Author: JP Dean

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Program

Dungeons & Dragons – “The Lair of the Iron Dragon” (18+)

  • Games Master: Hoss Brock
  • Gaming System: Dungeons & Dragons 5e
  • Players: 4 – 6 
  • Gaming Time: 3 hours
  • Sign Up at the main Registration Desk in the Atrium Lobby

Classic D&D with steampunk and Gothic horror twists.

Your team of adventurers has been hired to investigate reports of walking corpses plaguing a nearby hamlet. Follow the evidence of grave robbery and foul play to discover the source of the terror. Step through an eldritch portal to the realm of the powerful wizard who has harnessed the power of fire, steel, and steam to bring his unholy creations to life!

Can you stop this mysterious madman before he disrupts the fabric of life and death . . . and time itself?

Game Master Hoss Brock began GM-ing online during the pandemic, and when in-person gameplay resumed he brought his love of building and crafting to the table. He seeks to provide players an immersive experience through character voicing, visual supplements, and handcrafted props and terrain. While especially passionate about introducing new players to TTRPG’s, seasoned gamers also enjoy his detailed style.

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Program

Dungeons & Dragons – “Creeping Ruin” (13+)

  • Games Master: Jodie Starks
  • Gaming System: Dungeons & Dragons 5e
  • Players: 2 – 6 
  • Gaming Time: 3 hours
  • Sign Up at the main Registration Desk in the Atrium Lobby

The world is being re-taken by nature called the “Creeping Ruin.” These vines choke out anything artificial…and it’s spreading. Some are fighting back, living in train-cities. The choking vines avoid these cities as long as they keep moving, however, Meltwater is dangerously close to running out of fuel. They are relying on you to search out the fuel and return before the train comes to a stop.

Meet Jodie Starks, a traveling bard with a real passion of enjoying time with friends and family (a performance really isn’t as much fun by yourself). She remembers the first time she was invited to play D&D, 2nd edition. Her entire family sat around the table and helped her role up her first character: a male, elven fighter with a wolf companion (some of you will know her inspiration for that). From there, she was hooked! After that, she ran games for family off and on for a while.

For the last seven years, she has ran D&D games weekly. In her free times, she runs one-shots for others. Although D&D is her system of choice, she is familiar with several (and have even run games in Pathfinder and 2d20). She enjoys sharing her passion with others and love to see new players get hooked. This last year she has become the GM for the YouTube stream, Dungeons & Dad Jokes.

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Exhibitors

Dr. Lollipop MD

Dr. Lollipop MD has created a series of comics that highlight social issues, everyday horror, and fantasy settings.

A husband and wife duo who work as an independent comic artist team called Dr. Lollipop MD. They have created a series of comics that highlight social issues, everyday horror, and fantasy settings. Our work focuses on the horror of social inequality and the brutality of larger institutions’ influence on communities. Dr. Lollipop MD hope to use their art to highlight issues we see throughout everyday life and bring horror based on reality to a larger audience.

Click on the banner to learn more about them . . .

To see our full lists of confirmed Exhibitors, please visit . . .

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Chicago Steampunk Exposition

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Exposition Updates

Seven Weeks until the Exposition!

Only SEVEN more weeks remain until the portals of time and space open to July 1893 and dimensions of the Chicago World’s Fair that only ever made it into a handful of history books that have long since been forgotten. Some say it never happened, some say the universe was ripped asunder; we shall find out soon enough . . .

  • The deadline for booking your rooms at the Exposition looms ever closer; the convention block closes at the end of April.
  • VIP upgrade tickets continue to sell; get yours before they are gone.
  • We continue the fourth chapter of “The Curse of Cthulhu” mystery game as we draw closer to being immersed in the final chapter during the actual convention.
  • New and exciting presentations and workshops have been added to the weekend’s program, and the first draft of the schedule is now live!
  • ALL THE DETAILS BELOW . . .  

