A Steampunk Adventurers Weekend awaits at Yesteryear Village
A celebration of everything steampunk (a unique genre of science fiction that combines gritty 19th century technology and a Victorian-era aesthetic), the second annual Steampunk Adventurers Weekend will take place Saturday, Dec. 2, and Sunday, Dec. 3 at Yesteryear Village in West Palm Beach.
If you’ve ever wondered “what if history had turned out slightly (or very) different?” This festival will take you on a deep dive into the world of steampunk with shows, exhibits, rides, lectures, live music and much more.
For the uninitiated, steampunk is a subgenre of speculative fiction that fuses the aesthetics and technology of 19th-century, steam-powered engines with elements of science fiction. Characterized by elaborate machinery (think gears and cogs), airships, clockwork devices and intricate gadgets, all powered by steam, it is often set in an alternate-history version of Victorian-age England.
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The festival was created by Evan Narlinger, who is also a main character and producer of the event.
Narlinger, who has a background in acting, theater and music promotion, said he was first introduced to steampunk in 2017.
He said a friend invited him to a steampunk-themed Christmas party with the hook “Hey, come check this out.”
Walking into the party, Narlinger said, “there were people in top hats and corsets and goggles and I was thinking, ‘What’s going on?'”
In addition, at that moment, he said there was a live band playing “Alabama Song” (aka Whisky Bar) by The Doors, which only added to the strange allure.
Intrigued, he began to explore the genre more closely and said he realized “just how much open creativity there was in it.” From art, to fashion, to invention and music.
Author Jules Verne is often referred to as the “godfather” of steampunk (others give the nod to H.G. Wells), while science fiction author K.W. Jeter is credited with coining the term in the late 1980s.
When the pandemic hit, Narlinger was out of work for over a year, and asked himself, “What do I want to do next?” He decided to focus on steampunk, and in 2022 the first Steampunk Adventurers Weekend was held.
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A production of passion, the show features approximately 20 performers. Narlinger said that most of the actors from last year are back again, attributing that to their love for their craft and the genre as well as enjoying last year’s event.
In addition to characters in their elaborate costumes, Narlinger said the location’s mix of late 1800s and early 1900s buildings provide the perfect backdrop to the show.
Event highlights will include the Steampunk Fashion Show; duels where combatants playfully wield canes and parasols with steampunk grace; live music by the steampunk band Frenchy and the Punk, Bard & Minstrels, For Love or Money and more; the heart-pounding Hurlinator ride; face painting; and the Florida Winter Marvel, which includes a magical snowfall as well as a steampunk version of Santa. Try finding that anywhere else!
Steampunk attire is admired but not required!
If you go
What: The second annual Steampunk Adventure Weekend
Where: Yesteryear Village, 601-7 Sansbury’s Way, West Palm Beach
When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 and Sunday, Dec. 3
Cost: adult $20, children ages 5 to 16 $15; two-day adult $30, two-day children ages 5 to 16 $25
Information: sawflorida.com
Eddie Ritz is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He has lived in the West Palm Beach area for more than 30 years and, from mild to wild, will cover noteworthy community happenings. You can reach him at [email protected]. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
