay and prop-building group. The team displays works in progress that reveal how their complex gear—including 3D-printed proton packs and electronic accessories—comes together. Alongside their technical displays, the group utilizes their presence to raise charitable donations for the Starlight Children’s Foundation.
9. Block Printing with a Modern Twist
Warren Hart III, known professionally as Famous After Death, applies modern digital workflows to traditional printmaking. Bypassing traditional carving tools, he designs his printing blocks digitally, 3D-prints them, and uses the resulting matrices to pull bold, original graphics. The work demonstrates how additive manufacturing can streamline and redefine classic artistic mediums.
10. The People Who Make It Happen
Beyond the individual exhibits, the foundational element of Maker Faire Orlando is its organizing network. The event is independently produced by The Maker Effect Foundation, relying on a dedicated volunteer crew to manage everything from exhibitor logistics to educational outreach programs like Field Trip Day. Connecting regional producers from across Florida helps strengthen the collaborative network that sustains these community-driven events year after year.
Attendees can review the full schedule and plan their visits by exploring the exhibits listed directly through the official Maker Faire Orlando platform.
