Photos: Cogs & Corsets in Bloomington

Editor’s note: Cogs & Corsets: A Steampunk Happening returned June 3 and 4 to downtown Bloomington, Illinois, with a program that included tea dueling, teapot racing, a costume contest, Nerf dueling, workshops, and a maker exhibition.

The city also hosted a Farmers’ Market early Saturday, and our correspondent Curt Knapp observed that it helped expose steampunk to folks who were new to the genre.

Many activities took place at the McLean County Museum of History, including workshops as well as vendors and authors on the second and third floors.

This was largely a free-admission festival, but it also included some ticketed events. The Epiphany Farm Restaurant hosted The Great Airship Race Murder Mystery Dinner on Friday night, and on Saturday, participants gathered at the Evergreen Memorial Cemetery for an opportunity to “Dine with the Dead.” The organizers noted that in the 19th century, “a graveside lunch was a leisure activity for many.”

Once again, we’re grateful to Curt for shooting these photos. Take a look in the gallery below.