What to expect at a steampunk event

– an overview of a typical steampunk event by Roy Sinclair

The UK steampunk social scene is all about having fun and meeting like-minded people from all walks of life in an environment that is both friendly and quirky by its very nature. Smaller events known as 'socials' not-unsurprisingly focus on the social-interaction side of things, deliberately offering little more than an agreed start or meeting place, and then a finishing place for group photos. Large festivals, on the other hand, nearly always run over multiple days, attracting hundreds or even thousands of steampunks from all over the country and even the world. And then there's almost every size of event in between. See our UK event map or our UK event diary to find out if there's a steampunk event near you anytime soon.

Each type of event will have a different feel, but if we focus on the typical one- or two-day event attracting dozens to possibly hundreds of steampunks, some common aspects to the events normally emerge. The following guide for newbies is intended to be generic and non-specific. Every organised event has its own flavour, usually reflecting the character and motivations of the organisers. Some do what they do for the love of bringing people together, some do it to make a living, whilst others organise events to try and raise money for good causes. Whatever the reason though, there follows a description of aspects to steampunk events that tend to be common to many within the UK.

Arrival

Most events will see people aiming to arrive at the venue from around 10am onwards unless otherwise notified. Where the venues are villages or small towns and no meeting place has been specified, most people will head for the commercial or communal centre, be that a market square, church square or wherever the most pubs and tea-rooms can be found. For larger towns with an established festival, it's a good idea to find out where steampunks have gathered in the past, just so that you don't end up walking about in isolation, feeling awkward on your first foray into the steampunk social scene.

Introduce yourself

The first priority for regular steampunks – after a cup of tea or coffee, of course – will usually be to greet their friends and discuss what has been going on since they last met. If you're a newbie and turning up on your own, this will be the perfect opportunity to get to know some steampunks, which may then lead on to being introduced to others.

Don't just stand around smiling or people will assume that you want to be left alone. Steampunks are always pleased to welcome new people into the fold, so walk up and chat to anyone dressed in steampunk clothing, who might be seasoned steampunks or fellow newbies – it doesn't mater either way as long as you start to make new friends. Introduce yourself and explain that you're new to the scene. If you need a topic of introductory conversation, compliment their outfit and ask how they achieved a particular look, or where they found those lovely boots or brooches etc. Steampunks love to talk about the outfits they spent days putting together, plus you might learn something useful for future outfits of your own.

Try to meet different people

The steampunk community is just as diverse as any other, albeit that the dressing up part tends to attract the more boisterous and confident members of society. Some steampunks are naturally shy but do their best to be outgoing, and then there are those who will talk to absolutely anyone about anything. Most steampunks walk a path somewhere between these two extremes.

There are young steampunks and old; rich and poor; white-collar and blue-collar; straight and gay. The odds are probably against you hitting it off with the first people you speak to (but you never know), so if you feel that the person, couple or group you have introduced yourself to are not the type that you want to be stuck with for too long, make your excuses and move on. The more people you introduce yourself to, the quicker you are likely to make connections with people who share your outlook on life and your sense of humour.

Be splendid

The UK steampunk motto is 'be splendid', so it is an unwritten rule among the community that we don't discuss politics or religion, and it is another that we each do our very best to be tolerant and non-judgemental. For example, cross-dressing is not uncommon among steampunks, sometimes for humorous effect, other times for personal preference. The community is inclusive of all, so if you have a problem with this and feel unable to treat everyone with good manners and respect, steampunk might not be for you.

Photographers

One thing that will immediately be noticeable at most regularly-held events, is the large number of photographers present. These include: local tourists who want to snap you on their phones to show their family and friends; camera club members who descend en masse to try and outdo each other with their images; regular amateur and professional photographers who are a cherished and integral part of the steampunk community; and press photographers who will be looking to earn a living by selling their images to newspapers and online media channels.

There is no point going near a well-advertised steampunk event if you don't want your photo taken, because there is no law to stop anyone taking your photo in a public place (or in some circumstances a private place where the public are allowed), providing they are not stalking or harassing you. That said, most tourists and amateur photographers will politely ask if they can take your photo before doing so, and when you pose for them, others will inevitably jump in and snap away too (often without asking). It goes with the territory and the better you look in your outfit, the more likely you are to be photographed. So get used to it!

