The dazzling world of vintage circus will descend upon Springfield on Sept. 23 and 24, as The Steampunk Society of Vermont returns with their third annual Steampunk Festival.
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2017-09-20 / Front Page Print article Print Third annual Springfield VT Steampunk Festival promises ‘Vintage Circus Spectacular’ By TORY DENIS Festival-goers at the 2016 Springfield VT Steampunk Festival pose for the photo booth, a popular annual feature of the festival, at the Hartness House Inn. — TORY DENIS PHOTO Festival-goers at the 2016 Springfield VT Steampunk Festival pose for the photo booth, a popular annual feature of the festival, at the Hartness House Inn. — TORY DENIS PHOTO SPRINGFIELD — The dazzling world of vintage circus will descend upon Springfield on Sept. 23 and 24, as The Steampunk Society of Vermont returns with their third annual Steampunk Festival. “I've been involved with the festival and our non-profit organization, the Steampunk Society of Vermont, for the last three years. Of all years I can say hands down this is the festival we are most proud to bring to Springfield, Vermont,” said Robyn Priebe, president of the board of directors for the Steampunk Society of Vermont. “We have an all new management team, lower ticket prices, and the most jam packed schedule, with events and activities that are so different from the past two years.” This year, the New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA), along with Circus Karnevil, will provide what Priebe describes as a “Jekyll and Hyde fantasy of old world entertainment,” as each troupe takes on the light and dark side of traditional circus. Festival-goers can expect to see acrobats, stilt walkers, unicyclists, jugglers, and clowns, as well as a variety of “freak show” style entertainment, including the famous glass walkers, bed of nails, Blockhead, flame eaters, and so much more, she said. A futuristic Victorian lady and her young escort take a turn displaying her attire at the Calliope Steam Fashion Show, which will return on Saturday, Sept. 23 during the Steampunk Festival. A futuristic Victorian lady and her young escort take a turn displaying her attire at the Calliope Steam Fashion Show, which will return on Saturday, Sept. 23 during the Steampunk Festival. “Of course we have traditional steampunk elements, but this new twist of a Circus Spectacular theme has allowed us to include so many unique acts, workshops, and activities for festival attendees this year,” she said. “I hope the community comes out and supports this fundraiser and in turn supports Springfield, as proceeds have always been filtered back into the community from this event. We are very excited about our plan to create scholarships for Springfield students studying the STEAM subjects of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. We want them to go out in the world, educate themselves and return to this Springfield, the Steampunk Capital of Vermont, and keep making it better and better." Entertainers and performers flock to the festival each year, along with visitors in costume and with a variety of props and accessories featuring the clockwork, gears, fashion, and futuristic fantasy that is part of Steampunk. A variety of musical acts from across New England, including buskers, local musicians, and a vaudeville review will keep patrons on their toes, Priebe said. Tea dueling and teapot races are also part of the festival. The Calliope Steam Fashion Show returns this year on Saturday, offering costumed patrons an opportunity to take center stage and show off their outfits. Families with children often attend the festival, which has activities for all ages. A free Children’s Carnival and open air trader’s bazaar will feature games, crafts, and dozens of vendors, which will help to transform the lush grounds of the Victorian Inn, providing the perfect backdrop for the retro futuristic, steam powered fantasy the organizers hope to bring to life. Steampunk Festival organizers and board members, including from left Darlyn Walker, Julian Leon, and Robyn Priebe, are gearing up for this year’s circus-themed festival, which will take place on Sept. 23 and 24 in Springfield. Steampunk Festival organizers and board members, including from left Darlyn Walker, Julian Leon, and Robyn Priebe, are gearing up for this year’s circus-themed festival, which will take place on Sept. 23 and 24 in Springfield. This year’s music headliner, world renowned alternative cellists Rasputina, will take the stage at 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Rasputina, fronted by cellist/vocalist Melora Creager — who played cello for Nirvana on the European leg of the In Utero world tour, including that band’s final show in Munich — has been a huge influence on the steampunk movement, Priebe said. The band’s other members include Luis Mojica on keys and beatboxing, and Polly Panic on cello and voice. Employing elaborate costuming spanning all periods of human history, Rasputina “brings marginalized historical female figures and stories to light in the pop form, using archetypal characters such as Indian princesses, Hawaiian handmaidens and Medieval queens,” according to a press release from Steampunk Festival organizers. Over the years, Rasputina has played with notable rock favorites such as Marilyn Manson, Porno For Pyros, Cheap Trick, Goo Goo Dolls and many others. In their final performance of 2017, Rasputina will brings the intimate duo of Creager and Mojica to The Hartness House Inn with a special Victorian cello and keys performance, enhanced through machinery. “Does it get any more Steampunk than that?” Priebe added. Many workshops and panels will also be held in The Wedding Tent and Victorian Ballroom daily during the festival, which will run 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 24. Visitors can learn about the infamous Harry Houdini and H.H. Holmes, or take part in their stagecraft or Steampunk 101 workshops. For the paranormal lover, tarot readings will be performed by Madame Le Duke. Visitors can also take part in Victorian Mysticism or Divinations workshop. And of course, there is the “mysterious wonder” of the French liquor, Absinthe, the famous green alcohol is imported from France, according to the press release. Join S.B. MacDonald for a 90-minute tasting and interactive panel, where he will guide patrons through the fascinating history of the very risqué and forbidden liquor. Forged in Fire Alum Smithie J. Richie will also be on site, with blacksmithing demos for the weekend, and The Granite State Saber Academy will offer stagecraft and sword fighting demos. The festival is organized and run by volunteers, with a core management team of 10 managers planning the festival. During the actual festival, 65 volunteers from the community will help keep the gears turning all weekend long, Priebe said. Robyn Priebe, president of the Steampunk Society of Vermont’s board of directors, appears ready for another year of festival fun. Visitors of all ages will soon fill the grounds of the Hartness House Inn for this year’s Springfield VT Steampunk Festival. See special festival guide, Pages 17-24. Robyn Priebe, president of the Steampunk Society of Vermont’s board of directors, appears ready for another year of festival fun. Visitors of all ages will soon fill the grounds of the Hartness House Inn for this year’s Springfield VT Steampunk Festival. See special festival guide, Pages 17-24. The nonprofit Steampunk Society of Vermont, which hosts the event at The Hartness House Inn, is a group of “truly dedicated (and exhausted) volunteers” who also have day jobs — they include an accountant, a dietitian, a carpenter, and medical billing personnel, for instance — so “this is a labor of love for us as we've dedicated every waking moment of our free time outside of our jobs to making this happen,” Priebe said. Some members of the community may not realizes that the group is nonprofit and all volunteer run, “and that we are doing this for Springfield,” she said. The annual festival is the nonprofit group’s primary fundraising effort, with an end goal of creating educational scholarships for local students pursuing post-high school education in the STEAM subjects, according to the website. For a comprehensive listing of activities, entertainment, workshops, and more, visit www.springfieldvtsteampunkfest.com. Tickets are available online via the website and all social media. For questions, call festival director Jennifer Ucci at (603) 369-1506.
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