Gaslight Gathering Steampunk and Victoriana Convention

Gaslight Gathering is a fun Steampunk convention, but it pales in comparison to what it was the first few years. Sadly, it’s slowly veering away from being strictly Steampunk by mixing in Dieselpunk and modern sci-​fi. I fear that in a few years it will become another humdrum sci-​fi convention that tries to encompass too much. Honestly, SD doesn’t need any more generic sci-​fi conventions.
Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy attending, but I don’t have much interest in most of the panels and DIY classes. This year the Pirate Rum Party was replaced with a Speakeasy type of event that was pretty cool. I also got to don a vintage gentleman’s bathing suit and participate in a water ballet scene in the pool that was identical (although much less coordinated) to the one from the movie Caddyshack. We had a very large audience and they seemed to enjoy the whimsical performance.
Other highlights include a Steampunk fashion show, the vendor room chock full of cool items, and the Absinthe tasting event.

I had a blast at the first Gaslight Gathering, held this past weekend at San Diego’s Town & Country in Hotel Circle.
Despite the size of the convention, that being rather small, I felt completely immersed in the world of Wells and Verne, surrounded by great people in outstanding costumes.
While pretending to be a supernatural creature, was shot at with a netgun by Edwardian ghostbusters. Most fun I’ve had falling on my face, I tell you.
They had many panels, guest spotlights, performances, and workshops. We watched costumers talk about raiding hardware stores, Unwoman sing and play cello, and looked over various artists’ pieces in the Hall of Wonders.
This is the ONLY convention I have been to that holds a dance that’s not just people writhing around to techno and trance in the dark, but ACTUALLY expects you to ballroom dance. They had a little orchestra and announced whether the next dance would be a one-​step or a waltz. It was incredible seeing con-​goers in full regalia, be they in ball gowns or European military uniforms, floating about the dancefloor.
My heart skipped a beat, feeling like a little girl seeing «Anastasia» for the first time and it’s at the part when the memories of dancing couples explode from the portraits during «Once Upon a December.» Seriously, this was gorgeous.