Be aware that some photographers deliberately try to take 'candid' shots whereby you are not looking at the camera and are not even aware of the shot being taken. Again, this goes with the territory and they are not doing anything illegal. They are just making the most of what they might consider to be a 'target-rich' environment full of people who are fully aware that their photograph is likely to be taken repeatedly during the event. If you get to see some of the candid images taken at events, you'll understand why they are so sought after – the professional end-results can be stunning.

There is a regular group of amateur/semi-pro/professional photographers who form an important part of the steampunk community as they visit multiple events during the year. They will not be known to you if you are a newbie, but they will definitely be known to others. So keep an eye out for photographers who obviously get on well with other steampunks and maybe even introduce yourself. These 'togs', as they are affectionally known, have an unofficial code of conduct, will always be polite, and will always tell you where their pictures will be posted so that you can take copies for personal use e.g. the Facebook group: Thru the lens and more. These photographers are highly respected by steampunks because they are polite, unintrusive, and allow us to have and use high-quality photographs that we can fondly look back on in later life.

If another steampunk asks to take your photo, you can take that as a huge compliment because it means that they particularly like your outfit or your look. Again, most steampunks will post their images on Facebook so that you can take a copy for your own use.

Some photographers can occasionally get a bit intrusive and even rude – especially those from camera clubs, who sometimes seem to think that you are there for no other reason than to be their subjects. Many never offer a way of seeing their photos, and some will think nothing of sticking a camera in your face while you are talking or even eating! Thankfully such instances are rare, but let your feelings be known if it happens to you, and don't be afraid to say no if you are asked for a picture that you don't want to pose for. If you get into any sort of difficulty with a photographer at your first event, seek out the nearest group of steampunks who look like they know what they're doing, and ask for their help.

If you do view and copy a photograph from any of the social media channels following an event, it is good etiquette to publicly thank the photographer for taking and uploading the image. Never forget that the photographer owns the copyright to their images, so whilst most won't mind you posting them to your friends, always give the photographer a credit, and always ask their permission if you want to use their picture for anything more than just a post to friends. Some will even send you a high-res copy of the digital original if you want to have it enlarged. Just don't ever take their time and skills for granted.

The look

The steampunk aesthetic is unquestionably rooted in the Victorian age, although the very nature of the literary genre from which the steampunk social scene was born i.e. Victorian retrofuturism, means that any imaginable alternative future from Victorian times onwards could be considered a valid steampunk aesthetic or visual style. For this reason, many will tell you that steampunk can literally be anything you want it to be, and that the very idea of defining a set of styling rules is counterintuitive to the concept of steampunk.

Others, however, will point out that without some sort of agreed common visual style or definition, how can steampunk possibly be 'a thing' if it can be 'any thing'! …what is steampunk if it's not Victorian retrofuturism, they will say. And herein lies one of the many inherent contradictions within the steampunk community: what steampunk is and what it isn't.

The general, but not universal, consensus is that steampunk outfits should have a recognisably Victorian base (the 'steam' from steampunk refers to the age of steam) with at least some element of retrofuturistic 'bling' (the 'punk' from steampunk refers to rebellion and counterculture). For example, a gentleman might wear a tailcoat, waistcoat, ascot cravat and top hat from the Victorian era, but mix it with tight leather jeans, bovver boots, goggles and/or a cyborg-like face mask. Or a lady might wear a corset as an outer-garment and hitch her Victorian skirt up so high that her legs are exposed above the knee ...God forbid!

Other popular themes are outfits based on hussar-style military soldiers, time-travelling explorers of dinosaur-inhabited jungles, pirates from the Caribbean (which were still a thing at the start of the Victorian era), post apocalyptic survivors of an alien invasion from Mars, Victorian-era western cowboys and cowgirls, mad professors – the list goes on and on but nearly always with a recognisable Victorian sci-fi root or base.

You will sometimes see people in outfits or costumes that are most definitely not recognisably Victorian. And the reason is, as already explained, that some feel that steampunk can be whatever one wants it to be, and because of the unwritten rule of tolerance, those who disagree politely keep their feelings to themselves. Nobody gets upset and a cordial, relaxed, live-and-let-live attitude prevails.

