This year, Tourism Powell River has decided to promote the city’s heritage in a different way. The group is holding a special steampunk photo shoot from 4 to 7 pm on Saturday, August 10, at the steam donkey along Willingdon Beach trail.
“We were thinking, what can we do that would interest a whole new generation of people, because statistically, your heritage tourists are older,” said visitor services manager Tracey Ellis. Steampunk, she added, was the answer.
Steampunk is a futuristic genre of science-fiction that features steam-powered machinery. Fashion is Edwardian and Victorian, and heavily incorporates time pieces, machinery and heritage items.
Since posting the event on Facebook, the photo shoot has almost 40 confirmed attendees. People are even travelling from Vancouver Island, many from organized steampunk groups, said Ellis.
“Our little event has snowballed into a kind of bigger event,” she said. “It’s probably going to be really fun and it’s actually attracting visitors.”
Everyone who participates in the photo shoot will receive a free DVD of all the photos. There will also be a vote and prizes awarded for best costume.
Afterward, participants are invited to meet up at The Old Courthouse Inn at 7:30 pm for tapas.
According to Ellis, costumes and artifacts are available at various second-hand stores around town.
She said the event already looks like a success. “It’s really different, and it has done exactly what we wanted it to do: attract a younger, different audience to the heritage features that Powell River has to offer.”
