That’s okay! You don’t have to come in full steampunk regalia to enjoy a steampunk festival, although looking at others in steampunk regalia is half the fun. You don’t have to be an expert at steampunk culture to enjoy a steampunk festival, either.
However, if you want to steep yourself a little bit in the culture before the festival, I have some suggestions.
I am a new resident of Attleboro, but a longtime history lover, museum nerd (in the best sense of the term), and steampunk aficionado. Attleboro is a beautiful city with an extremely walkable downtown, train access, and an amazing, vibrant, global and interesting industrial history.
While doing the research on steampunk festivals, I noticed there are as many theories about steampunk as there are people who enjoy it. And, to me, that is one of the finest things about steampunk. It is an ideal of Industrial era aesthetic, as if Victorian people have been thrust into a more technological future, but can be imagined any way a person likes. Because it’s truly and purely make-believe. I am an unabashed nerd and live in many different worlds besides reality, and this make-believe in so-many-different-styles steampunk world draws me to it, since it is anything I want it to become. And my make-believe steampunk world recognizes and accepts your make-believe steampunk world. THAT is the true beauty behind it. So many sub-genres of culture reject anything that isn’t “it” or “cool” but steampunk is accepting and a loving sub-genre of inclusivity.
