The 13th Annual Bay Area Maker Faire is a celebration of invention, creativity and curiosity at the San Mateo Event Center, May 18-20.

Attendees get immersed in maker culture with a bounty of exhibits, stages, interactive art, hands-on making and learning. The 3-day event features robotics, science, cosplay, electronics, tools and much more.

For the first time ever there will be an Industry, Career and College day and incredible new art installations. Tickets are on sale now for the event that inspires the future of innovation by showcasing the creative and experimental minds who make, play, tinker and hack.

Along with the very latest in VR and AI, 3D printing and digital fabrication, craft and futuristic fashion, Maker Faire Bay Area's "big art" category will feature a never-before seen creature by artist Joel Dean Stockdill. Each piece of his "Trace" series is inspired by native species and is created spontaneously from discarded waste material found locally. Maker Faire attendees will be invited to contribute to the making of the big, gorgeous beast.

Other maker highlights this year include a robotic dress, a giant "Airigami" balloon dragon, a Cosmic Space Worm (made with 5 adult tricycles and 500 LEDs!), a new stage completely devoted to talks from your favorite Maker YouTube celebs, and so much more!

There are so many ways to participate in the Maker Faire Madness this year and there is something for everyone:

• Week of learning (5/12 – 18)
• After Dark @Exploratorium - Maker Faire Edition (5/17)
• Industry, Career & College Day in partnership with Cornell (Fri 5/18 9a-1p)
• Friday@Maker Fair (5/18 1pm-5pm)