I'm one of the organizers of the yearly Asheville Maker Faire which takes place in the spring each year on the campus of AB Tech in downtown Asheville. It is FREE to attend and is family friendly.
Part science fair, part county fair, and part something entirely new, Maker Faire is an all-ages gathering of tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, science clubs, authors, artists, students, and commercial exhibitors. All of these “makers” come to Maker Faire to show what they have made and to share what they have learned.
Maker Faires happen all over the world (see the map HERE). The Asheville Maker Faire is the only Maker Faire in the Carolinas.