Junior Maker Fest 2026
Broward County Library
Innovation Synopsis
Mini-makers, tiny techies, cardboard creators, and kid crafters were invited to a high-energy afternoon of building, tinkering, and limitless imagination at Broward County Library’s Junior Maker Fest 2026. Held from 11 AM to 4 PM on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Broward County Library’s South Regional/Broward College Library in Pembroke Pines, Florida, Junior Maker Fest was geared toward children ages 6–12.
This afternoon of family fun and learning included hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) activities and challenges across interactive stations. Most featured crafts that children could take home and replicate for ongoing fun and learning. Parents and caregivers could browse a book fair hosted by event co-sponsors, the Friends of the Library.
While the event had been held before, additional funding from the Children’s Services Council of Broward County expanded the scope of Junior Maker Fest 2026. Approximately 400 people attended.
Challenge/Opportunity
Junior Maker Fest 2026 was designed to spark early interest in STEAM learning and hands-on creativity, providing children in the community with a chance to experiment, invent, and build confidence in science, math, art, and technology skills through playful STEAM exploration. The event offered families an accessible way to learn together through enriching, engaging activities. Broward County Library already provides free, welcoming spaces where families of all backgrounds can explore new technologies without cost barriers, so hosting an event like this was a natural fit. Staff expertise, partnerships, and existing library programs, including those held at the library’s own Creation Station makerspace, made it easy to connect the STEAM learning at the Fest to the host library’s books, digital resources, and ongoing workshops.
Key Elements of Innovation
Junior Maker Fest 2026 transformed the South Regional/Broward College Library into a dynamic STEAM playground where children learned through exciting, engaging hands-on experimentation. By offering diverse stations that included marble engineering with Q-Ba-Maze, tower building with KEVA Planks, beginner electronics with Snap Circuits, cardboard prototyping, slime chemistry, robotics, 3D printing, and physics-based challenges, Junior Maker Fest blended creativity with real scientific principles. Its open-ended, exploratory design encouraged problem solving, invention, and confidence-building. Supported by the Friends of the Library and the Children’s Services Council of Broward County, Junior Maker Fest expanded access to STEAM learning and reimagined the library as a hub for innovation, discovery, and community engagement.
Achieved Outcomes
Junior Maker Fest 2026 delivered strong, measurable outcomes. Attendance exceeded expectations with about 400 participants, confirming high community demand for accessible STEAM learning. Children practiced problem solving, creativity, and early STEAM skills through hands-on exploration, while families discovered new library resources and programs. The event strengthened community relationships, increased visibility for the library’s innovation efforts, and boosted support for the Friends of the Library. Additionally, Junior Maker Fest’s success was reinforced by funding from the Children’s Services Council, demonstrating confidence in the library’s ability to provide meaningful, educational experiences for local families.
