If all the 70s and 80s music events happening this weekend just aren’t far enough back in time for you, travel to Victorian times aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach. Her Royal Majesty’s Steampunk Symposium is hosting a four day Carnivale. January 16th-19th you can enjoy the daylight hours with panels, shopping, and wandering circus folk. Panels will include subjects such as steam-powered engineering, lithograph techniques, literature and Victorian self-defense. We highly recommend Denise Dumar’s lecture, “Victorian Voodoo: the Golden age of Voodoo” at 4pm Friday. Other entertainment includes Aiden Sinclair, the Paranormal Illusionist, The Amazing Unwoman, Cirque de Betes Aerial and Flow, a steampunk fashion show, costume contests, and Battle of the Bustles.
At night, the party really starts. The Emcee for the weekend will be Thee Blackbeard. Friday night swoon to the sounds of Poplock Holmes, Lee Presson and the Nails, and be politely shocked by the burlesque show performed by Cirque de Betes. A fan for warding off the vapors is recommended. Loosen your corset for The Saturday Night Ball with Frenchy & the Punk, Nathaniel Johnstone Band, “the beats master Poplock Holmes and the melodically sensuous Unwoman.”
Sunday you may enjoy the Cthulhu Prayer Breakfast with Eben Brooks serenading the congregation with his ode, “Hey, There Cthulhu.” Sunday evening prepare yourself for Cirque Noir and the picturesque aerial and flow art of Cirque de Betes.
Registration opens at 10am Friday and the Steampunk Mercantile opens at 1pm. If you haven’t pre-registered, you can purchase tickets at the registration desk, which is located next to the front desk of the ship on Deck M. Although these are Victorian times, they do have credit card capabilities, so feel free to use either cash or charge. For more information, point your monacle at their website.
Image by Zillan Fotographia via Flickr.
Thank you so much for posting. and the dealers room with all sorts of Victorian and Steampunk goodies is open to the public, so if you are just visiting the Queen Mary you can pop in and shop….everyone needs an extra bustle or corset. Just saying.