​Introduction

Weekend at the Asylum is primarily a Steampunk Convention, an event where Steampunks get together to enjoy each others' company and a broad range of features including art, music, literature, dance, workshops, competitions, races, markets, tea parties and so much more. The Steampunk content of the event is funded through the sale of festival wristbands which are sold by the Ministry of Steampunk who conceive, organise and run the event. Full weekend and single day wristbands are available. Children aged 16 and under can access the event free with an adult wristband holder. 

​​​​

How much are wristbands for AXV?  

Adult 'earlybird' weekend steampunk wristbands cost £40 + £2 booking fee. Once the earlybird wristbands have all sold, remaining adult wristbands cost £44 + £2 booking fee. Weekend wristbands for children aged 16 and under accompanying an adult with a weekend wristband are free. The weekend wristband prices are the same as in 2023 and 2024.

​

We are expecting AXV to be very popular. Only full weekend wristbands will be available in the first instance. Nearer the event if we still have capacity, single day wristbands will also be available. The cost for single day adult steampunk wristbands will be £10 on Friday, £21 on Saturday, £19 on Sunday and £15 on Monday, in each case + £2 booking fee. The Saturday and Sunday wristband prices are the same as recent years, whilst the Friday and Monday have increased slightly. As for weekend wristbands, children aged 16 and under are free with an accompanying adult day wristband holder. 

​

Can I bring a carer with me?

Free carer’s tickets are available to adult wristband holders. Buy your own wristband and show your PIP/DLA entitlement letter at control when you collect it. Your carer will be given an equivalent wristband to yours. There is no need to prebook for your carer.

​​

​What is the difference between a castle admission ticket and a wristband?​

On Saturday, Sunday and Monday you can buy a castle admission ticket which during AXV will cost £17 per day per adult and £9 for children age 5 to 16. A castle admission ticket will give you access to the castle grounds, prison, and the Magna Carta but will not give access to the Heritage Centre, one of the castle marquees or the seating area around the bandstand, all of which are accessible only to those with steampunk wristbands. A castle admission ticket will not give you access to the County Assembly Rooms, Bailgate Methodist's Hall or Westgate Academy or any of the other perks set out below.​

​

​​All of the money spent on castle entry tickets is retained by the castle; none of it goes towards providing the steampunk content of the event. The only people in the castle who are paying for the steampunk content are the wristband holders. 

​​

​​What do I get in return for my wristband?

The list of perks to wristband holders changes from time as we try to improve the value of the wristband, but at present the planned benefits are as follows:

​

1. Admission to the castle grounds (also included in a castle ticket).

2. Entry to a marquee in the castle grounds with additional steampunk content and (new for 2025) a wristband-holders-only tearoom.

3. Entry to the Heritage Centre where we hold a series of interesting talks and workshops.

4. Access to the seating area around the bandstand where you can rest your legs for a while during many of the bandstand performances.

5. Access to the Oval Room, Ballroom and Edwardian Suite in the County Assembly Rooms where a wide variety of events will take place, including talks, panels, competitions, tea duelling and so much more. 

6. Entry to Westgate Academy to see The Great Exhibition of steampunk art and a number of other displays and features.

7. Entry to the Bailgate Methodist Hall market.

​

We plan to run the Blue Plaque scheme again with perks for wristband holders but this is still under discussion. 

​​

Also, as a wristband holder you will know that you are contributing to the costs of running the biggest steampunk event in the world. 

​

How do I buy a wristband?

You can pre-order your steampunk wristbands from the Ministry of Steampuk ticketing site via the button below. You will be emailed a QR code that you bring along to the Event Control trailer in Castle Square where you will be given your wristband. If you have a ticket to The Advanced Guard on Thursday evening you will also be able to pick up your wristband there.

 

The castle has a finite capacity and the number of wristbands that can be sold is therefore finite. We expect AXV to be a particularly busy event and so pre-ordering wristbands is the best way to be sure that you can get the wristbands that you want.

​

If we still have capacity then you will also be able to buy day wristbands from the Event Control trailer in Castle Square during the event. 

​

What about official AXV merch?

You can find out more information about the official AXV merch on the webpage here. Please note that orders for wristbands and merch will be on separate ticketing pages this year. This means you will need to place separate orders for wristbands and merch.

​