I apologize for my absence over the last couple of days, but while I’ve been gone I’ve been gathering tons of information about the upcoming Steampunk World’s Fair. And by tons I mean that every time I’m ready to start writing an article, my friend Jeff Mach announces something new for the festival. Oh, if that name sounds familiar it's because you may have had tea with Jeff Mach at Wicked Faire V.
But back to the current event--let’s start from the beginning. What is The Steampunk World’s Fair? Let me quote from the event’s official Facebook page:
This is a full-scale, all-weekend-long event devoted to The Steampunk world. . . . We have musical performances (including the esteemed Professor Elemental and the amazing HUMANWINE, as well as Black Tape For A Blue Girl, Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys, The Absinthe Drinkers, Matt DeBlass, G.D. Falksen, Psyche Corporation, and a list that just goes on and on and on until you begin to realize that we have the finest collection of Steampunk music in the world!), salons and workshops and discussions and wicked lounges and people like photographer Kyle Cassidy of “Who Killed Amanda Palmer” fame, at least one Grand Ball of extraordinary proportions, and s lovely Tea. Steamy artisans and vendors of extraordinary skill. A Lovecraftian Murder Mystery Dinner is available as well!”
This, in fact, makes The Steampunk World’s Fair the largest Steampunk festival in the United States. Why is this a Festival and not a Convention, you ask? Well, I quote Jeff Mach quoting http://www.thefreedictionary.com/festival:
A festival is
To reference the last definition -"1. a day or period set aside for celebration or feasting, esp one of religious significance
2. any occasion for celebration, esp one which commemorates an anniversary or other significant event
3. an organized series of special events and performances, usually in one place a festival of drama
4. Archaic a time of revelry; merrymaking
5. (modifier) relating to or characteristic of a festival"If you'd like to contrast it with "convention" - and we love conventions -
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/convention
"1. a. A formal meeting of members, representatives, or delegates, as of a political party, fraternal society, profession, or industry.
b. The body of persons attending such an assembly: called the convention to order."
To sum it up, there is nothing formal about this celebration, it is all about the merrymaking, and there is definitely an organized series of special events and performances. Like I said, there is nothing quite like The Steampunk World’s Fair in the country.
Okay, that’s a start. The festival will be held May 14 to 16 at the Radisson Hotel Piscataway AND (just recently announced because there were too many attendees, performers, and vendors for just one building) the Embassy Suites of Piscataway. You know, Connecticut folks, this is just a short ride down I-95. If all goes as planned, I will be making that trip.
But alas I have taken up much of your time and this space already in this one article. But I stand by what I said about the plethora of information out there about this event. In fact, stay tuned for part two of this article where I’ll tell you more about what performers were just announced and how you can get tickets for only $30. And yes, that is for the whole weekend. And no, I’m not kidding.
I leave you momentarily with one of the promotional videos produced by Dogtoon Media and featuring Brian Viglione and The Penny Dreadfuls.
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