Steampunk World's Fair

Last updated
Steampunk World's Fair
GenreSteampunk
VenueRadisson and Embassy Suites of Piscataway
Location(s) Somerset or Piscataway, New Jersey
Country United States
Inaugurated2010
Most recent2017
Attendancec. 4,000 (in 2012)
Organized byJeff Mach Events / Widdershins, Inc
Website steampunkworldsfair.com

Steampunk World's Fair (SPWF) was the largest annual Steampunk festival on the East Coast of the United States and one of the biggest in the world [1] held over the course of a weekend during the month of May in Piscataway, New Jersey or Somerset, New Jersey. The programming embodied an atmosphere of fandom, including musicians, performers, vendors, artisans, authors, and other guests whose work is related to the steampunk subculture.

Contents

Activities

Activities at the convention typically included (but are not limited to):

History, production, and promotion

The fair was founded in 2010 by Jeff Mach, Josh Marks, Erin Tierniegh, and Jack Manx. [2]

Journalist Mo Rocca attended the 2011 Steampunk World's Fair and reviewed the event for CBS News Sunday Morning. [3]

Past events

Controversy

In January 2018, former volunteers, employees, and attendees of Steampunk World's Fair and other events organized by Jeff Mach Events (JME) accused JME founder Jeff Mach of sexual misconduct, questionable business practices, and failing to respond to alleged criminal activities at his events. On January 26, 2018, Jeff Mach announced on Facebook that he would be stepping down from running events and JME changed its name to Just Magical Events. A community run steampunk event took place on the 2018 event dates, with no association to the Steampunk World's Fair. It was called C.O.G.S., or Community Organized Gathering of Steampunks. [7] [8] [9]

As of 2023, Just Magical Events has changed its name back to Jeff Mach Events and has listed The Evil Expo [10] (The Steampunk World's Fair under a new name [11] ) and The Marvelous Maytide Misfit Market [12] as events currently being organized by JME.

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References

  1. Economopoulos, Aristide (May 8, 2017). "2017 Steampunk World's Fair". NJ.com/Star Ledger. Advance Digital. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  2. Levin, Robert (April 2010). "The Steampunk's World Fair". Inside Jersey. New Jersey On-Line. Retrieved December 30, 2011.
  3. Rocca, Mo (October 30, 2011). "Steampunk: Yesterday's Tomorrow". CBS News. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
  4. Pho, Diana (June 10, 2011). "Convention Extravaganza: Steampunk World's Fair II". Beyond Victoriana. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
  5. O'Donnell, Chuck. "City resident brings steampunk fans togetherdate=May 18, 2012". The Record: North Jersey.com. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  6. Schwalm, Andrea (June 11, 2012). "Journey to the Steampunk World's Fair". Wired. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
  7. Viccar, Moriarty. "Why Did Jeff Mach Events Become Just Magical Events?". Steampunkjournal.org. Archived from the original on 5 February 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  8. "Steampunk's "Me-Too" Moment". Steampunk-explorer.com. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  9. "SEXUAL ABUSE ALLEGATIONS CRAWLING OUT OF STEAMPUNK COMMUNITY (TW)". Amberunmasked.com. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  10. "Jeff Mach Events". Jeffmachevents.com. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  11. "The Steampunk World's Fair". evilexpo.com. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  12. "Events". Jeffmachevents.com. Retrieved 18 March 2023.

Further reading