The Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources in Smackover hosted TinkerFest for its seventh year Saturday.
The event showcased 21 stations, which featured local makers and inventors who allowed the public a unique experience to learn and experiment with different materials.
The stations were made up of local inventors and artisans including the Museum of Discovery, Barton Library, LANXESS, Murphy USA, SouthArk and others.
By definition, tinkering is free-form experimentation with the use of screwdrivers, motors, wires, glue and more.
Visitors has the oppmritnuty to make candles, draw with 3D pens, write with invisible ink, make clothespin cars, watch a gyroscope and spinning demonstration, plus many other activities.
Parent Byron Winn said this was his first time bringing his children to TinkerFest and that it was “a whole lot of fun.”
“Honestly my favorite part so far was watching my daughters disassemble some computer keyboards,” Winn said. “I was just really amazed that they got into it the way they did.”
Jim Watson and daughter Tatum said this was their first time at TinkerFest, but have been to the museum numerous times.
“I like coming in here and reading all of the things that actually happened in boomtown,” Tatum said.
“I just think it’s kind of unique,” Jim added. “We live in Smackover and this little bitty town and back when the boom hit, seeing how much the town changed so quickly. It’s really neatto come in here and see the different things and how the origin of the town came about.”
Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources’ Facilty Manager Sheri Odom said that they were really pleased with the turnout for the event.
“It’s going well and we’ve got quite a few first timers,” Odom said. “Not all of them are repeats, so that’s always nice.”
TinkerFest, which is one of the museum’s most popular exhibits, is an Arkansas Discovery Network event. The Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources is a founding member of the Arkansas Discovery Network, a six-museum statewide consortium of museums which promote hands-on interactive learning in science, technology, engineering and math to Arkansas.
Kaitlyn Rigdon can be reached at 870-862-6611 or [email protected].