Cogs & Corsets festival will take place at the historic Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts building (BCPA) at the north end of Downtown Bloomington. This gorgeously restored 1921 building is a gorgeous backdrop to all our steampunk festivities, and just blocks from all the shops and restaurants of Downtown. The Downtown area is home to over 90 shops, galleries, and restaurants… many in historic buildings with ties to Abraham Lincoln. The galleries will be featuring local artists’ new work and pieces that exude that Steampunk vibe. See you in Bloomington June 2-4, 2023!

Schedule:

June 2, 2023
Vendor’s Market
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm / 7:00pm – 9:30 pm Peruse the 40+ booths of our Steampunk Vendor Market to find that new accessory, book, treat, or garment you just can’t live without! The market will close for one hour as the vendors grab dinner and the Ballroom is reset. The market will reopen during the dance with specials offered by the vendors only during the Contra Dance! Lower level (Ballroom) of the BCPA. View the vendor list here.

Kickoff Promenade!
6:30 pm(step-off) Gather outside Inside Out gallery (at the Center St. entrance of 200 W. Monroe St. building) for a Promenade through downtown Bloomington and over to the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts. We’ll arrive just in time for the Contra Dance to begin!

Contra Dance
7:00 pm – 9:30 pm Line dance the old fashioned way to the lively tunes of The Bandicoots with professional caller, Jonathan Sivier. Includes light refreshments by Green Top Grocery. Lower level (Ballroom) of the BCPA. Tickets are available in advance and at the door – $15.

Events By Downtown Partners:
These activities are offered by Downtown businesses for the enjoyment of the public and our Cogs & Corsets attendees. They are not official activities of our festival and our organizers are not involved in any way.

Inside Out Accessible Art Cooperative Gallery workshops
-Steampunk Teacup and Tea
-Skull Bracelet: 5-8pm FREE
-Buy-Make-Take Steampunk accessories: purchase steampunk accessories and join the IOAA artists to embellish them.
-Photo Op: 5-8pm
Go to insideoutartcoop.org for more information.

June 3, 2023
All activities at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts (BCPA) and grounds unless noted.
Vendors’ Market
9:00 am–6:00 pm
Walk through the Steampunk Vendor Market to find your next treasure. Located in the Ballroom of the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts (BCPA). View the list of vendors here.

Tea Room Open
9:00 am–6:00 pm
Enjoy the elegance of full tea service by TeaOlogie offering a variety of brewed teas from Bloomington SpiceWorks and refreshing ‘experiential’ tea drinks crafted by the Tea Ologie team. $12 pass for unlimited visits, available at the Registration table. Tea Room located on the lower level next to the Ballroom. Sponsored by Bloomington Spiceworks.

Makers’ Faire Contest
Drop off: 9:00-9:30 am
Public Viewing: 9:00-11:00 am
Awards: 11:00 am
West Lounge (2nd Floor). Bring your best contraptions, inventions, or mechanical oddities, and put them on display for all to appreciate! Our judges and attendees will vote on the best in several categories, and you may win a coveted medal plus those all-important bragging rights.

Art exhibits at the McLean County Arts Center
(located across the street from BCPA)
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Enjoy the artwork of Dan Addington, Doug DeWitt, and Tony Rio.

1925 Willys Knight & Demonstrator
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
This gorgeously restored touring car is a perfect backdrop for your fabulous ensemble. Chat with the owner who restored it, and give the cutaway sleeve-valve engine demonstrator a crank.

10:00 am
Workshop: Steampunk in Latin America. East Lounge
Workshop: Psychic Mediumship Panel. McLean County Arts Center
10:00 am – 12 noon
Workshop: Make & Take 3D wood dragons. (note: 2 hour activity) Room 221

Parasol Dueling (Beginner Level)
10:30 am – 11:30 am
On the Lawn. Assert your superiority like a lady: with parasol dueling. Read up on the rules.

Food Trucks
11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Take a break and grab a bite to eat at the food trucks on East Street. Choose from Healthy in a Hurry, Dos Vatos Tacos and Uncle Tony’s!
Workshop: Power, Persona, and Social Progress: Gender Ideals and Identity Building in 19th Century Corsetry. East Lounge
Workshop: History of Substance Use Treatment & Recovery in Victorian Times. West Lounge

Psychic readings at the McLean County Arts Center
11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Schedule a 10 minute private session with a psychic medium.

12:30 pm
Workshop: 200 Years of Bicycles. West Lounge

Fashion Show & Costume Contest
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
The ever-popular costume contest is back, now multi-faceted and better than ever! Cap Piehler has planned out a rollicking good time, beginning with the (non-judged, open to all) promenade of costumes, followed by a Fashion Show featuring ensembles from local designers and festival vendors, then the grand finale: the Costume Contest! Come for the fun, games, and fabulous ensembles. Judged categories and audience favorite awards will be presented by local and Steampunk community celebrities. As always, this event is free and open to the public. Located in the Ballroom in the BCPA.

