Latest news with #Steampunk
Otago Daily Times
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Colourful spectacle of science fiction and fantasy
Fashion, fun and frivolity were on full display at the Steampunk Street Parade in Oamaru on Saturday. Thousands of people lined the streets of the Victorian Precinct and Thames St to catch a glimpse of the finest retro futuristic costumes and mechanical contraptions, all to the energetic sounds of the Crash Bandihoot brass band, playing New Orleans-style horn, and the North Otago Highland Pipe Band. This year the Kings' Birthday festival celebrated all things Steampunk with a "Circus in Time" theme. Steampunk NZ Festival chair Lea Campbell said it was "a most colourful spectacle" of science fiction and fantasy. "Each year our parade gets bigger and more colourful, but I think this was one of the most colourful we've ever had. It was great. "It was a parade that had everything, from performers to a circus tent, to wizards, to circus vehicles and steampunk floats and vehicles," she said. Last year's parade drew about 2500 people. Ms Campbell said there were new parade floats and attractions not seen in previous years at the festival. "The floats have been made in Dunedin and Christchurch and all around the place, and we've never had these floats before, it was so impressive." She said people had spent "hundreds of hours" to make floats the crowd would marvel at. Jenny and Nigel Crabbe, of Auckland, who had travelled to Oamaru for the Steampunk Festival for the first time, said the parade "was amazing". "I couldn't believe how many amazing floats there were, and how diverse the audience was too, from young to old," Mrs Crabbe said. An engineer, Mr Crabbe said he "loved the artwork" and all the mechanical contraptions. Jo and Lance Toplis, of Greymouth, said the parade was "absolutely wonderful". "So much effort goes into the floats, and the costumes. It was really good," Mrs Toplis said. Ms Campbell said the Creative Bricks Lego building experience behind the Collective Cafe in Harbour St was also a popular attraction for families. Displays of creations by talented Lego builders, including recent Lego Masters NZ entrants, were on show, as well as opportunities for people to build their own, she said. Part of the Steampunk tradition was the yearly teapot racing that took place in the afternoon at the Scottish Hall, with best and fastest — as well as most spectacular — crashes being rewarded with a lot of laughs from the crowd. The five-day festival finishes today.
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Steampunkers converge for festival
Oamaru's annual Steampunk Festival goes back in time this weekend, boosting the town's tourism appeal in the process. Steampunk NZ Festival organising committee member Carolyn Lewis said this year's "Circus in Time" theme combined flamboyance and the spectacle of the circus with adventures in time. "Time travel is an iconic Steampunk theme. "The Victorian Era is a key time period for Steampunk fans, and the Victorians absolutely loved a circus — it was an accessible form of entertainment, with the sideshows and associated activities being hugely popular across all classes. "Most of the tickets sold thus far for this year's festival have gone to out-of-towners, including a good chunk of North Island folk. "We also have overseas visitors from Australia and the US." Steampunkers Sir Gideon Steamcrank (Gearlord of the Twisting Spires) aka Carl Yates and James Brian said they were coming to Steampunk weekend with a group from Christchurch. "There is a French girl in our group and an Australian couple who were married in Steampunk and they have come over to be part of the festival for their honeymoon," Mr Brian said. He had been attending the Oamaru Steampunk festival for the past 15 years. Mr Brian had travelled to other Steampunk events around the world including in England, Germany and the Netherlands. He believed the Oamaru event was "world class". Mr Yates said he was a "newbie" attending the festival for the fourth time this year and he was excited for the upcoming event. "We look forward to meeting all the creative, imaginative and eccentric people at the festival," Mr Yates said. The Heritage Precinct in Oamaru was a major factor in the success of the festival, Ms Lewis said. The five-day festival began yesterday and will continue over the King's Birthday weekend to Monday. Tourism Waitaki consumer and trade marketing manager Jade Harvey said the town was generally booked out, with cafes busy and motels full. "Accommodation is usually fully or almost booked out on Steampunk weekend with approximately 90% of attendees visiting from outside of Waitaki with the post-event survey showing that 80% stay for three nights or more. "Although the festival is concentrated in Oamaru, the majority of attendees are from out of town and are choosing to stay for most, if not all, of the long weekend."
