Author: JP Dean

14 Weeks until the Exposition

Post author By JP Dean
Post date March 8, 2026

Only ONE more Gail Carriger VIP ticket remains! Join Ms. Carriger for VIP cocktails on Friday, sit at her banquet table on Saturday, and share a spot of High Tea with her on Sunday, plus a number of other great advantages that come with the VIP packages. Click HERE to learn more.

Also available are a few more VIP tickets with writer Leanna Renee Hieber and musical artist Unwoman.

Program Updates

The Exposition is currently putting together the 2026 Program for your amusement and education. We list session descriptions as we countdown to June 12th, 2026, and should have the full and final schedule online by mid-April, 2026.

This week we added the following panels and presentations to the Schedule:

If you would like to propose a panel, gaming session, presentation, workshop, or other things for the 2026 Exposition Program, please fill out our Application for Presenters form.

Exposition Exhibitors

We have four main exhibitor spaces:

The Underground Market (Sienna) for Vendors.
The Midway Market (Slate) for Artists, Musicians, & Writers.
The Hall of Curiosities (Mahogany 4) for Displays.
Hallway Exhibitors (Atrium Lobby & Hallways) for Organizations and Fan Groups.

There are still Artist & Writer Tables available in The Midway Market; to apply, please fill out our Application for Exhibitors form

Social Media

- LIKE the Chicago Steampunk Expo page on Facebook for regular updates!
- RSVP to our Facebook event page!
- JOIN the Chicago Steampunk Exposition Adventurers’ Club group of Facebook to make plans with other steampunks!
- Yes, it’s all Facebook, but when we start posting on other platforms, we’ll be sure to add them to this list.

On the Horizon . . .

Our NEW newsletter!
Exhibitor updates!
Programming updates!

Program

Gear Up & Sing: Karaoke!

Post author By JP Dean
Post date March 4, 2026

Presented by Catherine Whaley & Katrina Whaley

Whether you’re a seasoned singer or just here for the fun, this is your time to shine! Join us for karaoke with your steampunk friends!

Catherine Whaley is a cosplayer, maker, and artist who has presented at conventions throughout the Midwest since 2012. She is one half of the HouseSpock cosplay duo, and regularly creates content for TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and more. Outside of costuming, Catherine lives in a very creepy Victorian home with two cats, one dog, and an untold number of spiders.

Katrina Whaley is a cosplayer, tailor, and former con chair who has been running programming at conventions for nearly 20 years. Outside of conventions, Katrina is a drag king and one half of the cosplay duo HouseSpock, creating content for TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and more.

See the Current Program

Buy Your Discount Exposition Tickets

Program

Dungeons & Dragons “Honestly Dishonestly”

Post author By JP Dean
Post date March 3, 2026

Games Master: Rhonda Rehmke
Gaming System: Dungeons & Dragons 5e
Players: 6
Gaming Time: 3 hours
Sign Up at the main Registration Desk in the Atrium Lobby

The group finds themselves in a gallery of paintings holding a red, heart shaped amulet. The ghostly curator tells them the amulet leads to a painting where they can find the true key. The painting reveals a castle courtyard and they go through finding themselves in a crowd listening to the Queen’s orders to find her tarts…or else. A man in a hat, some may recognize, tells them who has the tarts. Find the thief, get tarts, and the key to exit the gallery may be revealed.

Rhonda Rehmke, gamer tag VeternRoge63, has been playing roleplaying games for more years than she is willing to admit. It began with a group of friends inviting her to play AD&D like so many others. Her enjoyment of the game that allowed her to freely express her imagination grew as she began to pass it along to her family and friends. Family gaming night became a love of hers and joining with her sister they decided they would start a campaign with just three other family members. From that point on it did stop. Now Rhonda also enjoys gaming and creating her own worlds and stories and sharing them at conventions. She currently is teaching her grandkids D&D5e, to help them with reading and math, and to inspire their creativity.

