Every February, Chandler celebrates the exploration of invention. The Chandler Innovation Fair (CIF) showcases the businesses, artists, students and innovators in the community as Chandler participates in the statewide Arizona SciTech Festival.

ACESA at the Event

In recent years the CIF has had very good participation by Northrup-Grumman, Intel and Microchip Technology. The event even provides booths/canopies that are set-up and removed without charge for many participants.

ACESA participates by bringing literature for various science events around the valley, such as Future Cities, Vex and the Arizona Science and Engineering fairs (AzSEF, SARSEF and YES), and promotion of the Governor's Celebration of Innovation (GCOI) teacher of the year award and many other events for school-age children.

To attract attention we provide an electricity game, a Pic-Tac-Toe game that is very popular with both youngsters and adults, and displays of engineering items like an LED cube and printed circuit boards. Our most-recent display included this poster to help students learn about engineering careers.

Here is ACESA at CIF 2025

History

The earliest predecessor to CIF (that I can find in my notes) is Chandler's Science Spectacular "A NIGHT OF ART & SCIENCE" which was held at 6pm on Friday, February 15, 2013. The event was billed as "Technology meets the arts as part of Chandler’s Third Friday Art Walk." Science exhibits were mixed with the monthly arts and crafts bazaar. I recall that we had an open table on the West side of Arizona Ave. and set-up was just at sundown so most of the event was after dark.

The 2015 event literature indicates "4th annual" so apparently it all began in 2012. The name was the same for the 2018 event but it was held on a Saturday. In 2019 the event was renamed as the Chandler Innovation Fair and both 2019 and 2020 were held indoors at Hamilton High School. I don't have any news from 2021 so they probably took a Covid break. The event returned at full strength in 2022 and has continued since then on the 3rd Saturday of February.

The event has often been in contention with the Southwest Maker Fest in Mesa, and the Buckeye Air Fair. In some years ACESA went to Mesa and in others to Chandler, or to both if possible.