Springfield VT Steampunk Festival

What’s New at the Steampunk Festival This Year
Well, Splendid Teapot Racing for one—and Burlesque for another
Festival Benefits the Springfield Humane Society
Volunteers Still Needed

SPRINGFIELD, VT—The Springfield Steampunk Festival, an official Vermont Arts 2016 event slated for September 23, 24, 25 features new musical performers, more workshops and many more vendors while embracing new intriguing and whimsical ideas from as far away as New Zealand. Splendid Teapot Racing was conceived by Simone Montgomery in Dunedin, New Zealand and premiered for the first time in 2014 at Steampunk NZ Festival in Oamaru. And now it premieres in Springfield, Vt. The Steampunk movement is truly international in scope.

Splendid Teapot Racing will take place in the wedding tent at the Hartness House Inn on Saturday, September 24. Splendid Teapot Racing involves radio-controlled teapots negotiating an obstacle course within a set time. The vehicle is simply a teapot of the entrants’ choice attached to a radio-controlled car or truck and embellished to taste. Splendid Teapot Racing is inclusive, for all ages and skills levels. It is about participation and having a jolly splendid time. Festival-goers are encouraged to make their own teapot racer and enter the race! You can sign up on line or at the Festival, as well.

The Steampunk festival weekend kicks off Friday night, September 23. Doors open at 6p for those who want to buy tickets for the weekend followed by a social hour from 6:30-7:30p featuring the ambient sounds of Ghost Signal along with a workshop in the Victorian Ballroom by Citizens of Ashford. Opening night will also feature Parlour Games with John and Laura Peterson in the Victorian Ballroom. Entrance is free with cash bar and cash food.

The “radioactive” band Tritium Well will perform in the wedding tent beginning around 8:30p. From the hills of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, Bobby Farlice-Rubio leads this four-member ensemble with Linda Warnaar on percussion, Kevin Colosa on bass and theremin, and Nicolas Anzalone on violin. Get your dancing feet ready for Tritium Well’s eclectic and electric rhythms. http://tritiumwell.com/

All events this year will take place at The Hartness House Inn. Festival-goers can expect 3-days of Steampunk inspired fun and entertainment, including Victorian Parlor games, telescope observatory tours, photo booth, afternoon tea, absinthe tasting, workshops and panels and performances by Bella’s Bartok, Mistress Fogg and Company, Gomez Indie Pop Rocks, Matthew Meserve, Malice and Mercy, Psyche Corporation, Skye Whirlind, Stringfield Springers, The Way To The Egress, Thereminist Kevin Colosa, Tritium Well, Eli August and the Abandoned Buildings (all one band), The King’s Busketeers and Venus Lens Cap.

The festival is still looking for volunteers who will receive a free weekend ticket for a 4-hour shift.

The online ticket booth is up and running. There are two events that are not part of the regular ticket price including the Absinthe Tasting and the burlesque show. Tickets for these events can be purchased separately and you do not need a full festival pass to attend.

The ticket booth at the Hartness House Inn opens on Saturday at 9:30a with doors opening at 10a. The Trader’s Bazaar is free this year and runs from 10a–7p in the front lawn tent both days. Donations are welcome. For more information and full schedule please go to: www.springfieldvtsteampunkfest.com. To go directly to the Volunteer Application go to www.springfieldvtsteampunkfest.com/volunteerapp.html. For additional information, feel free to email Sabrina Smith at steampunksocietyvt@gmail.com or call 802-952-9170.

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