28 Weeks until the Exposition!

The “Curse of Cthulhu”

The 1893 Exposition has several odd artifacts from around the world on display, but perhaps the strangest is a statue reported by one publication as a “monster of vaguely anthropoid outline, but with an octopus-like head whose face was a mass of feelers, a scaly, rubbery-looking body, prodigious claws on hind and fore feet, and long, narrow wings behind.” Shortly after this statue was revealed to the public a series of strange events began to occur, mysterious hooded figures were seen flitting through the midnight shadows of the Exposition grounds, and a couple of night ago the Cold Storage Building burst into flames, engulfing the building in an inferno that killed 13 firefighters and four other unfortunate souls. Investigations into the fire have resulted in the puzzling discovery of strange unidentifiable substances and bizarre symbols scorched into the walls . . .

Beginning next week, a series of weekly clues will be released as part of your investigation into the fire and what forces lie behind this unearthly inferno.

Program Updates

This week we began filling in some of the 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 & the Exclusive Pin

Badges and Tea Tickets are already on sale for the 2025 Exposition! Until the end of this year, ALL badges are $10 off the regular price AND the first 100 Weekend Badges sold will receive an EXCLUSIVE brass colored Exposition 2025 pin that matches the theme. The pin design is almost done and we should be able to reveal it in our next countdown update, but we can describe it as the Exposition Ferris wheel and of course . . . tentacles!

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.

Afternoon Tea Parties & Banquets

New for 2025, the Exposition will offer a limited ticket banquet on Friday and Saturday evening. We are currently working on the menu and pricing, but this meal will also offer patrons the opportunity to sit with one of our guests of honor for a meal and pleasant conversation. Details coming in our next countdown update, but meanwhile tickets for our Afternoon Tea Parties are on sale now.

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.

Hotel Rooms

For April 2024, the Exposition hotel was actually sold out. Admittedly not all the people staying at the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg that weekend were there for the Exposition, but nonetheless the hotel was sold out. To avoid getting locked out in 2025, we recommend booking your room early (you can always cancel later if needs be) which you can do starting at the end of this month (needs to be 13 months out from the event).