See the Current Program

Buy Your Discount Exposition Tickets

Program

The History of Beers & Ales of the World (21+)

Post author By JP Dean
Post date March 2, 2026

Presented by Professor Horatio Hops

Join Professor Horatio Hops and his amazing Steambrewery for a unique look at the history of beers and ales of the world. From ancient recipes, to Victorian etiquette and even hidden speakeasys of prohibition. All served from the amazing Steambrewery…It whirls gears, steams, lights up and most important, it serves beer! Join Prof. Hops for a romp through time unlike any other.

Patrick Quackenbush (Aka Professor Horatio Hops) is a museum Site Superintendent for the Ohio Historical Connection, a retired ODNR naturalist supervisor & story teller, college program manager and professor. But more importantly, a Cornell university certified Brew Master that has been brewing and recreating historical recipes for over 25 years. A love of literature and beer drove him to not only to Steampunk but generated a love of sharing his research and expertise with so many Steampunk friends. The Steambrewery was his own creation to make the presentations a magical journey through time, imagination, ingenuity and of course….ALE!

See the Current Program

Buy Your Discount Exposition Tickets

Exposition Updates

15 Weeks until the Exposition

Post author By JP Dean
Post date February 28, 2026

March, April, May, and then it’s time for the Exposition! This week we are thrilled to add Brett King to our line up of featured presenters!

Brett King is a man of many hats – a costumer, prop-maker, gamemaster, game designer, presenter, Magic Lantern performer, and convention organizer. His life-long love of role-playing games and storytelling carried over into his steampunk panels, props, and costumes. He always aims to entertain, inform, and inspire at conventions, whether running steampunk-styled Dungeons & Dragons games, teaching about automata or prop making, entertaining as his troll-hunting alter-ego Gustaf Danielsson, or presenting Magic Lantern shows.

More information coming soon regarding Brett King’s presentations that will be featured at the Exposition this June.

Other special guests include Gail Carriger, UnWoman, Leanna Renee Hieber, and a number of other people who make Steampunk truly wonderful!

Program Updates

This week we added the following panels and presentations to the Schedule:

If you would like to propose a panel, gaming session, presentation, workshop, or other things for the 2026 Exposition Program, please fill out our Application for Presenters form.

Exposition Exhibitors

We have four main exhibitor spaces:

The Underground Market (Sienna) for Vendors.
The Midway Market (Slate) for Artists, Musicians, & Writers.
The Hall of Curiosities (Mahogany 4) for Displays.
Hallway Exhibitors (Atrium Lobby & Hallways) for Organizations and Fan Groups.

There are still Artist & Writer Tables available in The Midway Market; to apply, please fill out our Application for Exhibitors form

Social Media

- LIKE the Chicago Steampunk Expo page on Facebook for regular updates!
- RSVP to our Facebook event page!
- JOIN the Chicago Steampunk Exposition Adventurers’ Club group of Facebook to make plans with other steampunks!
- Yes, it’s all Facebook, but when we start posting on other platforms, we’ll be sure to add them to this list.

On the Horizon . . .

Our NEW newsletter!
Exhibitor updates!
Programming updates!

Program

Through the Looking-Glass Games

Post author By JP Dean
Post date February 26, 2026

Presented by Catherine Whaley & Katrina Whaley

Step right up to the least official Olympics ever. Join us for a series of Alice in Wonderland–inspired games, puzzles, and playful competitions that blend imagination, teamwork, and just a hint of confusion.

See the Current Program

Buy Your Discount Exposition Tickets

Program

Steampunk Hamster Wars

Post author By JP Dean
Post date February 25, 2026

Presented by Lisa Hansen

Which hamster automaton has what it takes to be the last one standing? In each intense battle, two enter the ring, only one remains standing. The Hamster Horde is ready to battle, but they need sponsors to cheer them on and welcome new contenders. Mother against son, father against sister, aunt against cousin–no relationship is too sacred for the Horde!

Lisa Hansen became obsessed with collecting battle hamsters after her first exposure to Hamster Wars, and is thrilled to be able to provide this entertainment at the 2025 Chicago Steampunk Exposition.

