Young people – and quite a few children at heart – filled the Mississippi Industrial Heritage Museum at historic Soule’ Steam Works in Meridian Saturday, taking in the sights and sounds of the third annual Meridian Mini Maker Faire.

The three-day event, which wraps up Sunday, features everything from painters and ceramic artists to high-tech 3D printers and laser engravers.

Sherren Smith brought her young son Floyd Young Jr. to the fair. The Clarkdale first grader appeared amazed as he strolled from booth to booth.

“He was very enthused about it,” Smith said. “He saw a lot of creativity that he’s never seen before, like the mathematics and engineering projects and the arts and crafts.”

The young boy said his favorite booth was hosted by East Mississippi Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc., where Michelle Dixon extolled the virtues of the often-misunderstood opossum.

“They’re the most misunderstood critters ever,” Dixon said. “They eat thousands and thousands of ticks, which reduces Lyme disease – and they’re North America’s only marsupial. They’re actually good for us.”

Across the room from Dixon’s booth, Martin Gaddis manned the Creations by Phyllis booth, which displayed drinking cups, glass and wood items, and even a leather wallet, all engraved with a laser engraver.

Lisa Calahan of Huntsville, Ala. brought her potter’s wheel to the fair, where she was surrounded by spectators as her wheel spun clay into various ceramic creations. Calahan, who works as a veterinary technician and uses pottery to unwind, said she came to the fair to encourage others to take up the hobby.

Not Just Play

One big highlight of the fair was the Mississippi Children’s Museum section, where creativity and fun were on the menu.

Monique Ealey, an outreach coordinator with the museum, was joined by representatives of the planned satellite location of the Meridian Children’s Museum, which is set to open in 2020.

Activities included “Imagination Playground” a set of big blue blocks where children could use their creativity to build structures.

A huge table was the site for hat making, where children designed and made their own headgear. Near that table was a catapult, where children learned how to make predictions, Ealey said.

To spectators, it looked like the children were just having fun, and while that’s part of the museum’s focus, it’s not its main mission, Ealey said.

“Everything we’re doing has a very educational component,” Ealey said. “And it’s also very inspirational – most of the things we do are STEM- based, which is where the world is moving to.”

STEM – Science, technology, engineering and mathematics, was on full display at the Lamer County Center for Technical Eduction booth, where Teresa Sappington showed off some of the school’s best student projects, including a pinball machine made of cardboard.

“We wanted to get more people interested in making, so this movement will happen all across Mississippi,” she said. “Meridian is a great place for that to happen.”

Dr. Anna Wan, a math professor at the University of Southern Mississippi, displayed a 3D printer used to help future math teachers better reach their students. The printer can make three-dimensional models of math concepts, making them easier to understand than traditional paper and pen classwork.

Other highlights of the fair included painters, drone racing, Fly Tying, bird enthusiasts, metal casting leather tooling and a group called Airship Demenca, who were decked out in Steampunk attire.

The event continues Sunday from 1-5 p.m at the Mississippi Industrial Heritage Museum, Historic Soule’ Steam Works, 1808 Fourth St. in Meridian.

For more information, visit meridian.makerfaire.com