The Exposition VIP Experience

This week we unveiled the Exposition VIP Experience! Limited to just 24 ticket upgrades (several of which have already sold), VIP tickets include the following:

  • “Curse of Cthulhu” VIP Badge
  • Cocktail Party with our Guests of Honor (Friday)
  • Early entry to the Underground Market & the Palace of Fine Arts (Friday)
  • Banquet with with selected Guests of Honor (Saturday – see menu options below)
  • Exclusive “What does Steampunk Mean to You?” Panel with our Guests of Honor (Sunday).
  • “Curse of Cthulhu” t-shirt
  • “Curse of Cthulhu” pin
  • Front row reserved seats for presentations and events.

Click HERE to learn more about the Exposition VIP Experience!

Hotel Rooms

We are now just SEVEN WEEKS away from the Exposition, which means that there is only THIS MONTH left to book rooms. Click HERE or the image below to learn more about rooms and make your booking.

“The Unknown Dreams of Ruby Carter” – Part Two

This week we continue the “The Unknown Dreams of Ruby Carter“ chapter of the Curse of Cthulhu storyline with investigation reports from Ruby Carter, an undercover police woman on a mission to infiltrate a criminal gang, known as the Tarts with Hearts, and see how far the corruption goes to the top!

Each year there is a mystery to be solved at the Exposition as part of our Steam & Sorcery LARP Game; this time around it began with a fire . . . from ice? Every week between now and the end of May 2025, we shall release another Clue Card to help you solve the mystery game that begins during Opening Ceremonies on Friday, May 30th, 2025.

Save these Clue Cards to a folder on your phone and prepare your investigation into our “Curse of Cthulhu” LARP Game.

Click Here to see all of the

“Curse of Cthulhu” clue cards thus far.

Program Updates

Here are some details about presentations that will be part of the program in May 2025.

Exhibitor Updates

Exhibitors at the Exposition are divided into three main locations: The Underground Market (Sienna), The Palace of Fine Arts (Slate), and The Midway Plaisance (Atrium Lobby).

This week we featured the following exhibitors:

Tickets

Click on the Box Office image below to purchase your tickets today! Please note that for 2025 we will be printing your name (in a fancy font) on the badge, so include “badge names” in the “Order Notes” section of the check out form. In addition to your name, badges will also be labeled with your order number for reference in case lost badges get turned into Registration; that said, however, please remember that lost badges that are not turned in can not be replaced and a new purchase will be required.

Get Involved!

We are looking for Presenters, Performers, Games Masters, and other people to run sessions for the 2025 Chicago Steampunk Exposition program. Applications are now live; please click on the appropriate image to access the form.

Social Media

On the Horizon . . .

  • Something slightly out of focus . . .

Categories
Program

Triangle House and Hull House: Chicago’s Jane Addams in Fiction and Fact (13+)

Presented by Jessica Lucci

Discover the amazing life of Chicago activist Jane Addams in fiction and fact.

Jessica Lucci is a poet, steampunk, and historical fiction author who writes about modern issues while maintaining historic integrity. Her book, “Triangle House,” offers a fictionalized version of the greater of Chicago’s Hull House and its valiant creator, Jane Addams.

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Chicago Steampunk Exposition

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Program

The Totally Complete and Unabridged History of England (13+)

Presented by Lucretia Strange

The Totally Complete and Unabridged History of England will take you through 2000 years of history, from cold and damp frontier to cold and damp superpower. See how England’s physical separation from the rest of Europe has influenced its unique development.

Topics include: Another Brick in Hadrian’s Wall, The Century That Vanished, Blame the French, and Victorians Ruin Everything.

Just to make sure I don’t forget anything, we’ll be going century by century, which gives me a comfortable two minutes for each.

Cassie Beyer (aka Lucretia Strange) has an MA in History, with a focus on Medieval England. She has lectured at the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay for several years, primarily on Western Civilization.

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Chicago Steampunk Exposition

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Exhibitors

Sue Rovens – Suspense/Thriller Indie Author

Suspense and thrillers: Where normalcy takes a sharp turn into darkness . . . 

