This is a picture of the official World's Fair Muppet. Her name is Galia. If you see her, say hello!

Special note:  There’s more info below, but if you’re at all near New York City, you should check out our Halloween event, October 14th, The Anachronism Meets The Goblin Market!

It’s finally time!!  Steampunk World’s Fair tickets are now onsale!  

With EVEN MORE amazing absinthe-and-other-special-beverages tastings; a gourmet buffet dinner created by the world’s premier geeky chef; and the fifth, most intricate and enthralling iteration of The Goblin Market, live and in person.  First 500 tickets win a shot at free absinthe pastries, autographed books, posters, t-shirts, jewelry, tickets to our other shows, and many other special prizes!  Don’t delay – get your tickets now!

BUY TICKETS HERE!!  Hurry!  Hurry!  There’s not a moment to waste!  Unless you have a time machine, in which case, you can worry less.

We’re rapidly gearing up for “WE INTERRUPT THIS STEAMPUNK WORLD’S FAIR!“, our most eccentric and improbable Steampunk World’s Fair event ever (and that’s saying a LOT, coming from us).   We’d say “expect the unexpected”, but we think you’re already going to expect the unexpected, so we’ll say, instead, “Expect the unexpected that you didn’t expect when you expected the unexpected you expected!”  Though we’re not sure what that means.  

You can now RSVP on Facebook to stay updated on the event, as well! And if that’s not enough, you can follow us on Twitter!

Update, September 25th:  Steampunk World’s Fair tickets go onsale at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 27th!  First five hundred tickets get entered into a drawing for absinthe cocktails and other prizes!

Pssst!  Are you getting anxious waiting for next May’s Steampunk World’s Fair? Are you eager to see Joe Vourteque, Unwoman, Voltaire, and Psyche Corp all in one place? Have you been delighted, astounded, even entranced by The Goblin Market? Well, then, have we got a show for you: The Anachronism Meets The Goblin Market – Oct. 14 at Club Element in NYC!

Steampunk World’s Fair Vending applications are now open and available at http://steampunkworldsfair.com/?page_id=7088!  Due to demand, SPWF vending applications have been extended until 3 p.m. on October 5th!  Please note that we cannot accept ANY applications after that time.

And finally, in simply fantastic news, we  are ever-so-happy to announce that next year’s SPWF will include Jeff Vandermeer, the brilliant writer/editor/publisher who is responsible for an insanely great body of work (though he may be best known to many as the force behind The Steampunk Bible, he’s done way too many amazing things to list in this paragraph) – and the irrepressible, amazing, award-winning, genre-sizzling band Steam Powered Giraffe!

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The Steampunk World’s Fair III brought in over 4,000 attendees, making it the world’s largest ticketed Steampunk event!  Thanks to all of you who came by!  To stay in the loop about what we’re doing, please feel free to check out our Facebook group, and/or join our mailing list via the link on the right-hand side of this page. This coming year’s Steampunk World’s Fair will be at the same locations, on the weekend of May 17-19th, 2013!

If you enjoyed The World’s Fair, check out our original event, which inspired The World’s Fair  - The Wicked Winter Renaissance Faire, coming to The Doubletree Hotel & Conference Center in lovely Somerset, New Jersey, February 15-17, 2013.   We’re adding an entire hotel of Steampunk delights for your delectation – check it out!

And again…thank you all!!!

much love,

Jeff Mach

(The rest of this website is unchanged and refers to the event that just passed.  Do feel free to take a look around for more information!  We’ll be updating it in a few weeks!)

In more somber news, a few months back, we went public with something that we think is important, regarding behavior within the Steampunk world.  We’ve joined with other Steampunk events in this: An Open Letter To The Steampunk Community.

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And we’ve kept the last few updates from right before Wicked Faire 2012 on the site.  They’re below..including last year’s GIGANTIC event schedule!

May 16, 2012:  Hello, and welcome to the madness that is this website, less than a week before World’s Fair!  We’re running around like mad, hammering the last bits onto the event – come on in and don’t mind the flying cogs!

And we have the 99.9% finalized full event schedule at last, and it is HUGE!!  Click here to see it in all its ridiculously massive glory! 

