The World Maker Faire returns to Flushing this weekend for its sixth year. A massive two-day celebration of science, art, and DIY culture, the fest transforms the area in and around the New York Hall of Science into a playground for inquiring minds of all ages. With hundreds of makers, speakers, and performers presenting an array of hands-on exhibits, demos, and art-technology pieces, you’ll no doubt be entertained for hours, if not a little overwhelmed.

Having attended in the past, we recommend going in with a rough game plan. Below you’ll find a list of our picks.

Life-Size Mousetrap
The Life-Size Mousetrap is a perennial favorite at the World Maker Faire. Hand crafted and consisting of a 16-piece, 50,000-lb interactive kinetic sculpture, the mousetrap installation is created by Mark Perez and is part-science and part-Vaudevillian sideshow. It is performed several times throughout the day. Don’t miss it!

The Fire Organ
From Guerrilla Science comes a fire-breathing musical instrument. Onlookers are said to “discover a unique way to see, feel and touch sound through flames and motion.” This one is going to be hot!

The Lumiphonic Creature Choir
Seeing Mark Bolotin’s interactive multi-headed audio-visual instrument in action is a total trip. Be sure to seek this one out. It will be located in the Great Hall.

FORTUNETRON7000
Wondering what the future holds? Then step right up to Hack Manhatttan’s robotic fortune teller. You’ll wave your hand over a glass ball and out will pop your personalized fortune on a card that you can take home.

The Mechanical Horse
This one should be mesmerizing. New York City maker Adrian Landon has crafted a full-size stainless steel horse that gallops in slow motion on command.It will located in the center of Zone 2.

Les Machines de L’île de Nantes
Les Machines de L’île de Nantes is both a production site and exhibit space in Nantes, France that brings the world of science fiction writer Jules Verne to life. Visitors there encounter a giant elephant 12-meters high made of wood and steel, a huge marine-inspired carousel, and the Heron Tree, a large steel structure topped with two herons. The creators of this world, François Delarozière and Pierre Orefice, will be doing a talk at the fair on Saturday.

The Art of Rube Goldberg
Pulitzer prize-winning cartoonist and inventor Rube Goldberg will be the subject of a talk at the fair on Sunday. The discussion will be led by his granddaughter Jennifer George, author of the best selling book The Art of Rube Goldberg.

TED2012: Full Spectrum. February 27 – March 2, 2012. Long Beach, CA. Photo: Ryan Lash

Jazz is Better with Fire
Jared Ficklin is a designer that creates visualizations that allow us to see music using color and even fire. At Maker Faire, he will be displaying his Paint by RGB project and holding a talk where he will be sharing tricks and tips for Ruben’s Tubes, Flame Tables and the results of trying to integrate sound waves and flame.

Making the Modern Food Magazine with Lucky Peach
The folks behind New York Times best-selling food magazine, Lucky Peach will be discussing what goes into the making of the magazine.

Aerial Sports League Drone Arena
It’s a drone extravaganza! The world’s best pilots will be on hand to fight and race their flying vehicles in the Aerial Sports League’s 1st Annual dSports Open.

Death By Audio Arcade
Step right up and play arcade games designed by New York developers. In the mix are capture the flag, boat racing and space soccer.

Lockpick Village
Lockpick Village is a notoriously popular attraction at the World Maker Faire. You can try your hand at picking locks and learn about how physical security operates. Lock picking kits will be available for purchase.

Power Racing Series
Step on over to the racetrack for this World Maker Faire fixture that finds people competing in suped up Power Wheels.

Robot Resurrection
This fella shouldn’t be hard to miss. Soaring 30-foot tall, the sculpture is smoking hot and made from 95% airline parts.

Thompson & Dundy’s Luna Park: 3D Printed by the Great Fredini
Fred Kahl aka the Great Fredini has created a 3D printed replica of Coney Island’s Luna Park as it was a hundred years ago using scanned images. This should be pretty impressive.

Images from the Maker Faire at the New York Hall of Science in New York September 29, 2012. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly (UNITED STATES)

Coke Zero & Mentos Fountains
Watching Eppy Bird’s soda geyser-filled spectacle never gets old. This year, they will be closing out both days of the fair, doing their presentation in front of the Unisphere. Not to be missed!

The World Maker Faire runs September 26-27, 10am-6pm at the New York Hall of Science, Queens. A downloadable program guide is available. Tickets can be purchased in advance here. Photos courtesy of World Maker Faire.