Say Goodbye To Summer At This Annual Steampunk Festival In Hannibal, Missouri

Summer seems to pass so quickly, doesn’t it? Before we know it, we’ll be celebrating Labor Day weekend, the unofficial end to summer, as kids head back to school, pools close, and many of our favorite theme parks shut until Halloween. That means we have to pack as much fun as we can into that first weekend of September, including a visit to this end-of-summer festival in Hannibal, Missouri.

Considered “America’s Hometown” by many, the darling town of Hannibal hosts the Big River Steampunk Festival, a final hurrah to summer.

Drawing more than 20,000 guests annually, this popular festival will celebrate its ninth year in 2023. One of the country’s largest steampunk festivals, the event is set for Sept. 1-4.

The festival officially kicks off when booths open at noon on Friday, Sept. 1. One of the highlights of the weekend, the parade gets underway at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

It will travel from HNB Bank to North Street Stage.

A free-admission festival, the Labor Day weekend event promises fun for the whole family. The Steampunkin’ Area, for example, is designed for kids between two and 12 years.

The kiddos will have a blast with face painting, nerf dueling, airship racing, make-and-take crafts, and games.

Live entertainment is also scheduled throughout the weekend. There will also be several contests, including a costume contest, a beard and moustache competition, and Steampunks Got Talent.

Check out the many vendors that are scheduled to attend, too. Vendors will sell everything from delicious food to clothing and accessories.

The weekend will also feature a full menu of ticketed events, including Can Can Dance Instruction and a Leather Eye Patch Make and Take. Online sales have already ended, but you can purchase any remaining tickets at the ticket booth on festival days.

For a full schedule of events, visit the official website of the Big River Steampunk Festival. Or, check out the Facebook page of this annual festival in Missouri.

Have you ever been to the Big River Steampunk Festival, an end-of-summer festival in Hannibal, Missouri? Will you go this year? Let us know in the comments! Carve out some time to explore this historic town in Missouri, too.