Sue Rovens is an indie suspense/horror author who lives in Normal, Illinois. She has written five novels and two books of short horror stories.

Track 9, her second novel, received a starred review in Publisher’s Weekly (May 2018), her short story, “Coming Over”, from her book, In a Corner, Darkly (Volume 1) was turned into a screenplay and short student indie film by the theater department of Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, and another short story, “When the Earth Bled”, won 2nd place in the Support Indie Authors short story contest. Her three most recent books (Buried, Rage, and Sanctum) are under Plump Toad Press.

Click on the banner to learn more about them . . .

To see our full lists of confirmed Exhibitors, please visit . . .

Buy Your Discount Exposition Tickets

Chicago Steampunk Exposition

Categories
Exposition Updates

Eight Weeks until the Exposition!

Only EIGHT more weeks remain until the portals of time and space open to July 1893 and dimensions of the Chicago World’s Fair that only ever made it into a handful of history books that have long since been forgotten. Some say it never happened, some say the universe was ripped asunder; we shall find out soon enough . . .

  • The deadline for booking your rooms at the Exposition looms ever closer; the convention block closes at the end of April.
  • VIP upgrade tickets continue to sell; get yours before they are gone.
  • We begin the fourth chapter of “The Curse of Cthulhu” mystery game as we draw closer to being immersed in the final chapter during the actual convention.
  • New and exciting presentations and workshops have been added to the weekend’s program and we shall have the schedule within the week.
  • This week, we announced charity partnerships with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Health) and donation sponsorship from Chaosium (publishers of the Cthulhu by Gaslight RPG).
  • ALL THE DETAILS BELOW . . .  

The Exposition VIP Experience

This week we unveiled the Exposition VIP Experience! Limited to just 24 ticket upgrades (several of which have already sold), VIP tickets include the following:

  • “Curse of Cthulhu” VIP Badge
  • Cocktail Party with our Guests of Honor (Friday)
  • Early entry to the Underground Market & the Palace of Fine Arts (Friday)
  • Banquet with with selected Guests of Honor (Saturday – see menu options below)
  • Exclusive “What does Steampunk Mean to You?” Panel with our Guests of Honor (Sunday).
  • “Curse of Cthulhu” t-shirt
  • “Curse of Cthulhu” pin
  • Front row reserved seats for presentations and events.

Click HERE to learn more about the Exposition VIP Experience!

Hotel Rooms

We are now just EIGHT WEEKS away from the Exposition, which means that there is only THIS MONTH left to book rooms. Click HERE or the image below to learn more about rooms and make your booking.

“The Unknown Dreams of Ruby Carter” – Part One

This week we reveal the first part of the “The Unknown Dreams of Ruby Carter“ chapter of the Curse of Cthulhu storyline with investigation reports from Ruby Carter, an undercover police woman on a mission to infiltrate a criminal gang, known as the Tarts with Hearts, and see how far the corruption goes to the top!

Each year there is a mystery to be solved at the Exposition as part of our Steam & Sorcery LARP Game; this time around it began with a fire . . . from ice? Every week between now and the end of May 2025, we shall release another Clue Card to help you solve the mystery game that begins during Opening Ceremonies on Friday, May 30th, 2025.

Save these Clue Cards to a folder on your phone and prepare your investigation into our “Curse of Cthulhu” LARP Game.

Click Here to see all of the

“Curse of Cthulhu” clue cards thus far.

Program Updates

Here are some details about presentations that will be part of the program in May 2025.

If you have a presentation, workshop, or some other fun activity that you would like to propose for the 2025 Exposition Program, please fill out our PRESENTER APPLICATION FORM. We are also looking for GAMES MASTERS to run tabletop games, and we are always on the search for talented PERFORMERS.

Exhibitor Updates

Exhibitors at the Exposition are divided into three main locations: The Underground Market (Sienna), The Palace of Fine Arts (Slate), and The Midway Plaisance (Atrium Lobby).

