TeslaCon Steampunk Convention Set in Middleton
The largest Steampunk convention in North America will take over a Middleton hotel in early November and everyone’s invited to the party.
MIDDLETON, WI — The largest Steampunk convention in North America will take over a Middleton hotel in early November and everyone’s invited to the party.
TeslaCon — as in Nikola Tesla — begins Thursday, Nov. 6, and runs through Sunday, Nov. 9, at the Madison Marriott West-Middleton. This is the convention’s 15th year and attracts vendors and attendees nationwide. And as an added bonus this year, Emily Kuhn, the City of Middleton’s mayor, has agreed to be in its fashion show.
TeslaCon is an immersive experience and this year’s convention, “Tear of Odin,” brings fairies, folklore, Nordic legends and yes, gnomes, to life with four days of programming. There will also be a Saturday night dance and themed dinner. Tickets will be on sale at the door and visitors can purchase a daily pass, weekend pass or family pass — cash only.
The fashion show will be at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 8, in the ballroom at the Marriott. There are two categories, Trashion — upcycle/old wedding dress/thrifting/altered garments; and Merry Makers of Middleton — show-stopper pieces worn by the creator. Mayor Kuhn will walk the runway with the vendors’ collections. The fashion show also includes a comedy sketch and an audience-participation production of “Time Warp” from “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”
“As you can see, my fashion shows are a production of fashion, entertainment, comedy, audience interactions, games and prizes,” said Chris Piehler, fashion show organizer and vendor who drives from New Jersey to attend this event. “It’s not your grandma’s fashion show.”
The Middleton Visitors Center was given 100 FREE tickets to give to Middleton residents, which gains free access to the convention (one or all four days!). These tickets are first-come-first-serve, no reservations, holds or mailings. Stop by the Middleton Visitors Center at 1811 Parmenter Street (within the historic train depot downtown) to pick up tickets; open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday-Wednesday, Nov. 3-5, and closed Thursday-Friday, as the team will be at a conference.
More details about TeslaCon are available here www.teslacon.com.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Planner and producer: Eric Larson at ericlarson77@charter.net to arrange interviews, photos
Fashion show: Chris Piehler for the fashion show cproswell@aol.com