Just FIVE more weeks remain until we set the dials and pull the levers in the control room of the Westin O’Hare and send the whole building back in time to 1893 and through dimensions to the alternate history of Steampunk!

The program is almost complete, and before the end of August we shall publish the times and places of all the amazing things that you will find in your adventures around the Chicago Steampunk Exposition. In the meantime, however, please CLICK HERE for the Sessions List to see what will be on offer this September.


Pre-Register & Win Prizes!

In celebration of our final countdown to the inaugural Chicago Steampunk Exposition, we are having a weekly drawing until the end of August, for all who have pre-registered for the convention. Click HERE for full details of the Pre-Reg Drawing.

This week we have a prize from Dana Fraedrich, Steampunk Fantasy Author to give away! One person will recieve an Indulgences Gift Basket (worth $75) that contains all of this:

  • A handmade Calandra candle (sea salt and orchid fragrance) made by author Dana Fraedrich. Calandra is the main character in Dana’s book, Raven’s Cry, and smells like a perfect day at the beach
  • Wine, white or red depending on the winner’s preference (or sparkling cider if the winner is under 21 years old)
  • Hot cocoa
  • Small batch chocolate bars
  • A Broken Gears themed mug, created by author Dana Fraedrich after her steampunk fantasy Broken Gears book series.
  • Coffee
  • Tea
  • Cookies

All pre-reg tickets purchased for the Exposition by August 25th, 2019 will be entered into the drawing to win the Indulgences Gift Basket from Dana Fraedrich, Steampunk Fantasy Author. We will announce the winners on Monday, August 26th, 2019, and also announce the next prize in our Countdown Drawing!


Presentations & Workshops

This week we featured several panels and workshops that will part of the Exposition program this September. Click on the presentation title to learn more.

Later this month we will be publishing the full schedule for Exposition 2019, but in the meantime CLICK HERE to see full list thus far of panels, workshops, performances, and activities that are lined up for September 27th to 29th, 2019.


Exposition Exhibitors

We added a new vendor to the Exhibitor Hall this week:

There a few spots left in the Exhibitor Hall, so if you would like to apply please click HERE.


Three Weeks Left to Book Your Rooms

The Westin O’Hare is a beautiful hotel, filled with all the elegance and charm befitting an event for your retro-futuristic fashions. As we draw closer to the Exposition, our hotel blocks are getting closer to being full, so be sure to secure your room booking soon. Rooms start at $129 per night (plus taxes & fees) for kings and doubles, and some suites are available. Discount rates at the Westin O’hare are only available until Friday, September 6th, 2019 so don’t delay in booking your room at the Exposition!

Click Here to book your rooms online

. . . or call (800) 937-8461 or (847) 698-6000 and requesting the Steampunk Block when giving the dates of your reservation. If you are planning on vending at the Exposition, we have a separate block of rooms reserved for you. Upon acceptance to the show and settlement of vendor fees, details and instructions for booking a room in the Vendor Block will be emailed to you.


Join the Exposition Crew

A ship is only as strong as its crew, and a convention is only as strong as its team of volunteers. Chicago has waited many years to have its own Steampunk convention, and finally this dream is becoming a reality. We need wonderful volunteers dedicated to giving Chicago and the Steampunk Community an amazing weekend of retro-futuristic fun and adventure! As an Exposition Volunteer you will recieve a Weekend Badge to the convention and other Crew benefits. Positions include: Registration Desk, Stage Crew, Exhibitor Hall Assistants, Room & Hall Monitors, and more. If you would like be part the Chicago Exposition Crew, please click HERE to learn more and apply. If you have not done so already, please RSVP to the actual Chicago Steampunk Exposition Facebook Event Page HERE to help keep you up to date on all the latest Exposition news


On the Horizon . . .

We will have more details on the the Midway Masquerade, the Gaming Rooms, the Theatre Program, and more!