List of steam fairs explained

A steam fair or (steam rally) is a regular organised gathering of historic steam-powered vehicles and machinery, open to the public. Typical exhibits include: traction engines, steam rollers, steam wagons, and steam cars. Often, the scope is widened to include other historic exhibits such as stationary engines, internal-combustion -powered road transport, agricultural and construction vehicles, working horses, woodcraft and the like.

A typical steam fair consists of:

• A parade ring or track in which vehicles may be demonstrated
• Trade and craft stalls related to the exhibits
• Areas where vehicles may be examined more closely and the public may talk to owners and operators
• Entertainment areas (often, a beer tent) with food, drink, and evening music
• A fairground area may also be included in the event

The following is a geographic list of these gatherings, some of which are referred to as rallies or as festivals. The list does not include static steam museums unless they host a particular event that falls into the classification.

In addition there are some travelling shows powered by steam. Where these are referred to as steam fairs they are included in the list.

Australia

• Scoresby Steamfest
• Lake Goldsmith steam rally (Twice yearly)
• Hunter Valley Steamfest
• Steam Rally Echuca Moama
• SteamFest Tasmania at Sheffield

Canada

• Steam-Era - (Milton, Ontario)^[1]
• Threshermen's Reunion – (Austin, Manitoba)
• Georgian Bay Steam Show _ (Cookstown, Ontario)^[2]

Ireland

• Eyrecourt
• Innishannon Steam and Vintage Rally – (1998-)
• Stradbally - Irish National Steam Rally  - (1965-)^[3]
• Upton Steam Rally – (-1997)

Netherlands

• Dordt in Stoom, Dordrecht - (1985-) bi-annual large event in and around the historic harbour district with steam powered ships, trains, river boats and other engines.^[4]

Poland

• Wolsztyn – (1993-) annual steam locomotive parade held the last weekend of April near a historic roundhouse
• Chabówka – (2005-) "Parowozjada" - steam locomotive parade held the last weekend of August in a railway museum near the railway station

United Kingdom

Static events

!Event!Location!Years active!Notes

1000 Engine Rally^[5]	Chelford, Cheshire	1985-	staged in June
Abbey Hill Steam Rally	Yeovil, Somerset	1980-
Astle Park Traction Engine Rally^[6]	Chelford, Cheshire		staged in August
Barton Gate Charity Steam Rally^[7]	Barton Gate, Barton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire	1995-
Boconnoc Steam Fair ^[8]	Cornwall	1998-
Burtonwood Airfield	Lancashire	1970s-1980s
Cadeby Steam & Country Fayre^[9] ^[10]	Mallory Park, Kirkby Mallory, Leicestershire	1964-2008	44 years
Castle Combe	Castle Combe, Wiltshire		held in May
Cambridgeshire Steam Rally	Swavesey	2009-
Chickerell Steam and Vintage Show^[11]	Chickerell, Dorset	2004-
Cromford Steam Rally^[12]	Brackenfield, Derbyshire		38 years (as of 2008)
Dacorum Steam & Country Fayre^[13]		2007-
Great Dorset Steam Fair	Dorset	1968-
Grand Henham Steam Rally	Henham Park, Blythburgh, Suffolk	1974-
Haddenham Steam Rally and Heavy Horse Show^[14]	Haddenham, Cambridgeshire	1974-
Holcot Steam Rally & Country Fair^[15]	Holcot, Northamptonshire		11th year (2008)
Hollowell Steam Rally and Heavy Horse Show^[16]	Hollowell, Northamptonshire	1986-
Hollycombe Steam Collection^[17]	Liphook, Hampshire	1971-
Island Steam Show^[18]	Isle of Wight Steam Railway	1975-
Kettering Vintage Rally & Steam Fayre^[19]	Kettering, Northamptonshire	2000-
Knowl Hill Steam Rally	Knowl Hill, Berkshire	c1969-2004
Lincolnshire Steam and Vintage Rally^[20]	Lincolnshire		23rd year (2008)
Market Bosworth Steam Rally	Cadeby, Leicestershire
Netley Marsh Steam and Craft Fair^[21]	Netley Marsh, Hampshire	1971-
Northleach Steam & Vintage Show^[22]	Northleach, Gloucestershire	c1950s-
Mosterton Summer Show	Mosterton, Dorset		Latest Rally - 2 & 3 July 2011
Much Marcle Steam Rally	Much Marcle, Herefordshire	1986-
Ringmer Steam & Country Show^[23]	Ringmer, East Sussex	2003-
Rudgwick Steam & Country Show^[24]	Rudgwick, West Sussex	1987-
Rushmoor Steam Rally^[25]	Rushmoor Arena, Aldershot, Hampshire	-c1991
Somerset Steam Spectacular	Low Ham, Somerset		52nd year. mid July (2011)
Scorton Steam	Scorton, Lancashire	2005-	held on third weekend in June
Shrewsbury Steam Rally	Shropshire	1962-	Late August Bank Holiday Sunday and Monday (Organised by The County of Salop Steam Engine Society)
Silloth Vintage Rally	Silloth Green, Silloth-on-Solway, Cumbria	2000-	held on third weekend in July
Stoke Prior Steam Rally	Bromsgrove, Worcestershire		Held in September, Latest Rally 16-17 September 2023
Tavistock Steam Fair^[26]	Tavistock, Devon
Torbay Steam Fair^[27]	Torbay, Devon	1987-
Welland Steam & Country Rally^[28]	Welland, Worcestershire	1964-
Wiston Steam Rally^[29]	West Sussex	2011-
Wrotham Classic Steam and Transport Rally^[30]	Wrotham, Kent	1979-	staged yearly

