The small, rural town of Ōamaru, New Zealand, has become an unlikely world capital for the retro-futuristic genre of steampunk. Over four days each year, a steampunk festival draws thousands of airship captains, Victorian inventors, and make-believe aristocrats who showcase costumes and personas they have spent months or even years creating.
Victorian Street Transformed
The event takes place on a preserved Victorian street in Ōamaru, a town of 14,000 people on New Zealand’s South Island. The community has embraced its designation as a steampunk hub, with the festival serving as a highlight of the local calendar.
Steampunk: A Blend of Eras
Steampunk, a term coined in the 1980s, mixes Victorian aesthetics with science fiction oddities. It allows participants to imagine a parallel universe where the age of steam continued to the present day, fueling invention and discovery. The genre prizes recycled materials and self-made creations, encouraging participants to learn sewing and various crafts to produce the finest and strangest outfits imaginable.
Fantastical Rewriting of Conventions
The genre enables a fantastical rewriting of Victorian social conventions, offering a space where anything goes. Popular items include brass weapons with hidden children’s ray guns, leather hip holsters containing bone china teacups and saucers, and extravagantly tall headpieces.
Eccentric Activities
Eccentric activities at the festival include teapot racing, parasol dueling, and a parade of elaborately clothed participants that draws hundreds of spectators. The event has become a must-see for steampunk enthusiasts worldwide, cementing Ōamaru’s reputation as a global steampunk destination.
