⚡ Lacey MakerSpace Hosts Its First Festival of Sparks, Free, on October 10

One of Lacey's coolest hidden spots is opening its doors wide this weekend. Lacey MakerSpace is hosting its first Festival of Sparks on Saturday, October 10, from 1 to 7 PM, and it is free for everyone.

If you have never been, Lacey MakerSpace is a nonprofit community workshop on the Saint Martin's University campus. It opened in 2019 through a partnership between Saint Martin's, the City of Lacey, and the Thurston Economic Development Council, and its 8,000 square foot shop is packed with tools most of us do not have in the garage: woodworking, welding, textiles, 3D printing, and digital design.

The festival is part open house, part street fair. Expect a vendor and artisan fair with local makers, live music, food and drinks, a silent auction, a robotics demo from a local high school team, a claw machine, frog racing, and guided tours of the shop. It is a fundraiser, so money raised goes toward new equipment, education programs, and keeping the space open to the community.

It is a good one for families with tinkering kids, anyone with a project idea they have been sitting on, or anyone who just wants a fun, free Saturday. Parking is free, and RSVP on Eventbrite is optional if you want a reminder.

Details:

• When: Saturday, October 10, 2026, 1 to 7 PM

• Location: Lacey MakerSpace, Zaverl Hall (Building 5), Baran Dr SE, on the Saint Martin's University campus

• Cost: free, all ages, free parking

• What to expect: maker and artisan fair, live music, food and drinks, silent auction, robotics demo, claw machine, frog racing, shop tours

Real estate note: places like Lacey MakerSpace are part of what makes Lacey more than a commuter town. Access to shared workshops, classes, and a university campus a few minutes from home is the kind of community amenity that gives a neighborhood staying power.