Gear up: Norwich ready to host costumed steampunk festival
Book Fiend Readers’ Fest coming to downtown Nov. 9
“Personally, I love Norwich. Norwich has been very receptive to steampunk. On a First Friday, Norwich hosted our very first Stupid Cupid steampunk ball.”
DAVID CARLSON, FESTIVAL CREATOR
Norwich — A week after Halloween, downtown Norwich will be teeming with costumed characters, parading along the streets, singing creepy songs and inviting passersby to join in the bizarre and creative world of steampunk.
An odd combination of Victorian fashion, 19th century industrial motifs of clocks and gears and mechanical things, incorporating themes of science fiction, fantasy and horror literature, steampunk will hit the streets of Norwich on Saturday, Nov. 9, for Book Fiend Readers’ Fest, a daylong authors and readers conventions and costumed party.
Nearly three dozen science fiction, fantasy, horror and specifically steampunk authors will greet readers, sign books, read excerpts from their works, and some will participate in panel discussions and presentations. Some fans are expected to attend events at the Norwich Arts Center at 60 Broadway and Foundry 66 at 66 Franklin St. and along the downtown streets, organizers said.
Book Fiend Readers’ Fest is the creation of David Carlson of Manchester, a social worker by trade and steampunk event organizer by hobby, as part of his 2019 theme “12 months of steampunk,” with events each month somewhere in Connecticut.
Carlson runs Oddball Newt, an event planner for art shows, concerts, karaoke, fundraisers, crafts and special trips, said he fell in love with Norwich as a steampunk backdrop through his association with Jill Fritzsche, vice president at Norwich Community Development Corp. He first met her at her Main Street antiques shop, Encore Justified.
Carlson already hosted a Stupid Cupid steampunk ball in downtown Norwich a few years ago and has participated in First Friday arts events downtown.
“Personally, I love Norwich,” he said in a recent phone interview after an organizational meeting for the event. “Norwich has been very receptive to steampunk. On a First Friday, Norwich hosted our very first Stupid Cupid steampunk ball.”
That February event should have been interrupted by the blizzard that swept through, but still people came from all over the Northeast, including Philadelphia and New York, he said.
He expects the same enthusiastic support for Book Fiend Readers’ Fest. Already, participants plan to come from as far away as Canada and even Germany, Carlson said. Tickets are $35 for adults, $25 for seniors and students, and free for children under age 10. Tickets will be available online or at the door at Norwich Arts Center.
Carlson said he was introduced to the term steampunk and its various manifestations six years ago, when he planned to stage an elaborate Victorian-themed family Christmas card photo. He talked to a professional photographer but said the studio backdrops weren’t good enough. The photographer suggested a friend’s funeral parlor library. Carlson liked the space, but wanted it jazzed up a bit with more props.
His son, then 15, said: “You know, dad, this is steampunk.”
Carlson wasn’t familiar with the term, so he hit the internet and found his new passion and hobby. He read Jules Verne and got into the British science fiction series “Dr. Who.” He went to events in Massachusetts and elsewhere — “There wasn’t anything in Connecticut,” he said.
His wife, Linda, keeps him grounded as much as possible, he said. Like when he blurts out: “We should get a hot air balloon!” or “Let’s get a tank!” or even “Let’s get William Shatner.”
None of those high-priced items will be in Norwich on Nov. 9. But the Norwich Arts Center promises to be crowded with authors, experts on costuming and character development and fans seeking their autographs, advice and input.
Throughout the day, some 25 to 30 authors will be set up at tables in the Donald Oat Theater on the third floor of the Norwich Arts Center building, co-organizer Faye Ringel said. More will occupy office space on the second floor, which also has changing rooms for theater productions, or in this case, costumed characters. Some authors will give presentations from the stage, using projection equipment if desired. The first-floor gallery will be used for panel discussions.
Panel topics include “O Gothic Novel,” led by author Leanna Renee Hieber, “The Steampunk Handbook,” led by Phoebe Darqueling, a session with expert costumers on how to bring a character to life, writing tips for various genres, along with readings and solo talks by participating authors.
“It has grown, so we might have to put a limit on it,” Ringel said.
Foundry 66, run by NCDC, will host the evening events, a jumping off point for the Halloween caroling and costumed stroll through downtown.
“I think it’s going to be amazing for the city,” Ringel said, “and I know we’re going to be bringing in people from all over the place.”