After two years of virtual events, the Coldwater Steampunk Festival returned with an in-person format Saturday afternoon.
The festival makes the attendees the attraction, says chair and co-founder Suzy Burtenshaw.
“They work all year round preparing their costumes,” she said. “People love coming to see the beautiful costumes and handmade (products from) artisans.”
Steampunk is retro-futurism, Burtenshaw explains, adding it’s what is believed represents how Victorian-era people perceived the future with no knowledge of the invention of gasoline.
“We get thousands of people here from all over,” she said. “We have another great turnout this year, perfect weather, and it’s been a treat for the people.”
The festival is now in its 12th year. During the pandemic, the in-person version of the event was greatly missed, Burtenshaw says.
“Our steampunks in costume love to be seen; they love to have their photo taken. It’s what they work all year for,” she said. “To have a return to an in-person steampunk festival gets me choked up.”
When Burtenshaw helped create the festival, she never imagined it would become as popular as it has.
“It has a life of its own,” she said. “When you set the stage for youth and support them, they will always shine. When you invite your artists to be in your prime spots, commerce will follow.”
Sarah Pickard was roaming downtown Coldwater in full steampunk costume with Dan Ford on Saturday afternoon. They are a part of the web series Sawbones Society.
“I like that there is something for everybody here,” she said. “I love getting dressed up, making our costumes and seeing all the other cool costumes.”
Pickard has attended all 12 editions of the festival and is now its director of marketing.
“I love interacting with the community as a whole,” she said. “There are a lot of people here who we only see at steampunk.”