See the Current Program

Buy Your Discount Exposition Tickets

Program

Weird Cryptid Encounters

Post author By JP Dean
Post date February 23, 2026

Presented by Kay Gray and Crysta K Coburn

We’ve heard about the “normal” encounters with what’s hidden in the woods. Tree knocking with Bigfoot, the waves of Nessie . . . but what about the weirder ones? The experiences that are harder to believe, even when you were the one meeting the creature?

Join Crysta k Coburn and Kay Gray from Haunted Mitten as they explore the stranger side of cryptid encounters. Bigfoot coming from UFOs, a literal sheet ghost; they’ll dive into the Wonderland-like experiences of folks all over the world.

Kay Gray has been podcasting for seven years, studying the paranormal for upwards of twenty years, and is a short story pro. A So Cal ex-pat who calls the snowy depths of Michigan home, when she’s not writing fantastical stories, one can find her neck deep in research for her podcast, Haunted Mitten, which she co-hosts with her partner in paranormal, Crysta K Coburn. Otherwise, you can be sure that she is surrounded by needy pets while she reads yet another fantasy book.

To get the latest podcasts, head to hauntedmitten.com. To delve into the mind of Kay herself (reader beware), check out her social media @KGrayWrites. And find her latest book, Ypsilanti Ghosts and Legends, at your local bookstore!

Crysta K. Coburn has been writing award-winning stories for most of her life. Her first short story was published at the age of sixteen after winning runner-up in a local writing contest. She earned her bachelor’s degree in creative writing from Western Michigan University in 2005. She is a fiction writer, poet, playwright, journalist, editor, podcast host, and occasional lyricist. She co-hosts the popular podcast Haunted Mitten. Her latest book, Ypsilanti Ghosts and Legends, can be found at your local bookstore. Find her online at crystakcoburn.com.

See the Current Program

Buy Your Discount Exposition Tickets

Exposition Updates

16 Weeks until the Exposition

Post author By JP Dean
Post date February 20, 2026

Less than FOUR MONTHS remain until the Exposition spins its giant Ferris wheel time portal to open the gates to the 1893 that never was, so let’s review what’s been newly added this week.

We eagerly continue to countdown to June when we welcome special guests Gail Carriger, UnWoman, Leanna Renee Hieber, and a number of other people who make Steampunk truly wonderful!

Program Updates

This week we added the following panels and presentations to the Schedule:

If you would like to propose a panel, gaming session, presentation, workshop, or other things for the 2026 Exposition Program, please fill out our Application for Presenters form.

Exposition Exhibitors

This week we highlighted the following exhibitors whom you will find in the Exposition halls.

We have four main exhibitor spaces:

The Underground Market (Sienna) for Vendors.
The Midway Market (Slate) for Artists, Musicians, & Writers.
The Hall of Curiosities (Mahogany 4) for Displays.
Hallway Exhibitors (Atrium Lobby & Hallways) for Organizations and Fan Groups.

There are still Artist & Writer Tables available in The Midway Market; to apply, please fill out our Application for Exhibitors form

Social Media

- LIKE the Chicago Steampunk Expo page on Facebook for regular updates!
- RSVP to our Facebook event page!
- JOIN the Chicago Steampunk Exposition Adventurers’ Club group of Facebook to make plans with other steampunks!
- Yes, it’s all Facebook, but when we start posting on other platforms, we’ll be sure to add them to this list.

On the Horizon . . .

Our NEW newsletter!
Exhibitor updates!
Programming updates!

Program

Call of Cathulhu – “The Black Cat” (18+)

Post author By JP Dean
Post date February 18, 2026

Games Master: Father Henry Astur
Gaming System: Call of CAThulhu
Players: 3-6
Duration: 3 hours
Sign Up at the main Registration Desk in the Atrium Lobby

A murder most foul! Tom-tom the tomcat has been slain! Whatsmore, something evil walks the rooftops and alleyways of Arkham. It is time for the hunter to become the hunted. Alongside your fellow feline investigators, you must hunt down this mysterious killer before you’re next!

TW: Animal violence, murder, gore

Dice, writing implements, and character sheets will be provided.

Father Henry Astur has been running games for over a decade. With a preference for science fiction and horror, he loves bringing stories and worlds to life with his players. He looks forward to working with all the players at the exposition to create a welcoming and entertaining table to share.