The New Splendid Teapot Obstacle Challenge
1:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Brave the new challenges of speed and agility! Bring your racers to the lawn of the BCPA for the contest that’s equal parts competition, crashes, and epic fails. A true spectator favorite, grab a friend and cheer on the fastest racer, or the slowest, or the most ridiculous…

Nerf Dueling
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Captain Quaestor once again leads the ever-popular Nerf Dueling competition. Sign up at the activity site for your chance to defend your honor in the most Steampunk way possible: Nerf! (all dueling ‘weapons’ will be provided.)

Psychic readings at the McLean County Arts Center
2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Schedule a 10 minute private session with a psychic medium.

2:45 pm
Workshop: Distressing and Steampunk-ing props and wearables. East Lounge
Workshop: Learn to Waltz. Room 221

3:00 pm
Workshop: Author Reading Sponsored by Bobzbay. West Lounge

Group Photo!
4:00 pm
Converge on the steps of the BCPA for the annual group photo. Then move inside to the lobby, where we’ll take a second one from above!

4:15 pm
Workshop: Victorian Vulgarities (18+). East Lounge
Workshop: Gathering : Steampunk Community Discussion. Room 221

Headline Performance: John Sprocket of The Cog is Dead
7:30 pm | Doors open at 7pm | General Admission seating
You’ve heard his music, now see him live! John has been seen performing across the USA with The Cog is Dead, and this weekend he brings the best of The Cog is Dead’s music to his solo performance! It’s an exciting and energetic steampunk musical roller coaster ride that’s sure to get your toes tapping, put a smile on your face, and light a flame in your heart! General seating. Located in the Auditorium of the BCPA. Tickets are $19.

Time Travelers’ Light Show & Dance (21+)
Offsite Event: 101 East Mulberry Street, Second Floor
9:00 pm – midnight
Ticketed event ($15). Steam up the dance floor or just enjoy the light show and DJ Doomsday’s Musical Performance Art. Doors open at 9pm. Performance starts at 10pm.
This event is 21+ Only. Located approximately a one block walk from the main festival location, and requires climbing stairs (no elevator access). Attendees are welcome to BYOB and snacks.

On the Lawn Stage:
10:00 am – 11:00 am – Chris Corkery
11:00 am – 12:00 noon – The Minstrel Rav’n
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm – Chris Corkery
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm – The Poor Tuesday Old Time String Band
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm – The Minstrel Rav’n
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Chris Corkery
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm – The Minstrel Rav’n

Events By Downtown Partners:
These activities are offered by Downtown businesses for the enjoyment of the public and our Cogs & Corsets attendees. They are not official activities of our festival and our organizers are not involved in any way.

Inside Out Accessible Art Cooperative Gallery
Offsite event: 200 W. Monroe St. Downtown Bloomington
9:00 am – noon Free activity: Cabochon Necklace.
Go to insideoutartcoop.org for more information.

Nightshop
Offsite event: 517 N. Main St. Downtown Bloomington
7:00 pm – 10:30 pm Whiskey City Burlesque with Hannah Rose and the Sweet Nothings.
18+, cover.

June 4, 2023
All activities at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts (BCPA) and grounds unless noted.
Vendors’ Market
10:00 am – 1:30 pm
Walk through the Steampunk Vendor Market to find your next treasure. Located in the Ballroom of the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts (BCPA). View the full vendor list here.

10:00 am – 12:00 pm
WORKSHOP: Make & Take Candles. (note 2 hour activity) East Lounge.
$25 materials fee (cash only, please) at the door.

Tea Room
10:30 am – 1:00 pm
Tea Room is self-service on Sunday. Choose from an array of brewed teas from Bloomington SpiceWorks. Tea room passes purchased on Sunday are $6 for unlimited visits, available at the door. Sponsored by Bloomington SpiceWorks.

Tea Demo & Tasting: Travel the World with a Cup of Tea
10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Journey around the world with Tea Captain Sam as we taste tea from China, India, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Japan, and more. We’ll discuss history, culture, and culinary appreciation while drinking tea. (Note: this is the only ticketed event not included in the Ticket to Ride Event Pass.) SOLD OUT

11:00 am – 12:30 pm
WORKSHOP: Fairy Garden Workshop by Casey’s Garden Shop. Room 221.
$15 (cash only, please) at the door. Advance signup appreciated so we can get a supply count, but walk-ins are welcome!

11:30 am
WORKSHOP: REALLY Getting into Character – An Introduction to Steampunk LARP. West Lounge

Date: June 2 - 4, 2023

Location:
Historic Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts building (BCPA) at the north end of Downtown Bloomington
Bloomington, IL 61701

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