One reason for the occasional presence of people in cosplay costumes (e.g. representing a non-steampunk character from anime, manga, film or a video game) is because of an increasing cross-over between the two genres or interests. Cosplayers – especially the younger ones – see steampunk festivals as a 'safe space' to dress up and have their photographs taken, and this sometimes becomes a foot-in-the-door for cosplayers to become steampunks as one year they might attend as a carbon-fibre-clad Marvel character, the next they might turn up as a reimagined Victorian Batman with an armoured suit made from leather and brass.

The same goes for anime characters and fury animal costumes, which might then be replaced for costumes of foxes or badgers dressed in Victorian attire (a popular aspect of steampunk literature). It's an element to steampunk events that can seem odd, even to regular steampunks, but again, it is tolerated in good spirits with respect, even if not totally understood.

Activities

Some of the larger organised events feature daft-but-fun quirky activities that serve as focal points to bring people together and add interest to the day's schedule. Typical steampunk activities include tea duelling (whereby two competitors dunk malted milk biscuits into cups of tea at the same time, then hold them up steadily, aiming to be the last person to cleanly consume their biscuit before it folds or breaks up), parasol duelling (a non-contact, Rock, Paper, Scissors-type game whereby participants use parasols to strike one of three poses to elegantly outmanoeuvre their opponent), and teapot racing (whereby small remote-controlled vehicles decorated to resemble teapots are raced through an obstacle course to achieve the fastest time and best style).

Such activities are by no means obligatory at steampunk events, but they serve to enhance social interaction and fun for those who might not feel so comfortable promenading (strolling around, posing for photographers and/or chatting with passers by). Such extra organised activities often feature separate competitions for younger steampunks (aka 'coglings'), making for an overall fun day or weekend for families with children.

Traders

Most of the larger organised events will feature traders' stands laid out in areas such as market squares, school buildings, municipal rooms or marques. You could find purveyors of absolutely anything among the traders' stalls, but their wares will usually include things that steampunks in particular like to buy. This includes steampunk outfits (often crossing over with goth clothing), bespoke hats, custom corsets, steampunk jewellery, ornaments and works of art, fabrics and haberdashery, specialist teas and gins (both particularly popular with steampunks), and literary and/or illustrated books from the steampunk genre.

Some traders are also keen members of the steampunk community, so they might attend some events as traders and other events as participants, or they might trade at a weekend event on the Saturday and participate on the Sunday. Obviously the traders who are also steampunks will often be very well placed to give buying advice, and as part of the community their professional reputation will be sacrosanct.

Entertainment

Not every steampunk event features entertainment, but the bigger the venue, the more likely there will be entertainers. This might be provided for free at bandstands and parks, or it might involve separate, ticketed events in theatres or licensed venues, normally taking place in the evenings.

There are no rules as to what sort of entertainment should be provided, if any, but the UK social scene often includes enthusiastic audiences for burlesque shows and eclectic musical acts that have, over the years, become synonymous with the steampunk scene for no other reason than that they are quirky and/or dress like steampunks. These include flame-throwing bagpipe-playing folk and rock bands, Victorian-dressed rhyming rappers, electro-swing singers and even goth-rock bands. The key words as far as steampunk entertainment goes, seem to be 'quirky', 'eclectic' and 'fun'.

Entertainment is also sometimes provided at events by way of steampunk vehicles of various types, from motorcycles with a steampunk or goth aesthetic, to camper-vans that are works of steampunk art on wheels. Some events feature horse-drawn vehicles, whilst others have machines as bizzare as steampunk gyrocopters. These are either booked as static displays by the organisers, or are simply what participants have chosen to turn up with on the day. Either way, they add extra interest to events and are always a popular addition to the steampunk aesthetic.

The end

The daytime attendance at most steampunk events tends to tail-off between 4pm and 5pm as people travel home or return to their accommodation to change and get ready for their evening activities. Saying goodbye is never easy, but your thoughts will inevitably be full of ideas for your next outfit, as well as trying to remember names and faces for the next time you meet. The memory of names is a common problem among steampunks, and one that is best resolved by simply keep asking for people's names until they stick firmly in your memory.

– Roy Sinclair, September 2025

  Photography: Move your cursor over the images for copyright credits (with particular thanks to Samantha O'Connor for nearly half of the photos shown above).