Clockwork Alchemy, the California Bay Area’s steampunk convention, returned for another year of panels, crafts, and activities. While last year’s convention ended with uncertainty about where it would go, it found a welcome new home at the Grand Bay Hotel SF in Redwood City.
This year, Clockwork Alchemy’s theme was “Gaslight Fantasy,” blending more magical and fantasy elements with steam-powered science. So while attendees still showed up wearing gears, goggles, and gadgets, there was also a touch of magic about the con.
So without further ado, let’s dive into Clockwork Alchemy 2025 and see what it had to offer.
Crafts & Cosplay
One of the biggest draws of Clockwork Alchemy is the creativity of the guests and attendees, and nothing captures this more than the Artist’s Gallery. There, artists displayed their works in a variety of mediums, from sculptures to paintings to handmade outfits. The gallery even included a large replica of H.G. Wells’s time machine, which attendees could pose for pictures on.
Speaking of the attendees, many of them showed up in their best steampunk outfits. Many were dressed in dapper outfits adorned with gears and cogs, complete with the largest of hats. Others took existing series or characters and gave them a steampunk twist, including science fiction staples like Star Trek and Galaxy Express 999. Attendees could display their creativity with outfits overflowing with personality and personal touches, so no two outfits were alike.
Guests of Honor
Clockwork Alchemy tends to bring a good variety of guests, including artists, authors, and plenty of musical performers. Some are familiar to frequent attendees, while others were making their Clockwork Alchemy debut.
Musical guests included Dust Bowl Faeries, The Forgetmenauts, Hobo Goblins, and Unwoman, who brought their various styles to performances throughout the convention weekend. Artist Matt Gaser appeared as the Artist Guest of Honor, along with Author Guest of Honor TE MacArthur.
This year, the guest list also included Charles Bates, better known as Yahzick, who D&D fans may recognize from the “D&D Edition” videos with Mann Shorts. Yahzick performed double duty as a gaming and musical guest, performing game-themed raps at the Aural Alchemy Concert.
Shopping
Shopping at Clockwork Alchemy isn’t like other cons. While your typical convention has a Dealers’ Hall filled with vendors and businesses, and an Artist Alley for independent artists, Clockwork Alchemy featured an Artists’ Bazaar, where attendees could buy handcrafted goods.
The Artists’ Bazaar featured a variety of unique, homemade wares, including clothing, incense, metal sculptures, and even decorations made from naturally sourced animal bones. While prices varied from seller to seller, attendees were paying independent artists for their handmade goods, which is always worth a few extra bucks.
Additionally, attendees could purchase books from the Author’s Alley and Basilisk’s Book Shop within the Artists’ Bazaar. This featured works from guest authors, including science fiction, romance, fantasy, horror, and many combinations thereof.
And for those looking to grab some garb without spending much, they could try their luck at the Garb Giveaway to snag some gently-used jackets, hats, and other outfit pieces in need of a new home.
Panels, Workshops, and Weapons
Throughout the con, attendees could sit down and attend panels covering a wide array of topics, presented by knowledgeable experts and fans. The panels covered a wide array of topics, including “Steampunk Occultism,” the storytelling in “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33,” steampunk in tabletop RPGs, a history of San Francisco in the gaslight era, and more. Suffice it to say, the variety and subjects made for unique panels and discussions you can’t find anywhere else.
In addition to informational panels and discussions, Clockwork Alchemy also featured hands-on workshops, where attendees could learn and practice their own crafts. This included a butterfly pinning workshop, plush sewing, origami (including both all-ages and adult origami workshops), Victorian hat pins, and more. While many of these workshops did have a cost to cover the materials, they gave attendees a chance to make something new and take home their creations.
Speaking of hands-on experiences, Clockwork Alchemy’s War Room featured weapon demonstrations and training throughout the convention. Attendees had the chance to learn martial arts, self-defense techniques, and a variety of weapons, from knives to naginata. There were guidelines in place to make sure that attendees of all ages and physical abilities could safely learn and practice, under the careful instruction and guidance of trained staff.
Events and Activities
The schedule contained plenty of other activities throughout the convention weekend, including several unique to Clockwork Alchemy. Tea Dueling, for instance, is an always-popular competition, wherein competitors would compete in what’s essentially a game of “chicken” to cleanly eat biscuits dunked in hot tea.
Speaking of tea, there was the Teapot Racing contest, where competitors drove remote-controlled cars mounted with teapots through an obstacle course. Naturally, there was also the Alchemist Tea Parlor, where attendees could rest their feet and sit down for a nice hot cuppa and converse with other attendees.
The game room provided another opportunity for attendees to relax and meet new friends, with a nice selection of board games (many steampunk-themed, of course) and several TTRPGs scheduled throughout the weekend. This included Dungeons & Dragons, of course, but also systems like In Nomine, Deadlands Classic, and even a new game-in-progress by guest Yahzick called “The Florida Mann.”
Attendees hoping to enjoy some music had plenty of opportunities, with concerts and performances by the con’s musical guests throughout the weekend. For those who wanted a little more movement with their music, the Forgotten Mists Ball provided an opportunity to get on the floor and dance.
In short, there was no shortage of things to do at Clockwork Alchemy.
From Friday through Sunday, the hotel was packed full of attendees in their best steampunk garb and gears. The Grand Bay Hotel proved a fine location for the convention, complete with a scenic lakeside view and a good selection of food options (not to mention convenient parking, which is always a plus). For steampunk fans or anyone interested in the genre, Clockwork Alchemy is a con well worth checking out.
