Los Alamos MainStreet News:

A useful robot showed its stuff during last year’s Next Big Idea event. Courtesy photo

What is it that differentiates Los Alamos from other communities?

It is a place of big, world changing ideas.The Next Big Idea: A Festival of Discovery, Invention, and Innovation is an annual signature event that highlights Los Alamos’ unique creative heritage while providing an opportunity for inspiring young people from throughout the state about possible futures in science, technology,engineering, math, and innovation.

The Next Big Idea is brought to you by Los Alamos MainStreet. The goal of Los AlamosMainStreet is to bring more people downtown, more of the time. As part of the Los Alamos Creative District designation, this event draws people from all works of life into the world of discovery.

The weekend of family friendly events isdesigned to educate, illuminate, inspire,and entertain by celebrating discoveries, inventions, ideas, and innovations in science, technology, arts, food, and music.

Next Big Idea will take place this year on Sept. 15 in downtown in Fuller Lodge and around the outside lawn area.

The Next Big Idea “Festival” provides a venue for scientists, technologists, innovative artists and inventors to showcase some of the most exciting new ideas, discovery, inventions and innovations, with attendees and with each other.

This event is free and open to the public and loaded with interactive exhibits with activities for all ages to have fun while opening their minds to science, innovation and discovery.

Visit the MainStreet website for more details: www.nextbigideala.com.

Exhibitor registrations mage before May 1 receive the early bird rate of $40.

Partners in the Next Big Idea include Los Alamos National Bank, Los Alamos National Laboratory, The Education Plan, Compa Industries, LANL Foundation, Innovate/Educate of New Mexico, New Mexico Consortium, ISEA, Makers Faire and Los Alamos County.