If you're planning to attend the Spectacle Fantastique Gala at Science North Saturday evening, you better get yourself a Steampunk outfit together — stat.
According to the Wikipedia page on the topic, Steampunk fashion, which is popular with cosplayers, has no set guidelines, but tends to synthesize modern styles with influences from the Victorian era.
Popular choices include bustles, corsets (worn outside of clothing), suits with waistcoats, top hats, timepieces, parasols and flying/driving goggles, along withVictorian-inspired technological elements.
Science North CEO Guy Labine said he already has his outfit together, including a “steampunk-looking coat, and a hat and funky accessories to go along with it.”
Of course, you're still welcome to attend the event even if you're not wearing a Steampunk outfit, he's quick to add.
The theme for this year's fundraising gala was chosen to complement Science North's new exhibit, 101 Inventions That Changed the World, which opened at the science centre last month.
A press release for the April 8 event said it “celebrates invention and innovation, while mixing technological ingenuity, uninhibited imagination, aesthetic nuance, Victorian sensibility and 19th century mechanical creativity.”
Guests can expect to be treated to a Victorian feast, open bar, late night fare, live music and entertainment, “steamy” science experiments and live and silent auctions.
Over the past five years, Science North's galas — which always have a fun and creative theme — have raised more than $250,000, which goes towards improving the visitor experience.
“They're an important source of revenue,” Labine said. “We are a charitable organization. Not everybody in the community knows that.”
Individual tickets range in price from $100 to $250. Labine said tickets are selling fast, but there's still a few available. Visit sciencenorth.ca/gala.
