THE MINISTRY OF STEAMPUNK
About the Steampunk Weekend in Lincoln
If you are local to Lincoln this page is for you
What is 'Steampunk'?
Every generation imagines what the future will be like. Back in Victorian times, science fiction writers imagined a world with marvellous machines powered by steam, travelling to the bottom of the seas, the centre of the earth and out into space. The origins of Steampunk came from that imagined future, with elaborately dressed people carrying fantastical gadgets and doing exciting things.
Over time Steampunk has become a thriving social scene combining all the 'best bits' of Victorian England (charm, elegance, style, long frocks, politeness) with imagination, invention and humour. It is inclusive and strives to be accessible, open and welcoming. There are steampunk fashions, literature, music, events and more.​​​​​​​
What is the Steampunk event that happens in Lincoln?​
Back in 2009 a group of Steampunks arranged to spend a weekend together at The Lawns, a former mental Asylum in Lincoln. Because it was a Weekend at a former Asylum, the event was named 'Weekend at the Asylum'. That is still the official name of the event, even though most Steampunks just call it 'The Asylum' and many Lincoln locals refer to it simply as the 'Steampunk event'.
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Will the event be held in Lincoln in 2025?
Yes, 'Weekend at the Asylum' will be returning to Lincoln over the Bank Holiday weekend 22-25 August 2025. This will be the fifteenth time the event has been held (we missed a couple of years due to the pandemic) so it is Asylum XV, which many people are referring to as 'AXV'. We have big plans for AXV which you can find out about on other pages of this website.​​​​​​​​​​
How is the event funded?
Weekend at the Asylum is first and foremost a Steampunk Convention, meaning an event where Steampunks come together to celebrate their social scene, meet up with friends, listen to music, attend talks, take part in workshops and competitions and so on. The majority of steampunks who come to the event buy an event wristband from the organisers who are called the Ministry of Steampunk. This is the ONLY source of income that the event receives. The event does not receive any grant income from any national or local bodies. The Lincoln City and Lincolnshire Councils, Castle and Lincoln BIG do help with some infrastructure costs but do not make any financial contribution to the entertainments that are provided for and by those attending the convention.
How can Lincoln locals become involved?
​There are three ways to become involved in Weekend at the Asylum. To enjoy the best possible experience you can buy an event wristband from the Ministry of Steampunk, either in advance through their website or at Event Control in Castle Square. A wristband gives you access to all of the Steampunk content in the castle (some areas are accessible only to wristband holoders) but you can also go into the County Assembly Rooms where lots more is happening and into the Westgate Academy too. By buying either a weekend or a single day wristband you are contributing to the costs of running the event, which (incidentally) is the biggest and longest running Steampunk event in the world. You don't have to be dressed up to buy a wristband and have a fabulous experience.
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Instead of buying a wristband from Event Control in castle square, on Saturday, Sunday or Monday you can buy a castle entry ticket at the castle gate instead (see prices below). A castle entry ticket gives you access to some, but not all, of the Steampunk content in the castle. It does not give you access to anything that is happening in the County Assembly Rooms or at Westgate Academy. If you buy a castle entry ticket you can see some of the Steampunk features inside the castle, but none of the money you pay to enter goes towards paying for it.​
​Even though you don't have to dress up to buy an event wristband, there is a real risk that you will have started to put an outfit together from some of our fabulous Steampunk traders before you go home. Maybe just a hat, or a pair of goggles, or a corset. But by buying a wristband you will have made a real tangible contribution to the event costs and that will help us make the event bigger and better year on year.
A third option is to just turn up in the streets where there are free to access markets, some musical and dance performances, an enormous number of fabulously dressed steampunks and the magnifiicent Grand Promenade through the streets on Monday morning. A huge number of people are drawn to the streets of Lincoln during the Asylum weekend. It is a fabulous experience just being in the historic quarter of Lincoln during Weekend at the Asylum, but it doesn't quite compare to buying a wristband, accessing the whole of the event, and contributing to the joy and spectacle.
​How much does it cost to buy a wristband?
Weekend wristbands (valid all four days from Friday to Monday) cost £44 and are available now. Single day adult wristbands will cost £10 for Friday, £21 for Saturday, £19 for Sunday and £15 for Monday when they become available in late April. Wristbands are free to Children aged 16 and under accompanied by an adult.
In 2025, single day castle entry ticket prices will be £17 per adult and £9 per child age 5-16.​​​​​
What are the blue plaques I have seen in shop windows?
Steampunks love crazy ideas. The Minsitry of Steampunk came up with the idea of making spoof 'Blue Plaques' to spread a bit of madness and humour out into the streets.
If you are in the upper part of the city over the Asylum weekend, do make a point to look out for them in various shop and cafe windows, on hotel walls and so on.
Businesses which have a blue plaque in their window offer a 'little something' such as a modest discount to anyone wearing an event wristband during Weekend at the Asylum. ​
​Are there things going on in the evenings too?
Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes and Yes!
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For Asylum XV we are flying over the two biggest Steampunk bands in the world from the USA!
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First off we have Abney Park playing at the Engine Shed on Friday 22 August. Abney Park are the original airship pirates and will be supported by the The Captain's Beard, a fabulous sea pirate band!
But not only do we have Abney Park, but Steam Powered Giraffe will also be coming back to Asylum! Steam Powered Giraffe are a fantastically popular band and they will be headlining our Time Travellers gig at the Engine Shed on Sunday 24 August.
You can find out more about all of the evening events taking place on other pages of this website. With a burlesque show, variety show, 20's to 50's styled 'Dieselpunk' dance night and more there is something for everyone.
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Tickets to the evening shows are sold separately from the daytime wristbands so you only pay to attend the events you want to attend.
Did I hear something about medals?
Every year we make a collectable Steampunk medal and usually one or two pins, patches or T-shirts. Most of these are sold in advance for collection at the event, but if we have any left when the event starts they are on sale from Event Control. Once of the pins is a Charity Pin and 100% of the proceeds tgo to charity. Elsewhere on the website you will find out more about how to buy the official 'merch' if you are interested. ​​​​
​​Is this the year to take the plunge and buy a wristband?
Yes! Because it is the fifteenth Asylum it is set to be the biggest and the best yet. We are not just hosting the two biggest Steampunk bands in the world, but we are planning many other new features. It is going to be magnificent.
Come and find out a bit more about the fabulous crazy steampunks who have descended on Lincoln every year since 2009 (apart from during the pandemic when we had to stay away for public health reasons).​​​​​
But don't forget, the event does not belong to Lincoln.
Many locals think of it as the "Lincoln Steampunk Weekend" but it does not belong to Lincoln, it belongs to the Steampunks and the Ministry of Steampunk. There is no guarantee it will be back in Lincoln in 2026, indeed we almost didn't come back in 2025.
You can demonstrate your support for the event and make us all feel welcome in your fabulous city by buying an event wristband and supporting the event, even if only for a single day. ​​​​​​
