Please join Bossard Library and the Gallipolis Railroad Freight Station Museum on Saturday, May 2, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM as we host our 4th annual Steampunk Festival.
This event will occur at the Gallipolis Railroad Freight Station Museum at 918 Third Avenue, Gallipolis, OH.
Admission is FREE.
Guests are invited to attend in their fanciest Steampunk attire. Don't have Steampunk attire? No worries, come and enjoy viewing everyone else's creative endeavors.
A Costume/Cosplay contest will be held at 1:00 PM for the best Steampunk outfits. Awards will be furnished by Final Boss Con. Two divisions will be judged: Ages 0-17 and Ages 18 and up. Contestants will be judged on originality, stage presence, and theming. Each division will have a 1st and 2nd place winner as well as a Judges Choice. Contestants must register by 12:30 PM on the day of the Festival. Please register at the Rio Renaissance Faire table.
Make sure to stop at the Museum for a free tour and a chance to take selfies on and in the station's railroad cars and engines.
Tim Davis of Splendid Obstacles will have his Teapot Race Course set up for you to try your hand at Teapot racing. Create your own or borrow one of Tim's designs. Practice throughout the day with your racer and then compete against each other at 3:00 PM. Rules and regulations for creating your own teapot racer are listed here.
10-paces Steampunk Nerf Dueling will also be available this year, courtesy of Tim Davis of Splendid Obstacles. Create your own set of Steampunk Nerf Duelers or borrow a set of Tim's. The dueling field will be open all day for personal duels. The May Madness Dueling competition will be at High Noon. Who will emerge as the top duelist?
Rules for creating your own set of Nerf duelers:
- The set must contain matching pistols.
- The outsides can be altered as you wish, but both must be altered the same.
- The inside firing mechanism must remain unaltered.
Grab some drinks, food and dessert from one of the food vendors available.
Look for Steampunk and Fandom items to purchase from our vendors.
Listen to live music while you are viewing the antique cars, model railroads on display, and the Wood County Flywheelers gas and steam powered machinery.
Adults and children are encouraged to stop at the Library table to create a free Steampunk craft. Free face painting will be available at the Library table this year.
We look forward to your visit.