The first Aberystwyth Steampunk Spectacular takes place this weekend.

On 13 and 14 October venues all over town will host workshops and performances for steampunk enthusiasts.

But what is steampunk?

Festival organiser Stephen Fearn explained: “Steampunk is a genre of science fiction, which mixes the Victorian era’s romantic view of science and the Industrial Revolution, combined with fashion and historical elements.”

Stephen, who works at Aberystwyth University and is well-known throughout the town for building robots, has attended steampunk events throughout the country and decided it was time to bring steampunk to Aberystwyth.

“Aberystwyth is ideally suited to a themed event of this kind, with its Victorian promenade and historical buildings,” he said.

Supported by Advancing Aberystwyth, Stephen hopes people will embrace the event.

The Old College is the main venue for all indoor activities with various steampunk traders plying their goods in the Quad. Steam train journeys are also available at the Vale of Rheidol railway and history tours of the Old College will take place.

Guest speakers include authors Gail B Williams, Stephen Palmer and Geraint Roberts.

Jenevieve Van-Veda hosts The Geisha in Steampunk and Gothic Subcultures, Prof Richard Marggraf Turley and Dr Peter Todd discuss Quantified Goths: How Scary is Frankenstein?, and Dr Hannah Dee talks about Victorian computing visionary Ada Lovelace.

The Peacocks Parade will see the magnificently dressed promenading Old College for all to see their creative splendour, and Professor Marmaduke Salt’s Victorian Science Spectacular is on Saturday and Sunday, performed by Iwan Rhys Morus.

Most events are free and tickets for Saturday’s evening show are available to buy now.

From 7pm to 11pm, The Showtime Singers, Kiss Like Ether and The Hornettes take to the stage of the historical Ceredigion Museum to present a night of musical magic.