Special Note, May 15th, 2012:  Advance ticket sales have now ended.   You can still get tickets at the door, though, so come on by, and bring your friends!  And your enemies!  And a few of your enemies’ friends!   And so on, and so forth!

In terms of our VIP events –  The Goblin Market is on Friday evening, pretty much all evening; the Absinthe Tasting is in two seatings on Saturday afternoon, and the Tea & Gourmet British Buffet is Saturday eve.    Doors open on Friday, May 18th at 5 p.m. , and the event ends on Sunday, May 20th, at 6 p.m. We can’t wait to see you all there!

We realize that our site is rather gigantic and there’s an insane amount of entertainment, which means there’s rather a lot to look at.  We do appreciate your time and patience – and we hope to see you this coming weekend!

Some quick links: Buy tickets here.  Check out the Absinthe Tasting!  See a huge and growing list of performers & pleasures (largest in the steampunk event world!) here.   Our special buffet dinner & high tea is right here.  And you can contact us, too.

Have you been to a Steampunk event?
How about a Steampunk World’s Fair?

We’re not just the world’s largest Steampunk festival – we aim to be the friendliest and most welcoming one, as well!

The first Steampunk World’s Fair brought together more Steampunk entertainment, and a greater variety of it, than had ever been seen before at a Steampunk event. We’re continuing that tradition, and adding to it with a number of special events – like our outdoor Midway!

Whether you’re a Steampunk veteran, or totally new to Steampunk and curious, or anywhere in-between, you are welcome here! Whether you have the finest Steampunk gear in all of space and time, or are wearing a t-shirt and some jeans, you are welcome here! Amazing Steampunk fun is afoot – come in and enjoy it!

Quick!  Buy your advance tickets right here!  Buying now gets you significant discounts on our incredible performance lineup and VIP events!

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Also, you are most cordially invited to come find The World’s Fair on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/323705873173/.

You’ll find many, many updates on this page – take a look at our ginormous selection of delights, and please feel free to click around the website to learn more.  Don’t forget to check out our Absinthe Tasting!  

Continue reading →

Only at the Goblin Market on Friday night of this year’s World’s Fair, the Museum of Interesting Things will be bringing delights and oddities to extend your imagination and evolve your minds! From Science to Literature, from Math to the Medieval, the Museum of Interesting Things will have just the thing to catch your fancy.

This event is exclusive to the Goblin Market on Friday night, so get your tickets right now! What is the Goblin Market you ask? Click here for all the information you’ll need.

Keep the circus going inside you, keep it going, don’t take anything too seriously, it’ll all work out in the end.
~David Niven

(As a sidenote, have we mentioned that participating in our Absinthe Tasting will make you as suave as David Niven?  Trust us.  Would we lie to you?)

(For those of you who aren’t sure what David Niven looks like…first, please stop making me feel old, dammit!  And second, Mr. David Niven looked like this:)

To be Mr. David Niven, all you need to do is walk over to the hotel bar and say, "Give me a martini. No, I don't give a hang whether it's shaken or stirred; I just want there to be alcohol in it!"

But we digress.  At any rate, our t-shirt was created to celebrate the Marvelous Midway and our many spectacular Steampunk Circus acts.   Felix Eddy imagined what such a  circus might be like, and we’re grateful to her for her splendid acts of imagination.  (Although she also imagined the date was 2010, which is being corrected on the actual shirts. : )  Check it out -

To go to the Ticket Page and order your t-shirt, do click here!

IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING APPLYING AS A PERFORMER/PANELIST THIS YEAR, PLEASE READ:

After March 31st, we will be instigating a $10 “Late Application Fee.” The application itself will still remain open until April 30th. (The $10 fee goes directly to our artistic director’s medical bills – not to the event.)

While we acknowledge the dedication, talent, and other resources many performers invest in honing their skills, late changes to our schedule is difficult for our performance/tech staff. This change is not meant to discourage anyone from performing – but rather, to encourage everyone to be proactive and send us their information early.

