Steampunk is one of the sub-genres of science fiction which has turned into a huge cultural phenomenon ever since its inception in the late 1980s. It encompasses the elegance of the Victorian era, the roughness of the American Wild West, the creativity and innovation of the industrial revolution, legends of icons such as Sherlock Holmes and Mark Twain, and much more. It has something to offer for everyone who is interested in art, science, fashion, architecture, technology, literature, music, and history.
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About the steampunk festival
The Big River Steampunk Festival was initially started in 2014 by Ken and Lisa Marks who are also the co-founders of the Hannibal History Museum. They found steampunk to be a perfect fit for Hannibal as it features old industrial buildings from the 1840s, the history of the industrial era, and also encompasses the legend of Mark Twain. The festival is now in its seventh installment and will start on the weekend leading up to Labor Day. This festival is unusual when compared to other Steampunk festivals and conventions. Unlike other Steampunk Festivals, it takes place in an immersive Steampunk cosplay environment with the historic ambiance of downtown Hannibal, Missouri.
If you would like some steampunk costumes and accessories to flaunt at this festival, check out our steampunk fashion page.
Events in the Big River Steampunk Festival
This festival is a culmination of thousands of hours dedicated by the people involved, to bring steampunk to life in the town of Hannibal. It not only features cosplayers in amazing handmade costumes but also entertainers who display wonderful performances and vendors with some amazing steampunk stuff. The Big River Steampunk Festival in 2019 attracted over 20,000 people from all over the world. This steampunk festival is a gathering for people to share their ideas and creations with one another, awing the casual observer at the same time. Many events in the festival are free for all at the same time the festival also features a slew of premium events that take steampunk to another level.
The Big River Steampunk Festival will start on 3rd September with a Society Row Evening Dinner and music by The Ragged Blade Band at Riverside Restaurant. The tickets for the paid events can be purchased from the Big River Steampunk Festival website until the 31st of August and can be collected from the information booths after showing relevant ID proof. After the 31st tickets can be availed directly from the information booths on a first come first serve basis. The main event will start on the 4th of September with a Parade which will start from Centre Street. These are some of the events that will take place throughout the festival.
- Nurf Dueling in the Steampunkin Area
- Tinkers at the Y-Men’s Pavilion
- Face Painting in the Steampunkin Area
- Making of Airships at the Y-Men’s Pavilion
- Steampunk Coloring in the Steampunkin Area
- Petting Zoo
Daily Event Schedule for the Steampunk Festival
Here is a list of all the paid and unpaid events that will take place over the course of the weekend leading up to Labor Day.
Friday, September 3, 2021
12:00 Noon – Road Closures in place/Booth set up begins
6:00 pm – Society Row Evening Dinner, Riverside Restaurant, Music by The Ragged Blade Band
10:00 pm – Closing of the booths for the evening
Saturday, September 4, 2021
10:00 am – Parade from Center Street down North Main to the Steampunk Stage.
11:00 am – Steampunk Pete on the Steampunk Stage
11:00 am – Lunch at The Star Theater, Music Midnight Wanderer’s followed by an amazing show that you don’t want to miss
11:00 am – Make and Take at Riverside Restaurant banquet room – Steampunk Dragon by Raven Designs $25.00 at the door
11:00 am – Seminar – Riverside Restaurant Patio – Rosanne Roy – Understanding The Tarot
12:00 noon – Steampunk Illusionist – Boyhood Home Stage
12:30 pm – Make and Take at Riverside Restaurant – Headband Fascinators by Family Creations – $10.00 at the door
1:00 pm – Vow Renewal with The Pope – Steampunk Stage
2:00 pm – Lady Lyric ‘dAvalon – Steampunk Stage
2:00 pm – Preliminary Costume Contest – Boyhood Home Stage
2:00 pm – Make and Take – At Riverside – Artemis the Owl Candle by Eco Paper Designs $15.00 at the door
3:00 pm -Steampunk Illusionist – Dean Carnegie at The Depot
4:00 pm – Finals Costume Contest – Steampunk Stage
4:30 pm – Make and Take – The Depot – Leather Key Chain by Family Creations – $20.00 at the door
5:00 pm – Little Beard & The Scallywags at Finns Food and Spirits on Main Street
5:00 pm – Seminar by Cherry and Jerry at Riverside – “Women of Ragtime,” a look at some of the best female composers and performers in the ragtime era.
