Here at the White Hart we’re lucky enough to be at the heart of the action when it comes to all things Steampunk. The annual Asylum Steampunk Festival was sadly cancelled in 2020 and again in 2021 for obvious reasons, so we were so glad to have it back in the Cathedral Quarter over the August Bank Holiday.
Lincoln has been welcoming this diverse and eccentric community for years and this year really felt like a welcome return. The streets were filled with wonderful costumes, people having a great time and a sense of community that we’ve come to expect and were so glad to see return to the area.
So what is Steampunk?
People’s definitions differ, but a sense of the unique and the esoteric definitely helps. Steampunk is a design style inspired by Victorian-era industrialism.
The science fiction author K.W. Jeter is often credited with creating the term steampunk in 1987 to describe a style of fantasy fiction that featured Victorian technology, especially technology powered by steam.
You may have spotted the hundreds of steampunks around the Bailgate and castle area this year. Typically characterised by the grand dresses of the Victorian era and the likes of attire you might expect to see in a Jules Verne novel, goggles, steam valves, industrial machinery parts and everything in between make an appearance.
The Asylum Steampunk Festival is the biggest of its kind in Europe and at the hotel we’re now accustomed to seeing the weird and wonderful sights this weekend often brings. In its 12th year, we can’t wait to see what next year’s event brings!
This year, an opening ceremony was held at The Lawn on Friday afternoon, with inclusivity being championed throughout the steampunk community.
Everything from ‘Conan Doyle in the Dark’ to a Steampunk Parade also took place, with thousands of visitors proudly showing off their costumes.
For the first time, we also opened up our Cathedral-facing balcony where we were able to get photographer Colin Shields to get some amazing shots!
To find out more about The Asylum Steampunk Festival, visit https://www.asylumsteampunk.co.uk/asylum-steampunk-festival/
