Elegant Steampunk lady photographed in the Bailgate, Lincoln

This weekend, for the 7th year, Lincoln is hosting the annual Asylum Steampunk Festival.  According to the Guardian this is “the largest and longest running event of its kind in the world”. Having read this quote, being a Steampunk fan and living only 20 miles from the Cathedral City, I find it hard to admit that I only heard of the Asylum Festival two months ago!

I visited the festival yesterday and had such a good time that I went back again this afternoon.  The atmosphere is great with a timetable of events happening in the Cathedral quarter over the four days and the streets packed with friendly faces and fabulous costumes.

A lot of the costumes were as interesting from the back as they were from the front!

So what is Steampunk?  Major Thadeus Tinker  (aka John Naylor), Chair of the Victorian Steampunk Society says “Steampunks are generally polite, friendly, care about the environment, the past & the future and creativity & individuality.”  In a recent exercise to “explain Steampunk in a sentence” a group from across the world came up with: “Steampunk is a creative social movement that draws inspiration from Victorian and pre-war history in an anachronistic mix of science fiction, modern values and a sense of fun.” – See more at: http://www.visitlincoln.com/blog/what-is-steampunk#sthash.V78sS4Eh.dpuf

The following photos are just a small selection of those I took in the Bailgate and Castle Square over the two days.

Stylish Steampunk couple photographed in Castle Square

Loving the parasol!

I also bumped into my nephew Jack and his friends in Castle Square

Explorers mixed with fairies outside the White Heart Hotel

“Pimp my ride” Steampunk style!

Mysterious woman lingering in the doorway.

Colonial gent poses in Castle Square

Castle Square visitors and trade stalls selling all sorts of Steampunk gear.

This lady had so much detail in her costume!

The Steampunk ethos really appeals to me, as does the Steampunk style, so next year I will be returning wearing my own Steampunk costume, which is already taking shape in my head!