PORT TOWNSEND — Now in its fifth year, the Brass Screw Confederacy has hit its stride.
“We are at the point where we have actually arrived and are doing the kinds of things we were thinking of five years ago,” said Nathan Barnett, a founder, along with his wife, Cindy Madsen, of the three-day celebration that begins today.
The event celebrates Steampunk, a growing trend that evokes the late 19th century with elements of fashion, eccentric behavior and science fiction.
“We’ve been through some interesting and even rough times, but we feel really good about this year’s numbers,” Barnett said.
Barnett said that online ticket sales for the Brass Screw Confederacy were at 150 as of Thursday, double what they were at the same time in 2015. A total of 300 tickets were sold last year.
Barnett predicts selling 400 or 450 tickets, with at least another 500 people stopping by to look and learn.
Activities are planned from about 1 p.m. today to 4 p.m. Sunday in various locations around Port Townsend.
The festival is centered on the downtown area that includes the American Legion Hall, the Northwest Maritime Center and Pope Marine Park.
Tickets are $45 for all events aside from the Steampunk Hootenanny, $60 including the hootenanny and $150 for a VIP pass.
Madsen said that people are calling from all over, saying they want to take part.
“We have worked out a lot of the logistics and are at a point where we can be very creative ourselves,” she said.
Bodgers Exhibition
Steampunk items will be viewable at a Bodgers Exhibition from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. to 5 a.m. Saturday in the Pope Marine Building.
“In Steampunk circles, a bodger is someone who creates things,” the website at http://www.brass-screw.org/ says.
The exhibition of those creations also will be a competition that awards a $350 first-place cash prize.
Barnett characterizes the display as “clothing, accessories, books lamps and other household items that have been converted into pieces of art.”
Madsen said the ability to give prizes is an indication of the event’s financial stability.
“It has always been one of our dreams to encourage the art, the creativity and the imagination,” she said.
The organization is a nonprofit but operates in the $15,000 to $20,000 range, keeping enough to support the following year’s event, Barnett said.
“When we began, we wanted to bring more outreach to youth,” Barnett said.
“This is the first year we are getting some more youth involvement and have more all-age events this year.”
One such offering is drop-in crafting for children from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Pope Marine Park.
Bazaar of the Bizarre
A vendor fair, dubbed Bazaar of the Bizarre has expanded into two locations, the American Legion Hall, 508 Monroe St., and the Northwest Maritime Center, 431 Water St.
Admission will be free. It will be open from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. today, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
In past years, Barnett has presented a demonstration of “manly arts” such as straight razor shaving and swordplay.
That has evolved this year into a training session from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Memorial Field. Training will be in such activities as shaving, swordplay, bayonet use and how to conduct a tea duel.
Reservations are encouraged for this activity, Barnett said.
“We are hoping the stars align and this becomes one of the big events in Port Townsend,” he said.
“We are not doing it for the money. We are doing it to grow the love.”
For more information, ticket sales and a complete schedule go to www.brass-screw.org.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
