A machine insect, an Olympics with a twist and a fashion parade are all some of the surprises expected at this year’s Steampunk Tasmania festival.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The festival will be held at George Town in less than two weeks, and the organising committee of just six are expecting thousands to attend.
Steampunk Tasmania Festival committee member Lee-Ann Patterson said the event started under an Events Tasmania grant.
“We’re building our numbers, we’re only in our third year under that program and have tripled our numbers last year and are hoping to grow on that again this year,” she said.
“People are just blown away when they come and half the time if they haven’t dressed up in steampunk clothing then they say ‘we have to dress up next year’.”
Ms Patterson said it was a “totally unique” event and something that could only be experienced at a Steampunk Festival.
The utility insect, called UKI, has been featured at Burning Man overseas, and at White Night in Victoria.
“She is combination of art and technology amalgamating the chemical and the organic,” Ms Patterson said.
Another exciting event will be the Steampire Games of Realm, similar to the Olympics.
Events such as tea cup racing, cob tossing, three-legged races, and a cog and spanner race are set to star.
Along with all that, organisers will be looking out for the best dressed on the day to encourage into the Grande Fashion Parade.
“We have [Theatre North director] Greg Leong, [young designer] Jye Marshall, who is a young guy from George Town Grace Roberts and [Labor’s] Michelle O’Byrne as the judges,” Ms Patterson said.
“The fashion parade will have a sash and cash component. It would be really good to see a junior steam punk, male and a female winner.”
A Cogsmob Flashmob Dance will also be held throughout the day, with keen participants urged to learn the choreography on the event’s Facebook page.
The event will be held at the Old Skellerup Building on August 18, at 11am, with the night sailing starting at 5.30pm.
- While you're with us, did you know that you can now sign up to receive breaking news updates direct to your inbox. Sign up here.