After the success of last year's inaugural event, the gothic-style festival, led by Dr Kieron Cooney and Vicky Cooney, was even bigger this time around. The family-friendly festival ran over three days in and around Ryde, beginning on the Friday evening (September 26). The main festival site was in the Western Gardens, where families could enjoy a variety of activities, including hands-on workshops, creative opportunities, captivating storytellers and vintage puppets. The festival included Steampunk favourites, such as teapot racing, tea duelling and a mini fairground for children, with quirky characters to meet, including a town crier, a dragon hunter, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Ziggy the wandering sea monster, and Chiko, the red squirrel mascot. The festival continued late into the evening with music and entertainment.