“Bram Stoker vs. Mary Shelley” will be the theme as the third Tell-Tale Steampunk Festival takes place March 29-30 in Pikesville, Maryland, near Baltimore.
Special guests include Dacre Stoker, great grand-nephew of Dracula author Bram Stoker, and actress Debra Ann Miller, who will portray Frankenstein author Mary Shelley.
The present-day Stoker is co-author of the 2009 Dracula sequel Dracula the Un-dead and the 2018 prequel Dracul. He is also co-editor of The Lost Journal of Bram Stoker: The Dublin Years, and has worked as a consultant for film documentaries about vampires.
On Saturday afternoon, he will present a multimedia keynote, “Stoker on Stoker,” in which he will discuss the history surrounding his famous ancestor and the creation of Dracula.
The program will also feature literary panels, maker workshops, games, storytelling, and a Saturday evening concert by Baltimore-area steampunk band Night Watch Paradox.
eSpec Books will use the convention to unveil An Assembly of Monsters, an anthology consisting of steampunk tales inspired by Dracula and Frankenstein. Many authors who contributed stories will be on hand, including Danielle-Ackley McPhail, Hildy Silverman, Jessica Lucci, Dana Fraedrich, John L. French, Christine Norris, and Ef Deal. Dacre Stoker wrote an introduction to the anthology.
Authors will also participate in Tell-Tale Literary Improv, in which two teams are challenged to craft stories on the spot based on prompts from the audience.
The anthology is the third book in the publisher’s Forgotten Lore series, each tied to a convention theme: A Cast of Crows (Edgar Allan Poe) in 2023 and A Cry of Hounds (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) in 2024.
Mentalist and magician Vince Wilson, a featured guest from last year, will return with two events. In The Dracula Séance, he and guests will attempt to summon the spirit of Vlad Tepes, aka Vlad the Impaler, the Romanian ruler who was an inspiration for Stoker’s vampire. He will also present “Dracula’s Descendant,” an immersive murder mystery.
The complete schedule is available on the website.
The convention is organized by Baroness Alexandra and Kolleen Kilduff, two longtime participants in the East Coast steampunk community.
It all takes place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Baltimore North – Pikesville, 1726 Reisterstown Rd, Pikesville, MD 21208.
Adult tickets cost $70 for the weekend or $35 for one day. Weekend passes for children (11-16) cost $35. For an additional $60, attendees can become a “Best Friend of Edgar,” with perks including gift certificates and a private high tea.
Learn more on the website.
Also Happening
The Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory in Milwaukee, aka “The Domes,” will present the Gardens & Gears Steampunk Faire, described as a “gadget-filled garden party with a sci-fi twist.”
Activities include tea dueling, a costume parade, entertainment by DJ Madame Phoole, and a steampunk market with 14 vendors.
It takes place Saturday, March 29, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will be held in conjunction with “Golden Age of Steam,” a train show that runs through April 6. It is included with regular admission to the facility. Learn more on the website.
The Tenby Steampunk Festival will return March 28-30 to the seaside town of Tenby, Wales, with traders, music, parades, teapot racing, tea dueling, an art show, and more. Most activities, including the steampunk market and art exhibition, will take place at De Valence Pavilion.
Madam Misfit is slated to perform on Saturday afternoon at St. Mary’s Church House. The organizers will also present a screening of Disney’s 1954 film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea with an introduction by Mark Lewis.
This will be the second edition of the festival. See the website for more info.
Heskin Hall in the village of Heskin, Lancashire, will present The Big Spring Steampunk Weekend with traders and live entertainment. It’s set for March 29 and 30.
The venue is a large rural Tudor Manor House that dates to the 16th century. It now hosts events and an antiques centre. It’s approximately 30 miles northeast of Liverpool and northwest of Manchester. Learn more on the website.
The Harborough Indoor Market in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, will present Steampunk 2, featuring steampunk traders and entertainment. It’s set for Sunday, March 30, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. See the website and Facebook page for more info.