This week we featured the following exhibitors:

 

Tickets

Click on the Box Office image below to purchase your tickets today! Please note that for 2025 we will be printing your name (in a fancy font) on the badge, so include “badge names” in the “Order Notes” section of the check out form. In addition to your name, badges will also be labeled with your order number for reference in case lost badges get turned into Registration; that said, however, please remember that lost badges that are not turned in can not be replaced and a new purchase will be required.

Get Involved!

We are looking for Presenters, Performers, Games Masters, and other people to run sessions for the 2025 Chicago Steampunk Exposition program. Applications are now live; please click on the appropriate image to access the form.

Social Media

On the Horizon . . .

  • The actual schedule!

Categories
Program

Shooting Stars Maid Cafe

We are thrilled to announce a special collaboration between the Chicago Steampunk Exposition and the Shooting Star Maid Café! This year, the charming maids and butlers of the Shooting Star Maid Café will be helping host an enchanting Steampunk Tea Parties at the Exposition!

Join us for an afternoon of elegance, delightful tea, and captivating conversation in a whimsical, steampunk-inspired atmosphere. Our maids and butlers will be at your service, ensuring an unforgettable experience as we blend the best of Victorian charm and anime-inspired hospitality.

Whether you’re a steampunk enthusiast, a fan of tea culture, or just looking for a relaxing afternoon with friends, this tea party promises to be a highlight of the Exposition!

Don’t miss out—reserve your spot and join us for a beautifully unique tea party experience!

See the Current Program

Buy Your Discount Exposition Tickets

Chicago Steampunk Exposition

Categories
Program

Cthulhu by Gaslight “Shocking Sabotage” (18+)

  • Games Master: Derek Zimmer
  • Gaming System: Cthulhu by Gaslight
  • Players: 3-6
  • Duration: 3 hours
  • Sign Up at the main Registration Desk in the Atrium Lobby

In just one week, the Columbian Exposition will open to the world. Designed as a ‘city of the future,’ the Fair architects made the decision to light the entire Fair with only electric lights rather than the standard gas lamps. Additionally, an entire building has been devoted to the electrical inventions of the world, aptly named the Electricity Building.

Over the last few weeks, exhibitors have been furiously assembling their breakthrough discoveries in the Electricity Building ahead of opening day. In just the last few days however, the building has been plagued with strange occurrences and machinery malfunctions, with no obvious cause. With reputations at stake, tensions are high to find the source of the problems, and everyone wants to make sure they aren’t the ones at fault. Rumors of bad planning, poor build quality, and even deliberate sabotage have spread throughout both Fair staff and exhibitors.

Most of the large companies have taken to staff at least one employee on site at all times and the Fair has agreed to hire additional security. Even with these increased precautions, the electrical problems have continued and no one has any evidence what is causing the issues. The investigators have all been assigned to the night shift on April 30th, 1893and all have different objectives ranging from protecting company assets to discovering the source of the disturbances.

Cthulhu by Gaslight is the Victorian incarnation of the classic Call of Cthulhu RPG. Gaslightprovides variations to capture Victorian history and societal norms, but is essentially the same rule system as the original 1920’s Cthulhu RPG. If you are not already familiar with these rules but would like to get better acquainted, click on the cover below to access the free starter kit for the latest edition of Call of Cthulhu.

Derek Zimmer has played and run various tabletop RPGs including DnD, Pathfinder, and Call of Cthulhu (CoC) for over 10 years. He is a member of Chaosium’s GM program (The Cult of Chaos) which is dedicated to introducing new players to CoC. He has found a passion for running CoC games and teaching the system to new players. Derek is also a community content author who has published CoC scenarios through the Miskatonic Repository. As a resident of Chicago, Derek is interested in the city’s history and was inspired to write “Shocking Sabotage,” which will be debuting at the 2025 Chicago Steampunk Exposition.

See the Current Program

Buy Your Discount Exposition Tickets

Chicago Steampunk Exposition