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Festival mixes spectacle of circus with time travel
PHOTO: ODT FILES Oamaru's annual Steampunk Festival goes back in time this weekend, boosting the town's tourism appeal in the process. SteampunkNZ Festival organising committee member Carolyn Lewis says this year's "Circus in Time" theme combines flamboyance and the spectacle of the circus with adventures in time. "Time travel is an iconic Steampunk theme. The Victorian Era is a key time period for Steampunk fans, and the Victorians absolutely loved a circus — it was an accessible form of entertainment, with the sideshows and associated activities being hugely popular across all classes. "Most of the tickets sold thus far for this year's festival have gone to out-of-towners, including a good chunk of North Island folk. We also have overseas visitors from Australia and the US." The Heritage Precinct in Oamaru is a major factor in the success of the festival, she said. The five-day festival began yesterday and continues over the King's Birthday weekend to Monday. Tourism Waitaki consumer and trade marketing manager Jade Harvey says the town is generally booked out, with cafes busy and motels full. "Accommodation is usually fully or almost booked out on Steampunk weekend with approximately 90% of attendees visiting from outside of Waitaki with the post-event survey showing that 80% stay for three nights or more. "Although the festival is concentrated in Oamaru, the majority of attendees are from out of town and are choosing to stay for most, if not all, of the long weekend." — APL
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Summer 2025 festivals in Central Ohio: From washboard music to HoneyFest
LANCASTER — Festival season is finally here. You may be familiar with Picktown Palooza and Lancaster Festival, but what are some other options for festival fun? Step out of your comfort zone with these quirky festivals in the Central Ohio area. This fest will have a marketplace, treasure hunt and other entertainment and activities to kick off summer. The second annual festival will be from May 16 to May 18. This year includes: A bustling Pirate Marketplace with over 100 vendors, an outdoor Pirate Ship Playland, and the indoor Pirates Cove for Kids. A Tri-County Treasure Hunt spanning 40 locations around Buckeye Lake. Unique themed Treasure Hunt tours for Steampunk enthusiasts, Mermaids, Golf Cars, Motorcycles, Side-by-Sides, and Pontoon Boats. Special offers at local businesses, plus a bounty of live music and engaging activities for the entire Pirate family. During Prohibition, New Straitsville was the moonshine capital as they produced more moonshine than anywhere else in the county. Now, they have hosted a festival every year in May since 1971. This four-day festival includes live entertainment, amusement rides, food and a parade. It takes place on Main Street from May 23 to May 26. Logan is home to the last operational washboard factory in the United States, the Columbus Washboard Company. Every year, this festival offers live washboard music, washboard factory tours, craft vendors and food trucks. It will be from June 5 through 7 in historic downtown Logan. More: Tornado watch vs warning: How to prepare, where to seek shelter This music and arts festival, which tours to Michigan, Indiana and North Carolina, is coming to Hocking Hills on Aug. 9 and 10. Tickets can be bought at If you want to experience all things honey, this is the place to be. There will be a honey bake-off, honey food, wine tasting, bee memorabilia, hands-on honey extractions and more. This free event will be from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sept. 5 and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sept. 6. For more info on parking, location and more, visit This festival in historic downtown Canal Winchester has live blues music, world-class ribs, a wide variety of quality non-rib food options, children's activities, fan-cooled dining areas, and a beer & wine garden for our Blues/Rib-loving guests 21 and over, according to the website. It will be on July 26 and 26, rain or shine. For more info on parking and the entertainment lineup, check their website. Celebrate local beers at Lancaster's annual BrewFest. Tickets went on sale May 2 and the festival will be from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 16. For more information and where to buy tickets, visit This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Unique festivals to attend this summer in Central Ohio
