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Dragons Descend on Morecambe, Lancashire, for this year’s A Splendid Day Out Steampunk Festival

By John Freeman on May 11, 2025

Coming soon to Morecambe, Lancashire – dragons! Well, as close as you can get any way, in the form of “The Age of Dragons”, a full weekend of entertainment for everyone to enjoy, brought to you by A Splendid Day Out, Morecambe, and Morecambe BID.

A Splendid Day Out Steampunk Festval (ASDO) is always held either the first or the second weekend in June at the Platform Morecambe.

Taking place Friday 30th May to Sunday 1st June 2025, this Dragons and all things related event, centring in The Platform, will offer various outdoor performances, a free Indoor Artisan Market with entertainment, and more. Meet dragons, wizards and princesses, join in workshops – and try your hand at Tea Duelling* and Parasol Duelling** (the latter thanks to Kathy and Ian Knowles). Whether you are a seasoned dueller or a first timer, get along and try your hand.

Live bands performing free include alternative melodic duo Silence Surrounds Me, and the event includes a “Best Dragon Themed Costume” and “Best Costume” competition to represent Steampunk.

Simply sign up on the day and let the audience decide and you may be going home with prestigious medal kindly donated from Captain Cumberpatch’s Curious Creations.

*The Brass Brothers – heading to Morecambe*

Friday and Saturday evening will see ticketed events upstairs at The Kings Arms, for over 18s only, featuring, on Friday Aldous Pinch, The Brass Brothers and Madam Misfit; and on Saturday, Frankie Heartless, Victor & the Bully and The Rewinders. Tickets for these events are available here

Co-hosts Morecambe BID, its overarching mission is to transform Morecambe into a thriving and vibrant destination, is a community-driven enterprise dedicated to enhancing the Morecambe region. As a collaborative effort, they’re powered by local businesses and funded by their commitment to creating positive change.

• A Splendid Day Out, Morecambe presents “The Age of Dragins” Friday 30th May – Sunday 1st June 2025, the Platform, Morecambe | Free Market | Facebook Event Page | Tickets for over 18 events at the Kings Arms are available here

* Oh, you wanted to know what Tea Duelling was, right? No? Well, we’re going to tell you anyway. It’s a steampunk-inspired game, invented by Dr Geof Banyard and John Naylor, where two players compete to dunk a biscuit into hot tea for a set time, lift it, and then eat it without losing any crumbs.The first to eat the biscuit with a “clean nom” (no crumbs lost) wins. The Ministry of Steampunk has more information here

** Oh, you wanted to know what Parasol Duelling was, right? No? Well, we’re going to tell you anyway. Parasol dueling is a game or competition where participants use parasols in a way that resembles the game of rock, paper, scissors. It’s a Steampunk-inspired activity, often found at festivals and events. The Ministry of Steampunk has more information here

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John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.