Steampunk Festival Weekend

Blists Hill Victorian Town 23rd – 24th June with Evening Concert

Grab your top hat and goggles and come dressed in your steampunk finery as you enter a world like no other for the second Steampunk Weekend Festival at Blists Hill Victorian Town, near Ironbridge with day and evening events over the weekend of Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th June.

The Ironbridge Gorge Museums have teamed up with the organisers of Asylum, the massive Lincoln Steampunk Festival, to bring this fantastical two-day event back to Blists Hill Victorian Town. Throughout the weekend parts of the Town will turn into a fantasy world inspired by Jules Verne and HG Wells. Blists Hill's cottages and shops will be open as usual, but the historic streets will become home to well-dressed steampunk 'Victorians' sporting the latest in fantastical gadgets and accessories plus eclectic market stalls, exhibitions, talks and shows celebrating all things steampunk.

Down on The Green there will be a living history encampment of Her Majesty's 3rd Foot and Mouth Regiment; where you discover more about soldiering in the late 19th century, then go along to the Steam Tent Co-operative. Elsewhere you can visit the recruiting office of the 'Martian Expeditionary Force' and the Hopeless Maine 'Tourist Information Office'.

Throughout both days you can browse and buy clothes and accessories from the weird and wonderful steampunk market, courtesy of specially selected artisan traders, go on a mystical treasure hunt or watch the Belly Fusion Dance Collective. Other highlights include a fascinating programme of talks and presentations, while all ages can go along to Cogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Saturday night concert 'Iron Made In'

On Saturday evening only, Blists Hill's Ironworks becomes the venue for a very special event, 'Iron Made In', featuring the Wight Hot Pipes and Anti-Invasion. Doors open at 7pm with the performance starting from 7.30pm. A separate tickets is required to attend Iron Made In, in addition to the daytime entry ticket, which must be purchased in advance on www.ironbridge.org.uk.

Saturday's day event will run continuously from 10am to 8pm, while on Sunday the Festival is open from 10am to 4.30pm. Annual Passports will be valid for the weekend or tickets for each day can be purchased on the gate priced at £19.75 adults, £14 for 60 plus and £12 for children under 16; under 5s free. The 'Iron Made In' concert requires an additional ticket priced at £10 per person, which must be purchased in advance from www.ironbridge.org.uk.

For further information, call the Ironbridge Tourist Information Centre on 01952 433 424 or visit www.ironbridge.org.uk. The Gorge is easily reached via the M54 motorway exiting at Telford junction 4 or 6. 

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Pat Edgar, PR Matters

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