Applying early benefits everyone. As a performer, knowing that you are accepted allows you to adjust your schedule accordingly, communicate with the appropriate staff, and get the word out to your fans.

This change is currently an experiment, and will not necessarily be the case for all events to follow. If the additional $10 is an issue for you, please do reach out to us.

If you are considering applying to SPWF, please click here.

This is Allison from Platform One. She doesn't know we're using her picture to illustrate Gothic people at The Steampunk World's Fair.

A brief note:

Not only is the Steampunk World’s Fair welcoming to all, novice or veteran, any gender or no gender, any size, shape, and age…

…we have particular respect for our Gothic brethren.  Some say Steampunk is “Goth Gone Brown”.  We don’t.  We say that Steampunk is a movement which wouldn’t exist had the Gothic movement not paved the way.  That’s part of why we have a number of performers whose rangers flit between Gothic and Steampunk – not that there’s any one authority on what is, or is not, “Steampunk”.

Some Steampunk events apparently don’t welcome Goths.  I’ll say it again, not only do we welcome everyone, we welcome Gothic folk in particular.  If you’re of the Gothic persuasion, we salute and honor you.  Without you, there would be no us.*

Anyway, whoever you are, come in!  Come in!  All manner of wonders await!!

*  Yes, we’re paraphrasing a Meat Loaf song, which is neither Gothic nor Steampunk.  So sue us.  We like Meat Loaf.  Well, some of us do, anyway.

If you’re planning to attend one of our VIP events, your life just got a little more interesting! Due to a generous donation from Sacred Rose Tea, we will be offering a Complimentary Sacred Rose Tea Tasting at each and everyone one of our special events – that includes our catered dinner, Carnival Obscura & The Goblin Market, and Milly Wonka’s Absinthe Tasting!

Sacred Rose is a leading purveyor of hand blended vibrational artisan tisanes, offering exquisite herbal infusions of brilliant character. Combining the ancient art of tea blending with the venerated modality of plant spirit healing, Sacred Rose produces hand-crafted, premium quality, all natural and healthy herbal infusions to please the palate and delight the senses.

And they like us so much, they set aside some of their best blends for our guests. We’re pleased to say that due to our amazing sponsor, we can make your experience that much more… special!

Want to put our giant web poster on your website, or just link to it?  Go right ahead!

Dark Follies is an award winning vaudeville style variety show that takes place during the First Friday Art Walks from June to September in Portland, Maine.  Family friendly while still keeping an edge, Dark Follies  features the live music of the Dark Follies Rhythm Orchestra, dancing, juggling, side show acts, fire performers and more.

Born of a love of street theater, vaudeville and a desire to create a space to showcase the performance talent present in Portland’s goth community, Dark Follies began bringing its special brand of street Vaudeville to life in the dark hours of Portland’s summer First Friday Art Walk nights in the Autumn of 2008.

Midnight Orchid Designs

Proud Sponsor for Dark Follies

Steampunk World’s Fair is largely a labor of love – we couldn’t do all the amazing things we do without a dedicated team of volunteers working both before and after the event.

If you’re interested in helping out in any capacity, we have a place for you. If you work for 12 hours (three shifts lasting four hours each, or some combination thereof), we will comp your entry. Each shift also earns you a nifty meal ticket!

Due limits of space and budget, we cannot provide any other compensation (including crash space). We will be accepting volunteers until spaces fill up.

To volunteer, please follow this link

Email our Friendly Neighborhood Volunteer Coordinator with any questions or concerns – dmsteamfair [AT] gmail.com

Would you like to promote your business, art, organization, or work to the world’s largest and most friendly conglomeration of Steampunks? You should consider one of our highly affordable, highly targeted sponsorships! Whether your business will or will not be present at Steampunk World’s Fair, this is a great opportunity to get your name out and forge a relationship with our community.

Click here to view our sell sheet (PDF format)

If you have any questions, please contact us.

NOTE: As of April 1st, we are charging a $10 “Late Fee.” This is NOT an application fee – although we are hoping it encourages everyone to be prompt with their applications – and it goes directly to Artistic Director Gil Cnaan’s medical bills. If you believe you have a valid reason to waive the late fee, please email our Head of Performance, Matt DeBlass  - velochelonian [at] gmail.com

Do you see yourself at Steampunk World’s Fair?

