Early Bird Meet & Greet

Thursday, 28 May 2026 at 5pm
Cycle Journeys, 6 Harbour Street

A splendid kick-off to the festivities at the Early Bird Meet and Greet! Event details: https://www.steampunk.org.nz/early-bird-meet-and-greet

Embrace the spirit of Steampunk as you join us in the Steampunk NZ Festival High Command, adorned in your most splendid Steampunk attire.​

With nibbles to fuel your adventure, and a cash bar for refreshments, every moment is infused with excitement and delight. This is also an opportunity for those that are taking part in the 'Trinket Swap' to share and exchange trinkets with other attendees.

Hat Trimming Workshop

Friday, 29 May 2026 at 11am
Star & Garter, 9 Itchen Street (upstairs)

Milliner Liz van den Ende (Liz Ende Hats) will take you through a tutorial in hat trimming. Event details: https://www.steampunk.org.nz/hattrimming

• Binding, bands, bows and fabric rouleaus using bias-cut fabric
• Preparing and stitching of feathers
• Hand-sewing trimmings

Fabric and feathers will be supplied for some hands-on experience. Bring your own projects if you need some one-on-one help!

Board Games Night

Friday, 29 May 2026 at 6.30pm
Star & Garter, 9 Itchen Street (upstairs)

Oamaru board game group ‘Dicey Situations’ host an evening of board game fun with selections of appropriately-themed games from their VAST collection. Event details: https://www.steampunk.org.nz/board-games

Come along and choose a game to play with your friends or join others at a table and make new friends. Food and drink options available to order from the Star and Garter kitchen on the night with an excellent $20 food and soft drink special.

The Southern Saloon

Friday, 29 May 2026 at 8pm
Loan and Merc, 14 Harbour Street

Cabaret and casino merge for a night of fun and entertainment where burlesque and blackjack combine. Strictly R18! Event details: https://www.steampunk.org.nz/southernsaloon

Welcome to an exclusive, private saloon where only the good, the bad and the ugly are brave enough to enter! Distracting you on the stage will be Verona Vegas, Oblivion Westwood, Jack Swallows and more. Cash bar and bar food available.

Potioneering with Cauldron & Cog

Saturday, 30 May 2026 at 1pm
Scottish Hall, 10 Tyne Street (supper room, entrance at back of hall)

Ever dreamed of bottling liquid luck, brewing an elixir of discombobulation, or concocting a tincture for time travel? This is your chance! Event details: https://www.steampunk.org.nz/potioneering

You will be guided through the whole process, and all materials will be provided - the only thing you need to bring is your imagination! Suitable for all ages, although young children will need adult supervision.

Teapot Racing

Saturday, 30 May 2026 at 2pm
Scottish Hall, 10 Tyne Street

Join us for a riveting display of ingenuity and excitement as contestants navigate their teapots through a thrilling obstacle course. Event details: https://www.steampunk.org.nz/teapot-racing

Entry forms will be available on our website for tea pot racers to register, so dust off your finest teapot and prepare to make history on the racetrack!

League of Victorian Imagineers' Mess Dinner & Airship Racing

Saturday, 30 May 2026 at 7.30pm
Loan and Merc, 14 Harbour Street

Welcome aboard the League of Victorian Imagineers Mess Dinner and Airship Racing. Event details: https://www.steampunk.org.nz/mess-dinner

Feast your eyes and appetites on a splendid buffet dinner, where dietary needs are met with utmost care, ensuring every guest can indulge in culinary delights. But the feasting is just the beginning – prepare for a spectacle of light entertainment! From stirring speeches to the haunting melodies of our piper, each moment is infused with the spirit of adventure and camaraderie.

But the true highlight of the evening awaits as our intrepid airship pilots are recruited for high-flying battles! Simple yet energetic, airship racing promises thrills and spills for all.

Frontiers of Fashion Steampunk Showcase

Sunday, 31 May 2026 at 2pm
Scottish Hall, 10 Tyne Street

Explore the Frontiers of Fashion at our Steampunk Showcase. Event details: https://www.steampunk.org.nz/steampunk-showcase

Our discerning panel of judges brings a wealth of expertise to the table, and their calibrated consideration of Steampunk couture will ensure that the entrants are critiqued to the highest possible standard. With the accompaniment of esteemed organist Dr Ron Newton, the stage is set for an afternoon of elegance, innovation, and Frontiers of Fashion brilliance.

Please note: Registrations to enter opening soon. If you are entering the Fashion Showcase, please do not buy a ticket!

Smugglers' Run

Sunday, 31 May 2026 at 4.30pm
Harbourside Station, Itchen St

This event is essentially a whisky tasting - set within a Steampunk smugglers adventure. Event details: https://www.steampunk.org.nz/smugglers-run

A select group of whisky aficionados have heard tell that there are two barrels of whisky fallen overboard and were last seen bobbing around in the Oamaru Harbour! Join an expedition to recover the barrels by following clues, deciphering semaphore and morse code.

The adventure begins with a secret password to let you on to the Itchen St Railway Station and will take you on an escapade on the Oamaru Steam and Rail train and will bring you successfully back to the station with the recovered treasure.

Grand Ambassadors' Ball

Sunday, 31 May 2026 at 7.30pm
The Oamaru Club Inc, 32 Severn St

Inviting Steampunk VIPs from Frontiers and Realms far and wide to celebrate the finale of the 2026 Steampunk NZ Festival. Event details: https://www.steampunk.org.nz/steampunkball

Adorn yourself in magnificent Ceremonial Regalia, Steampunk gowns and finery to represent your chosen Frontier or Realm with pagentry and pomp. The doors will open at 7.30 pm. Music from 8pm by Dee May and The Saints.

Grazing platters will be waiting on your tables, and sweet treats served later in the night, along with the awards and prize announcements, and of course the reveal of the much anticipated theme for the Steampunk NZ Festival 2027!

SteamPINK Breakfast

Monday, 1 June 2026, doors open 10am
Loan and Merc, 14 Harbour Street

Join us for a delightful morning of Steampunk splendour at the SteamPINK Breakfast, where charity meets camaraderie in a feast for the senses! Event details: https://www.steampunk.org.nz/steampink-breakfast

This year, we're supporting Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust. As you indulge in a sumptuous buffet-style breakfast served by the esteemed team at the Loan and Merc, your contributions will make a meaningful impact for the families that Life Matters support.

Dress to impress in your finest SteamPINK attire, and immerse yourself in the spirit of giving. With quizzes, spot prizes, and goodie bags galore, there's never been a more exciting way to start your day.