Cogs & Clockwork – Fergus Steampunk Festival
Saturday September 7th, 2024 from 11am-8pm
Location: downtown Fergus on St. Andrew Street and behind the Fergus Public Library.
Cogs & Clockwork, Fergus Steampunk Festival, is for all those interested in the unique science fiction sub-genre of steampunk!
This FREE, family-friendly event aims to introduce and share the creativity of the steampunk community and to show locals and guests a truly wonderful time! There are some paid attended events that you can buy tickets for - please see list of events listed with ($).
What's New for 2024?
This year we have added "Steam Queens", a steampunk drag crossover and "Arc Odyssey" a steampunk belly dancing troupe. Food trucks will also be participating this year.
We will be increasing our evening activities which will hopefully include music, the second fashion show, the second Scavenger hunt and a Cogs Pub Crawl.
We have split our scavenger hunt into two so guests can pick up their prizes before they leave. We are adding a sample of "The Enchanted Forest" in Templin Gardens where you can play relax with a cup a tea and watch some Tea Dueling hosted by The Toronto Steampunk Society.
Throughout The Day
Artist Demonstrations
Artist demos will be scheduled and will be done in their booths starting at 11:15 and will run throughout the day. Many of our vendors have volunteered to give 10-minute demonstrations, which have been scheduled to allow guests to walk from one demonstration to the next or just plan for a few. The schedule of demonstrations will be posted on our maps when the list is ready.
Steampunk Festival Menu
Come enjoy what the specially created steampunk menu has to offer. Participating local restaurants have joined together to give our guests a taste of Fergus with a steampunk twist.
Food Trucks
This year we are adding 6 food truck to give guest more selection and to alleviate waiting. The Food Trucks will be located in 3 different areas and which will be posted on our maps.
Scavenger Hunts
This year there will be 4 scavenger hunts, 2 traditional and two virtual using Dux.
Traditional hunts will be between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm, and a second from 3:00pm to 7:00pm. You just have to find the hidden steampunk item in participating stores and vendor booths, who will give you a ticket for your chance to win one of the multiple gift bags filled with of goodies donated from stores and vendors. Tickets must be dropped off at any of the vendor booths.
Virtual Tours will be between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm, and a second from 3:00pm to 7:00pm. You just need to download the Dux app in the app store, click on the Cogs & Clockwork scavenger hunt and follow the instructions to be automatically entered into the scavenger hunt.
Tea Dueling in Templin Gardens
Come join the Toronto Steampunk Society in Templin Gardens where you will learn some history of Tea Dueling and join in on the fun or just watch and prepare yourself for the second and third rounds. Taking place in Templin Gardens with a backdrop of the Enchanted Forest decorations and Galaxy Teas near by this event will be available for 16 participants each session with each person getting a participation prize and first place winners prizes as well.
Come learn how to duel and enjoy a cup of tea and crumpets.
The Enchanta Templin Gardens
The creators of the wonderous Enchanta Forest Show in Fergus (end of September), have taken over Templin Gardens, making it a great place to relax from the crowds, have a cup of tea and enjoy the sculptures that will transport you to an Alice in Wonderland/Fairyland. See more of Enchanta’s work at enchantastudios.com enchanta.ca
Activities at Library
Come into the Fergus Public Library to take a break from the crowds and enjoy their steampunk displays, a children's scavenger hunt in the Children's Area, and a STEAM (Science, Technology, engineering, art, math) craft. The library is also participating in our two Cogs & Clockwork scavenger hunts. Get yourself and your kids into gear with fun for all.
Teapot Races
Taking place by the side entrance to the Fergus Public Library, teapot racing is a splendidly silly time in which small decorated teapot cars are piloted via remote control through an obstacle course, come watch the fun unfold! Teapot race practice begins at 11am first race is at 1:30pm and the second is at 5pm. Please bring your racer at the beginning the she show for the peoples choice award. Guests will vote for their favourite racer and the winner will get a prize.
Domestic Bliss Puppet Show
Puppets Elora will be performing their original steampunk puppet show "Domestic Bliss" live for children and adults in front of the Fergus Public Library.
1st Showing 11:30am-12:00pm | 2nd Showing 1:30pm-2:00pm | 3rd Showing 3:00pm-3:30pm
Scheduled Events
Friday Night
The Steam Queens ($)
Join us for a steampunk drag crossover created by Messy Productions from Toronto. This energetic and exciting event will feature Sanjina Dabish Queen, Messy Margaret and Madee Lovegood. We encourage all Cogs guests who will be staying over night Friday to attend this event as we expect the Saturday night performance to be packed.
Buy Tickets Here
Saturday Timed Events
10:45 am - Grand Opening Parade (Tenative): Costumed guests interested in join us for the opening parade should arrive in the marshalling area at 10:15am. If you have a steampunk vehicle that you would like to have in the parade and show off for the day please send us an email to register your participation. The parade will begin along Queen Street West, cross the the ST. David St. bridge, turn into the festival on St. Andrew St. West and conclude behind the Fergus Library where guests will disperse and vehicles will park for the day. NOTE: this has not been finalized.
11:30 am - Opening Remarks
Join Tony DeLuca (Cogs & Clockwork Organizer) to welcome everyone to the event. Takes place in front of the Fergus Library.
1:00 pm - 1st Guest Fashion Show
Come join our fashion show and display your wonderful costume! Guests who sign up have a chance to win one of 3 prizes. whether you've signed up or not, definitely come see everyone’s fantastic fashion!
1:30 pm - Tea Dueling in Templin Gardens
2:15 pm - Arc Odyssey Steampunk Belly Dancers ($)
Come see the amazing moves of professional belly dancers. This is a ticketed event held in the Fergus Grand Theatre $15 per ticket.
3:30 pm - Teapot Racing
Bring your teapot racer down beside the Fergus Library to enter into the teapot races.
4:00 pm - Tea Dueling in Templin Gardens
3:00 pm - Steamboat Race - Race begins at 4:45 on the Grand
Buy your toy boat kit at the Cogs Merch Cart or at the Midway entrance in Templin Gardens. Decorate your boat to be a winner! Boats must be painted by 3:00pm to allow the paint to dry before the race. 50% of proceed support our local Habitat for humanity.
5:30 pm - 2nd Guest Fashion Show
Another chance for guests to show off their costumes and win a prize!
6:00 pm - Featured Artist Q&A at Local Pieces Gallery by Jeremy Bennison
Local steampunk artist will be the featured artist at the gallery and will be available for questions.
6:30 pm - Tea Dueling in Templin Gardens
Over 50 Vendors will be attending the festival - come see everything Steampunk!
For more information, please visit the event website.
Cogs & Clockwork
Sponsors
Cogs & Clockwork would like to thank each of our sponsors; The Fergus BIA, HR Machining, Wolfe Smith & Forster LLP, The Bookery, Sideroad Creations, Brighten Up Games, and The Optimists Club of Centre Wellington
Parking
There are five municipal parking lots located in downtown Fergus:
St George Street W across from Fergus Curling Club (vendor parking lot A)
St George Street W at the Fergus Curling Club (vendor parking lot b)
Provost Lane at St Patrick Street West - 3 hour parking
Menzies Lane behind the Fergus Public Library - 3 hour parking
Queen Street West behind the Fergus Market Place - 3 hour parking
Shuttle Buses
To help with parking there will be a shuttle bus traveling from the corner of Beaty Line and St. Andrew St. then heading to AO Smith Parking lot then to downtown to drop guests off at the festival. Shuttles will be running frequently until 5pm then less so after 5pm ending at 8pm.
