A WORLD where Victorian and Edwardian era style lives amid technology, from airships to robots, all still powered by steam, is conjured up on the streets of Shrewsbury this weekend.

Inspired by such books as Alan Moore’s ‘League of Extraordinary Gentlemen’ as well as the novels of Jules Verne and H.G.Wells, Steampunk arrives in town with a new weekend festival.

Steampunk books have gone on to incorporate elements from burlesque to the Wild West, and events are immensely popular, appealing to families, couples the young and not so young.

Many of the biggest names from the Steampunk world will be there with fabulous acts and activities which will ensure the Shrewsbury Steampunk Spectacular will become a permanent fixture on the social scene calendar as time travellers, airship enthusiasts and many other fascinating and wonderful people arrive from the four corners of the planet to be welcomed and entertained.

The event will focus around a Steampunk market at St Mary’s Church, but lots of exciting attractions will be available throughout the whole of the town including the Belly Fusion Dance Collective entertaining, historic walking tours covering the many intriguing Victorian aspects of Shrewsbury, a chance to visit Coleham Pumping Station in all its steam filled splendour, Teapot Racing, a costume parade giving all those dressed in their steampunk finery the opportunity to show off their creativity, Charles Darwin will see visitors arrive to explore his former school and Steampunk dressed librarians will offer activities and tours of the Shrewsbury Library, and workshops at St Mary’s Church will offer families the chance to try out and make musical instruments from scrap metal!

The Buttermarket Cellars will provide the perfect Victorian venue for a fabulous line up of the best in Steampunk music and entertainment on the Saturday evening, but there will also be dancers, musicians and magicians around every corner in town throughout the weekend.

Expect the unexpected as shops, cafes, and other venues also join in a festival which welcomes Steampunk fanatics in their finery as well as welcoming newbies, as well as the mildly curious.

Some activities are ticketed, and all details can be found on Eventbrite, or via the www.chantillygrey.co.uk website.