The festival, which was originally scheduled for September 4, has been postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions stopping travel between Melbourne and regional Victoria.

Dimboola Imaginarium owner and festival organiser Chan Uoy said no new date had yet been chosen, with too much uncertainty around when travel will be possible.

"We have one band from Melbourne who can't rehearse because of the lockdown, we also have two food stall holders from South Australia who can't cross over," he said.

"Also, the Victorian government regulation for outdoor events is capped at 300 maximum.

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"We can't run a successful event based on that cap, if you look at all of the bands and the stall holders - it is creeping up. So it is not viable to hold an event until the government regulations for public events are lifted. We are hindered by it."

Mr Uoy also said organisers were worried about the possible absence of Melbournians and other Victorians from the event.

"It is the Wimmera Steampunk Festival, the reason it is called that is because we want to promote the Wimmera to a broader audience to let them know that there are things that are happening in the Wimmera," he said.

"That is why we need outside participation, even though we want everyone in the Wimmera to have fun, it is also a tourism exercise to promote the Wimmera."

Despite the postponement and uncertainty around a new date, Mr Uoy was optimistic.

He said holding the festival later in the year would allow people to finish off their elaborate steampunk costumes - and give more time for Dimboola venues and businesses to prepare.

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"It has given everyone more time to make this event bigger and better. A lot of people were stressed that their outfits weren't ready, because most things were ordered online," he said.

"People now have more time. We have more time to promote the event, more time to educate people about steampunk. So there are actually a few advantages. Looking at it philosophically, and also as an optimist, there is actually some good to come out of this.

"Some of the buildings in the town that are being activated will have more time to get ready for the event.

"So really just more time to get more people to come onboard, so make it bigger and better.

"By the time it happens, it is like shaking a coke bottle, it will be an explosion I think."

The Wimmera Steampunk Festival was initially going to host the launch of the The Wimmera - A journey through western Victoria photography book.

Dimboola Imaginarium will host the launch party instead, with an author signing at the store starting at 10am on September 4.

The book can be purchased online via www.tenbagpress.com.au.

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