Attendees of a past steampunk festival in Coldwater. Photo by Andrew Philips/Orillia Matters file photo
Cogs & Clockwork Steampunk Festival
Saturday September 9th from 11am-9pm, downtown Fergus on St. Andrew Street. This new festival is set to transform historic downtown Fergus into a retro futuristic Victorian era this September.
What is Steampunk? Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction that incorporates retro futuristic technology and aesthetics inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery. Steampunk is often set in an alternative history of the Victorian era or the American "Wild West", where steam power remains in mainstream use, or in a fantasy world that similarly employs steam power. (source Wikipedia)
Some things to look forward to at the festival: fashion show, circus performers, teapot races, a scavenger hunt, and more. Provost Lane will also be set up for artist demos and book readings.
This is a family-friendly event aimed to introduce and share the creativity of the steampunk community and to show locals and guests a truly wonderful time!
Throughout The Day
Artist Demonstrations: Artist demos will begin shortly after the show opens to the public at 11 am and will run throughout the day. This will be held at the Provost Pavilion which is centrally located in the heart of the festival. Many of our vendors have volunteered to give 15-minute demonstrations, which include blacksmithing demonstrations by Ryan Leis, Play Dance and Circus Centre will be performing circus acts, and more!
Steampunk Festival Menu: Come enjoy what the specially created steampunk menu has to offer. Participating local restaurants have joined together to give our guests a taste of Fergus with a steampunk twist.
Scavenger Hunt: Between 11:00 am and 7:00 pm, find the hidden steampunk items in participating stores and vendor booths, take a selfie with the item and post it on Facebook and tag Cogsandclockwork and you will be entered into the draw to win one of the multiple gift bags of donated goodies from stores and vendors.
Teapot Races: Taking place by the side entrance to the Fergus Public Library, teapot racing is a splendidly silly time in which small decorated teapot cars are piloted via remote control through an obstacle course, come watch the fun unfold! Teapot races end at 3:00pm
Thief Hunt: There has been a robbery in Fergus and The Inspector needs your help to find out who did it! For $3 you can sign up to have the chance to work out who did it and win a prize.
Sign up at Local Pieces Gallery to get your badge, then collect your Inspector card at The CarrHunger Creative Tent, and Baxter and Fogg will tell you where to find the next character card.
Beat the Chess Master: International Chess Master Mark Plotkin, one of the highest-ranked chess players in Canada, will take on all comers, playing up to 10 games at once. Sponsored by The Bookery in downtown Fergus.
Domestic Bliss Puppet Show: Puppets Elora will be performing their original steampunk puppet show "Domestic Bliss" live for children and adults in front of the Fergus Public Library
1st Showing – 11:45-12:15pm | 2nd Showing – 2:30-3:00pm | 3rd Showing – 4:45-5:15pm
Scheduled Events
11:30 am - Grand Opening: Join Tony DeLuca (Cogs & Clockwork Organizer), Susy Burtenshaw (Coldwater Steampunk Festival Organizer), Joao Carrolo (Tourism Development Coordinator), and Mayor Shawn Watters for our official ribbon cutting.
12:30 pm - 1st Guest Fashion Show: Come join our fashion show and display your wonderful costume! Guests who sign up have a chance to win one of 3 prizes. whether you've signed up or not, definitely come see everyone's fantastic fashion!
2:00 pm - Jessica Frey Guest Speaker: Jessica Frey is a well-renowned Steampunk Canadian science fiction and fantasy author. She will be discussing her work as an author and answering questions.
3:00 pm - Andrew Miller Guest Speaker: Andrew Miller of Awesome Photography will be exhibiting his unique photos and discussing AI in photography.
3:30 pm - Vendor Fashion Show: Guests aren't the only fashionable folks at this festival, come see vendors' wonderful attire!
4:00 pm - Tea Party & Poetry Reading: Come enjoy some complimentary tea in Templin Gardens and hear the entries from this year's poetry contest.
3:00 pm - Steamboat Race: Buy your toy boat kit at the show, and decorate your boat to be a winner! Boats must be painted by 3:00pm to allow the paint to dry before the race. The race begins at 4:45.
5:30 pm - 2nd Guest Fashion Show: Another chance for guests to show off their costumes and win a prize!
50 Vendors will be attending the festival - come see everything Steampunk!
For more information, please visit the event website.
Cogs & Clockwork
Thank you to our Sponsors:
Cogs & Clockwork would like to thank each of our sponsors; The Fergus BIA, HR Machining, Wolfe Smith & Forster LLP, The Bookery, Sideroad Creations, Brighten Up Games, and The Optimists Club of Centre Wellington
Shuttle Buses
To help with parking there will be a shuttle bus traveling from the corner of Beaty Line and St. Andrew St. then heading to AO Smith Parking lot then to downtown to drop guests off at the festival. Shuttles will be running frequently until 5pm then less often after 5pm ending at 8pm.
