So an individual is showing off his or her talents and making experiences.

I do this in my own way in the venue  of model engine shows. The idea is similar but I show my model engines, although i have seen other things like rc steam boats  model locomotives  electronics for cnc . Home built cnc machines etc.
There was an exhibitor a couple years ago that had a 1980 s vintage teletype machine . It was hooked to an arduino . it polled the internet for the latest news then printed it out  in real time.
I display these engines for fun . It is blast to teach these things to people.
Maybe one day i will venture to a makers fair.

If you're a vendor at a maker fair, I get it.  If you're an individual...what's the purpose?

to share your ideas with "the world"... make personal & professional contacts... meet others with similar ideas... general fun...

and like Kronikabuse said, there are often free samples to be had.

If you have never been to one, you should try to go - even if just as a spectator the first time.. It is absolutely amazing to see all the cool stuff that people are doing.

So, no crazy stories of wild parties and maker-groupies?

Seriously though, what were your significant takeaways from the event?  Anything newsworthy?

Yes there were!
Crazy story- they had a knight in a suit of armor fight a Tesla coil, a couple illegally parked cars (owned by exhibitors) were hit by trucks, heartless, Kronik abuse and myself got to taste liquid nitrogen ice cream, and a school PT teacher came in frantic looking for a booth making prosthetic hands, but there wasn't one. She needed one for a student she has that is missing 2/3 of her forearm and she wanted to get a printed prosthetic, I introduced her to Kronikabuse and I also offered to work pro-bono if needed.

Also one printer company to be left unnamed by me, was trying to get other printer companies to sell his product instead of theirs. What a dishonest shmuck.
There were only about 4 3DP companies and the rest were hobbyists, services, and makerspaces, but certainly more than double the printers from last year.

Seriously though, what were your significant takeaways from the event?  Anything newsworthy?

Kronikabuse wrote:

ROBOT WARS!

If I ever have a booth next to robot wars again I'll gladly jump off a bridge. My throat is just now feeling better after yelling for 22 hours this last weekend lol

LOL, I still only have half a voice... by the time I got home Sunday night, i could barely squeak, Monday was not much better. =P

ROBOT WARS!

If I ever have a booth next to robot wars again I'll gladly jump off a bridge. My throat is just now feeling better after yelling for 22 hours this last weekend lol

Is it mostly vendors or individuals that exhibit?

it is both. Vendors promoting products, and individuals promoting their crafts/projects. It is a mish-mash of all sorts of different things, from welding and woodworking, to fiber arts and 3d printing, and everything in between. Electronics, robotics, costume making, model building, the list goes on. There are also other organizations, such as schools, promoting non-traditional classes and/or training.

Still sorting through all the pictures I took early Sunday morning - took a walk around the venue to peek at the other exhibits... SO much to see!