Steampunk Festival Review - Asylum at Lincoln

It’s billed as Europe’s largest Steampunk Festival, but post-Brexit perhaps we shall be calling it Britannia’s Biggest or something similar? If you're new to festivals, or even new to steampunk, here’s our pocket guide to Asylum, with some tips and tricks on how to get the most from your time there.

Steampunk events - where and when

In 2016 Asylum will take place 26-29 August, but it’s easy to remember as it always takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend. The historic and quite lovely city of Lincoln is Asylum’s home.

What’s on at Asylum 

The headline news for 2016 is that Steam Powered Giraffe are performing on Sunday 28 August at ‘The Time Travellers Sunday Event’ held at the Engine Shed. Book tickets in advance, the show starts (supposedly) at 8pm with doors at 7.30pm but it’ll probably run late … and this is a 14 years old and up event, so children won’t be allowed in.

Costuming for Asylum

So, it’s your first time at Asylum, or maybe your first time outing yourself as a steampunk? Here’s the low down! One thing about Asylum is it’s very forgiving, unlike some other Festivals which have a strict(er) dress code. You can show up in jeans and a T-shirt for Asylum and nobody will make you feel bad, or you can go the whole hog and turn up as a clockwork demon and you’ll fit right in.

One thing we’ve really noticed over our years at Asylum is skirt length - it’s surprisingly short! Now August is not the best time to wear a crinoline, we know, but for some reason Asylum has always been the home of the knee length steampunk outfit for women, so bear that in mind as you select your outfit. Something like our Julienne pinstripe skirt with high/low hemline will ensure you are right on the nail for this summery extravaganza. Go for layers on top - Asylum can swap from sultry hot to downright chilly in a couple of minutes! A hat is de rigueur and you can definitely not over-trim your hat, mad milliners about at any steampunk event and you’ll feel underdressed without at least goggles, a stuffed bird and a chronometer or hourglass on your brim! We suggest starting with specialist steampunk headgear like the steampunkstovepipe hat and then personalise it to suit your costume/personality.

For men, Asylum tends to be very militarised, with many clockwork soldiers of every possible form and even more soldiers of fortune, mercenaries etc. Whole regiments arrive in military gear, so you can definitely plan to arrive in uniform and know you’ll feel you fit in.

What to do and where to go at Asylum Steampunk Festival

•   Do visit the castle! Lincoln Castle gets really into the swing of things, with a wonderful ‘makers zone’ where you can learn how to make many steampunk accessories from true experts - there will be stalls and traders for you to pick up kit too.

•   Take in the Wacky Races - the banjo-shaped course ensures you get to see all participants up close and the range of penny farthings and steam powered peculiarities are definitely not to be missed.

•   Tea duelling - you have to see it to believe it!