Steampunk City Masquerade of Makers coming to Downtown Nashua June 20, 2015 March 17, 2015 Downtown Nashua, NH - For immediate release.

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1 Media Release Contact: Paul Shea, Executive Director Great American Downtown (o) (m) Steampunk City Masquerade of Makers coming to Downtown Nashua June 20, 2015 March 17, 2015 Downtown Nashua, NH - For immediate release. Join us on a voyage into the imagination of industry, a steam powered revolution. Born of bronze, steel, glass, fire, and steam. An evening for hobnobbers, roustabouts, and wayfarers. A time for shirtwaists, corsets, neckcloths and frockcoats. Steampunk City: Masquerade of Makers Steampunk City will be taking place in the area of Railroad Square and the Nashua Public Library in Downtown Nashua, NH, starting at 2pm on June 20th, and going well into the evening. This festive event will include a Steampunk Picnic, Fashion Show, demonstrations, transformative outdoor features, a storytellers open mic, and will incorporate a number of premium features for those who purchase supporter buttons, including professional portraiture, generous discounts at a host of downtown bars and restaurants, and entry into a best of Steampunk City outfit contest at the end of the night. Supporter buttons are available for $15 in advance at DowntownNashua.org, and $20 the day of from 2-7pm nearby the Library, and from 7-10pm in Railroad square. Steampunk is a genre of fiction, an outlet of expression, and style of fashion that centers around a world of Victorian and Wild West elements, incorporating steam powered technology, and a variety of storylines as unique as their authors. In 2013, IBM s Watson Computer and a number of fashion and culture thought leaders predicted that Steampunk would become an emerging trend over the next few years. That time has come.

2 Now through June 20 th, M&C Clothing and Gifts on Amherst Street will be featuring a Steampunk section, with boots, Victorian inspired clothing items, accessories, and more! A great place to complete your outfit for the big day! Friday June 19 th : Put a Gear On It! Steampunk costume making evening 7pm: 29 Crown Street, at Makeit Labs, NH s first maker space. There's more to steampunk than putting a gear on it. Bring your project or come make some cool bling with the folks at MakeIt Labs to prepare for the events the next day. Both experienced makers and cosplay creators as well as those looking to learn and make are welcome. Also, there will be gears.

3 Saturday June 20 th, Events at the Library (free and family friendly!) include: 2pm-8pm: An afternoon Steampunk Picnic featuring demonstrations, field activities, an air driven calliope/carousel organ, and a number of steampunk vendors with original creations including clothing items, accessories, and more! Designers from the fashion show will be vending, in addition to The Picklepot, Costumes of Nashua, and Pelham Gifts, more TBA! 6pm-7pm: Alternative & Creative Steampunk Fashion Show directed by Jackie Hunt, featuring designs from Cloak & Dagger Creations, Designer Maryanne Meservey, and Voltaire Design Studios, a performance from violinist Mei Ohara, with full sound a lighting and a 24 foot runway, produced by A Curious Production. 10am-7pm: Free Nashua Public Library Comicfest coinciding with Steampunk activities. Saturday June 20 th, Events in the area of Railroad Square include: 2:00pm-5:00pm Steampunk Story Telling at Riverwalk Café and Music Bar. This will be an open mic format for story tellers, which will also include a story telling contest with three parameters: Story or story excerpt must be

4 read in 10 minutes or less, must be original work, and be oriented toward the genre of steampunk. 3:30pm-5:30pm Professional Portraiture with Studio Mark Emile at the Main Street Bridge, free facebook quality downloads of photos will be made available after the event. (portraits are included with the purchase of Steampunk City supporter buttons, $15 in advance, $20 day of) 7pm-1am: Steampunk pub tour with generous discounts at area bars and restaurants of 15% or more, participating locations include Fody s Great American Tavern, Riverside Barbeque, Riverwalk Café and Music Bar, Agave Azul, Penuche s Ale House and more to be announced! (Discounts are another benefit that comes with the purchase of Steampunk City supporter buttons, $15 in advance, $20 day of, $10 for photos alone) From Dusk on: A number of buildings will be host to transformative projections and lighting, using steampunk elements to enhance the evening atmosphere and transport attendees to Steampunk City and the Masquerade of Makers. A number of open air street performances, a blacksmithing demonstration, as well as Mad Science demonstrations from the members of MakeIt Labs, including but certainly not limited to a First Person Video remote controlled Steampunk Chariot.

5 This is an event organized by volunteers of Great American Downtown, the group that orchestrates the annual Holiday Stroll, the Taste of Downtown, the Nashua Farmers Market, Cultural Festivals, Restaurant Week and many other community activities centered around Historic Downtown Nashua throughout the year. Many aspects of the event are free to the public, and supported by event sponsors M&C Clothing and Gifts, Persian Rug Gallery, Riverwalk Café and Music Bar, Studio Mark Emile, and by the purchase of supporter buttons. Any net proceeds from the event will go toward the MakeIt Labs capital campaign fund, to help them with their upcoming move as NH s first maker space grows to a new building in the East Millyard in Downtown Nashua. MakeIt Labs is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization Contact for MakeIt Labs, Johnathan Vail Johnathan.vail@makeitlabs.com Contact for the Fashion Show: Jackie Hunt

6 Re model photos: Designs by Cloak and Dagger Creations of Littleton, MA, showcased at Brass Ring Academy at the Carousel Museum in Bristol, CT in January Photos by Dina Flockhart.