Wonderful and wacky weekend at National Emergency Services Museum

The National Emergency Services Museum (NESM) in Sheffield is hosting Steamers and Scallywags on Saturday and Sunday in a popular return for the event that made its successful debut at the museum last year.

Steampunk is a genre inspired by Victorian science fiction with its bonkers inventions and stories, taking the tales of authors like H. G. Wells and Jules Verne and bringing them to life in the form of creative costumes and wacky gadgets that combine the old with the new.

The museum, on West Bar in Sheffield, will be packed with themed activities for all the family to enjoy.

There will be musical entertainment from Sheriff Ants Trepreneur, while Parrots and Pirates will be bringing their flying and handling experience to the museum and there will be a chance to explore amazing inventions, see historic vehicles, meet some animals in the Dark Menagerie and enjoy the magical Memorabubble.

Visitors will also be able to get up close and personal with objects from the museum’s collection not normally on public display, and the “Imaginarium” will be open for youngsters to show off their own inventiveness with crafts and colouring.

The event will showcase some local makers selling unique jewellery, fashions, bags and other items.

There will be a tea-duelling station — a steampunk staple — and the museum’s former fire, police and ambulance station will be full of guests and visitors dressed up in their best steampunk finery.

Team NESM’s Matt Wakefield said: “Our first steampunk event last year was a great success and we hope this year will prove just as popular.

“Our museum makes an amazing venue for this  event.

“Not only do we have some amazing objects of our own to showcase under the steampunk banner, but our historic home — a former Victorian fire, police and ambulance station — is the perfect place to celebrate all things steampunk.”

The event runs from 10am to 4pm on both days.

Tickets, priced at £9.50 for adults and £7.50 for kids, are limited and booking in advance is encouraged at  visitnesm.org.uk/steamers-and-scallywags.