Photos: Big River Time Travelers Fest

The second annual Big River Time Travelers Convention took place May 19-21 in Quincy, Illinois, and once again our Midwest correspondent Curt Knapp was there to take photos and file a report.

The event is produced by the organizers of the Big River Steampunk Festival in nearby Hannibal, Missouri, one of the largest steampunk gatherings in the U.S.

Last year’s inaugural event in Quincy was dampened by rainy weather. The weather this year was more cooperative, Curt said, but it’s still a new event and turnout was light. Nevertheless, the folks who did attend “were having a great time,” he said.

He also noticed that there were far more vendors and far more participants in the costume contest than last year.

“I saw great costumes, families having fun, and people shopping at the vendors, and learning how to ballroom dance,” he reported.

The program also included a facial hair contest, nerf dueling, and tea dueling.

The entertainment lineup featured singer/songwriter Thawind Mills and pirate comedy troupe Little Beard and the ScallyWags. Little Beard served as host for the costume contest and tea dueling.

“The only thing missing was better advertising,” Curt stated, “and once that’s corrected, this event will take off and rival the one in Hannibal.”

You can see the highlights in the gallery below. And if you’re in the region, you can start making plans for the 2023 Big River Steampunk Festival, which returns over Labor Day weekend.