5:00 pm – Little Beard & The Scallywags at Finns Food and Spirits on Main Street
5:00 pm – Seminar by Cherry and Jerry at Riverside – “Women of Ragtime,” a look at some of the best female composers and performers in the ragtime era.
5:00 pm – Tinkers Show and Tell and Awards – Steampunk Stage
6:00 pm – Tea Pot Races – Parking Lot Bird and Main Streets
6:00 pm – Melodrama at The Depot with The Pope and Jim Dewey
7:00 pm – Thawind Music opens for The Thieves of Flight at Tanyard Gardens
8:00 pm – Thieves of Flight at Tanyard Gardens
9:00 pm – Steampunk Ball at The Star Theater, music by Lady lyric ‘dAvalon, followed by the risqué stylings of our very own Steampunk Pete and company
9:00 pm – Ragged Blade Band opening for NOWAKE at Tanyard Gardens
10:00 pm – NOWAKE at Tanyard Gardens
10:00 pm – Closing of the booths for the evening
Sunday, September 5, 2021
9:00 am – Church with The Pope on the Steampunk Stage
10:00 am – Preliminary Human and Pet Contest – Boyhood Home Stage
10:00 am – Seminar by Cherry and Jerry at Riverside – “Made in Missouri” exploring Missouri’s trailblazing contributions to ragtime.
10:00 am – Seminar – Mysteries of Steam present by Magister Aloysius VonDiesel at The Depot
11:00 am – Steampunk Illusionist Dean Carnegie on The Steampunk Stage
11:00 am – Tea Dueling at the Y-Men’s Pavilion
11:00 am – Make and Take – at The Depot – Steampunk Mini Journal by Raven Designs $25.00 at the door
12:00 pm – Silent Auction – at Riverside
12:00 pm – Low Tea at Riverside – Music by Lady Lyric ‘dAvalon, Tarot Reading available
12:30 pm – Make and Take at The Depot – Leather Key Chains by Family Creations $20.00 at the door
2:00 pm – Finals for Human and Pet Costume Contest on the Boyhood Home Stage
2:30 pm – Vow Renewal with The Pope on the Steampunk Stage
3:00 pm – Little Beard and The Scallywags on the Boyhood Home Stage
3:00 pm – Steampunk Pete – Martial Arts Exhibition on the Steampunk Stage
3:00 pm – Afternoon Tea at Riverside – seminar by Medium Britney Buckwalter
3:30 pm – Tinkers – Show and Tell and Awards – Steampunk Stage
3:30 pm – Make and Take at The Depot – Beginning Crochet by Dana Fraedrich $5.00 at the door
4:00 pm – Make and Take at Riverside – Steampunk Keepsake Boxes by Raven Designs $30.00 at the door
4:30 pm – Lady Lyric ‘dAvalon on the Steampunk Stage
5:00 pm – Steampunk Illusionist Dean Carnegie at The Depot
5:00 pm – High Tea at Riverside – Music by Thawind
5:30 pm – Silent Auction Winners announced on the Steampunk Stage
6:00 pm – Little Beard and the Scallywags at The Depot
7:00 pm – Circus Kaput at Tanyard Gardens
8:00 pm – Evening at The Star
8:00 pm – Fashion Show/Dinner
10:00 pm – Music by Midnight Wanderers
11:00 pm – Vaudeville Meriam AlaMode
9:00 pm – Gentry Blue band (formerly Dragoness) at Tanyard Gardens
10:00 pm – Closing of the booths for the evening
Monday, September 6, 2021
10:00 am – Vow Renewal with The Pope on the Steampunk Stage
12:00 pm – Benediction by The Pope on the Steampunk Stage
12:30 pm – Festival teardown begins
2:00 pm – Departure Lunch at Riverside
Where is Big River?
The Big River steampunk festival is happening over the course of this weekend in Hannibal, Missouri. Big river refers to the Mississippi River which is close to Hannibal.
Keep me for 2022
The Curiosity Cat came back .Send info.Looks fabulous for 2022
Sure. The details for 2022 will be available sometime next year. Will update as soon as details are made available.