Whether you’re looking to do a musical performance, sideshow, burlesque, demo, panel, etc – fill out our application!

If you apply, please give us two weeks to review your application. But do hurry, as space is filling up fast!

You asked for it, so we made it!

An easy-to-read, bulleted breakdown of ticket costs!

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Why upgrade your ticket, we ask? Peruse the perks here – but various levels include invitation to special events (including Celebrity/Staff Meet and Greet, and our new/improved Carnival Obscura/Goblin Market!), express registration, absinthe-inspired delights, t-shirts, and our eternal love and gratitude – among other things.

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• Normal Weekend: $60
• Artful Dodger: $70
• Gentleperson 1: $80
• Gentleperson 2: $95
• Mad Scientist: $120

• Weekend: $75
• Fri: $35
• Sat: $40
• Sun: $30
• No 2-day admissions.

Quick!  Upgrade now and gain pleasures beyond comprehension!  Okay, not  actually beyond comprehension, but still pretty great.

Update, Mid-March: With both main hotels sold out, we have cut a special deal with a 3.5 star hotel in Somerset for rooms at $99.  That INCLUDES a special limited shuttle service for free.  It’s only seven minutes away!  PLEASE REMEMBER…when you book with the official overflow hotel, it helps the event out!  It’s The Hotel Somerset-Bridgewater; call 732-560-0500 and tell them you want the “Steampunk” block. 

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Veteran World’s Fair-goers can attest: the size and scale of our festival is quite grand, with countless attendees from all corners of the country (and beyond!)

For this reason, we offer not one, but TWO hotels. The Embassy Suites is within a few minutes walking distance of our main hotel, the Radisson. No quadracycle or steam-powered buggy required!

We aim to fill both hotels with great programming – this year, each hotel is a main hotel.

We’d like to stress that the Embassy is a no-party hotel. Consider booking a room at the Embassy if you consider quieter environments to be more relaxing and relaxing. Those more inclined to socializing after-hours might enjoy the Radisson.

Here is the information for each:

The Embassy Suites (Somerset-Piscataway)
121 Centennial Avenue
Piscataway, NJ
Tel: 732-885-0338
Group Page (Hotel Rooms) - Use the group code “SPK”

** All booked – please use The Hotel Somerset-Bridgewater, 732-560-0500.

The Radisson Hotel (Piscataway)
21 Kingsbridge Road, Piscataway NJ
Tel: (732) 980-0400

** All booked – please use The Hotel Somerset-Bridgewater, 732-560-0500.

Welcome to the Steampunk World’s Fair -

The Greatest Steampunk Festival in the World.

Tickets are available HERE

and watch this site – we update often!

Steampunk World’s Fair 2012: The Official Announcement!

It is with extraordinary passion, pleasure, and a certain amount of absinthe–okay, possibly quite a lot of absinthe–that I officially announce the Third Steampunk World’s Fair:  May 18-20, 2012, at the Embassy Suites of Piscataway and the Radisson of Piscataway!

Update, October 26, 2011:  We’re pleased as punch and pie that we’re going to be featured on CBS Sunday Morning’s segment on Steampunk this weekend!  In a celebratory response, we’re opening ticket sales up this Saturday – stay tuned for details.  Meanwhile, please feel cordially invited to visit us on Facebook, or join our mailing list for helpful updates!

The Steampunk World’s Fair 2012, under the new management of Jeff Mach (one of the original founders) and his company, Widdershins LLC, is officially back to its first year locations in Piscataway, New Jersey.  Hotel rooms are now available!  (Late October update:  Reservation information for both hotels is now available here!)

Vending, performance, and other applications will open shortly, but are not yet open.  Give us a tad more time!

You can see some of Jeff’s other events at www.WickedFaire.com and www.TheGeekyKinkEvent.com and, if you’re at all near New York City, do check out our weird and wonderful Steampunk night at www.TheAnachronismNYC.com – the next Anachronism is Sunday, December 4th.

We look forward to talking to you and bringing you updates soon!