Experience Hulloween like you’ve never seen it before in the steampunk world, inspired by Victorian fashion and engineering.
A weekend of spooky and spectacular tomfoolery will transform Hull city centre into a mix of science-fiction, fantasy and history.
Thousands of visitors are expected to attend the Hulloween Steampunk Festival, which runs from Friday 28 October to Sunday 30 October.
A costumed ball at the Guildhall, a ghostly magic and mystery show at Social, and Halloween afternoon tea at the Holiday Inn Hull Marina will be available to tickets for the Hull public. There will also be a zombie shamble and fancy dress competition, talks, displays, markets, and a grand finale parade.
On Saturday 29th October, the Immortal Ball at the Guildhall will be the flagship event of the weekend. Dress up in your best Halloween costumes or Steampunk finery and join us for an evening of music and monsters as you jive, tango, and waltz the night away. The cost of tickets is just £35, which includes a buffet supper.
A mixture of classical and contemporary pieces will be played by the Unity String Quartet, so you can glide around the ballroom to your heart’s content. Lady Elsie Tinker will lead some historical dances from the 16th, 17th, and 19th centuries. It’s great fun and not too challenging to take part in these social dances.
Dance the night away to some Halloween disco classics as the dancefloor tempo ramps up.
A partnership between HullBID and the Ministry of Steampunk has helped organise the weekend, with co-funding from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Kathryn Shillito, HullBID Executive Director, said:
“We’ve been planning the Hulloween Steampunk Festival for a long time, and it will give more reason for people to visit Hull city centre. We’ve seen the positive impact the Asylum Steampunk Festival in Lincoln brings, attracting visitors and supporting local businesses, and we want to replicate that.
“We know people from Hull attend Steampunk events elsewhere, and now they can enjoy the experience on their own doorstep. The Steampunk culture is a great fit with the character of our city centre, and the historic streets and magnificent buildings will add a new dimension.
“We’ve welcomed some huge crowds this year with the return of Hull Street Food Nights and the Yum! Festival, and for our first Dino Day event. The Hulloween Steampunk Festival is a first for us, and we’re hoping for another big turnout, whether people come along to take part or just to take a look at the fantastic spectacle of creative costumes on show.”
On Friday 28 October, Social will host The Library of Eerie Tales at 7pm and 9pm, with organisers urging you to ‘step into the shadows this Halloween for an evening of unearthly delights’. Sylvia is a time traveling magician who invites you into her world of illusion and theatrical magic. Tickets are just £7 (7pm) and £7.45 (9pm), ages 16+.
On Saturday, it will host a free Hulloween concert for ages 14 and up, featuring performances by Fire (The Unstoppable Force), The New Republic, The Hagley Wood Vampires, and Deep Six Blues.
As part of the Festival, the Holiday Inn Hull Marina will hold a special Halloween-themed afternoon tea on Saturday at 2pm.
Dan Reid, General Manager of the hotel, said:
“The Hulloween Steampunk Festival is a fantastic opportunity to showcase Hull to the Steampunk community, and it also gives local people a chance to take part in something new and thought-provoking.”
“Holiday Inn Hull Marina always seeks to support events such as these to bring colour and excitement to the city and provide further nourishment to our culture. For our part, we will be supporting the festival with our traditional afternoon tea – but prepared and served the Steampunk way.”
The Ministry of Steampunk will host a tea party hosted by horror non-fiction writer Mark Iveson, steampunk author Samantha Lee Howe, and David J Howe, editorial director of Telos Publishing. You can buy tickets for £15.90 now.
There will also be a Steampunk Market in Trinity Square and Hull Minster from 10am to 3pm on Saturday and a ‘Zombie Shamble’, which begins at Primark in Carr Lane and ends in Trinity Square, where the costume competition will be held. Zebedee’s Yard will host an ‘illicit market’ on Sunday from 9.30am-10.30am, where traders can only sell items they can carry on their person.
At 11.30am on Sunday, a grand finale parade will take place from the Museum Gardens to Trinity Square. Wear your best costume and join in.
Also included are Hull history walks, ghost walks and Steampunk exhibitions at the Streetlife Museum, including talks by Hull Wilberforcian Steampunks and the Hull Steampunk Rebels.
Ticket information and more can be found at www.hulloweensteampunk.co.uk and www.facebook.com/hulloweensteampunk