Victorian Festival - Saturday parade

[vilakins]

The sun came out for the noon parade though it was raining in the morning. Oamaru weather, you finally came through!


Pipers led the parade. There were a lot of Scottish early settlers in Otago. That's Steampunk HQ in the background with the zeppelin.


Oamaruvians in Victorian costume. The spectator on the right is my friend Andrea, waiting to join people she knew when they came past.


The theme was medicine, so some dressed to match.


One of the penny-farthing riders. You can get lessons but I'd be certain to fall off like one guy did spectacularly in the race which was held later.


Steampunk contingent!


More steampunkers


I'll be with them at the steampunk festival in June; leather's too hot for late spring.


The Wizard of Christchurch and another wizard - possibly a chosen successor? - followed by various vintage vehicles


Like these ones


Steam-powered vehicles


More penny-farthing riders. Last week they had a tour of the Taieri Plain and there were races later in the day.


The queen waves to her subjects. She and her duke were totally the wrong era. See my next post for Queen Victoria herself. :-)

In the evening I went to the murder mystery dinner which was great fun. Most of the diners/audience were in costume and the people at my table were very friendly. The teenager beside me thought I looked like the 5th Doctor, hence the icon. :-) I took a photo of fellow diners but it didn't come out; that's been happening lately. The phone gets a new SD card tomorrow.

Comments

[jekesta]

Brilliant pictures, that looks really cool:)

[vilakins]

It was! So many people here dress up and have fun.

[kerravonsen]

I'll be with them at the steampunk festival in June; leather's too hot for late spring.
You planning on going as an aviator?

Steam-powered vehicles
Cool.

She and her duke were totally the wrong era.
That's rather encouraging, really. It means they're not being anal-retentive like some SCA people I used to know.

[vilakins]

You planning on going as an aviator?
Yep! Well, I have the helmet (but retired the icon a while back).

Oh, I know SCA people like that: everything has to be authentic and hand sewn. Anything goes here, and Victoria had a long rein so there are lots of styles to choose from anyway. It's all about fun.

I'll have another photo of the queen and duke in the next post. She's strangely familiar; I know her from somewhere. The Victoria isn't... quite authentic either. YOu'll see. :-D

[gwendraith]

It looks marvellous. Love the penny-farthings :)

Glad you enjoyed the murder mystery.

[vilakins]

You see them around town now and then. I've met the guy who runs them: tall chap in a sober suit, top hat, and large muttonchops. :-)

One of the actor was the ubiquitous Peter whom I keep running into round town, but I suppose he thinks the same about me.

[kalypso]

Nice to see the procession, and also the local buildings. The Steampunk HQ reminds me a little of the Free Trade Hall (note red Peterloo plaque!) from the 1850s.

[vilakins]

It does! Our buildings are from around that era, and I'm so glad they were preserved unlike many in Auckland and other places.

[pebblerocker]

I wonder if they need special permits to drive the traction engine and steamroller on the road!

[vilakins]

I have no idea! They'd have to get them there from wherever they normally are. I drove behind the traction engine on Saturday; it was pretty slow.

This photo may interest you. :-)

[pebblerocker]

Lovely!

It looks a lot like the one outside MOTAT, which doesn't go anywhere. Wonderful to have one that does move - even if it's a little slow.