Travelling shows

• Carter's Steam Fair – (1976-2022) A travelling funfair that travels throughout London and the home counties from Easter to Bonfire Night. Carters stopped travelling in 2022.^[31]

United States

• Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum - bi-annual show in Vista, California
• Antique Powerland, Brooks Oregon. Annual Steam-Up^[32]
• Antique Power and Steam Show - Large annual show taking place in the Lake County Fairgrounds in Indiana.
• Badger Steam and Gas Show - Annual show hosted by Badger Steam and Gas Engine Club near Baraboo, WI
• Buckley Old Engine Show - Annual show in Buckley, Michigan^[33]
• K&O Steam and Gas Engine Show, Windfield Kansas.
• Central North Dakota Steam Thresher's Reunion – (1958-)^[34]
• The Dover Steam Show – (1964-) Annual show hosted by Tuscarawas Valley Pioneer Power Association^[35]
• Great Steamboat Race - (1963-) annual round trip race from Louisville, Kentucky to Jeffersonville, Indiana and back between steamboats on the Ohio River^[36]
• Old Thresher's Reunion - (1960-) Labor Day weekend, Mount Pleasant, Iowa.
• National Threshers Association (1944-) annual reunion/show held in Wauseon, Ohio, last full weekend of June^[37]
• Northwest Ohio Antique Machinery Association Antique Machinery Show - Findlay, OH
• Nowthen Threshing Show - Annual show held on the third full weekend (Friday-Sunday) in August, in Nowthen, Minnesota.^[38]
• Pageant of Steam - (1960-) annual fair held in Canandaigua, New York^[39]
• Pawnee Steam and Gas Engine Show - held first full weekend in May in Pawnee, OK
• Pioneer Engineers Club of Rushville, IN - yearly show in Rushville, IN^[40]
• Pioneer Steam and Gas Engine Society - Sagertown, PA.
• Rock River Thresheree Edgerton, Wisconsin – (1955-) ^[41]
• Rough and Tumble Engineers Historical Association Kinzers, Pennsylvania^[42]
• Shenandoah Valley Steam & Gas Engine Association, Berryville, VA "Pageant of Steam" held each year the last full weekend in July^[43]
• Soule’ Live Steam Festival and Railfest annual event held the first weekend in November in Meridian, MS.^[44]
• Southeast Old Threshers' Reunion annual event held July 1-July 5 in Denton, NC ^[45]
• in Point Richmond, CA is an annual event held in July in a former Ford motor factory, next to the Rosie the Riveter Museum.^[46]
• Tall Stacks - held every 3 or 4 years in Cincinnati, Ohio since 1988; is a fair for steam powered riverboats.^[47]
• Tuckahoe Steam & Gas Association near Easton, MD - annual "Steam Show" (1973-) in early July.^[48]
• Western Minnesota Steam Thresher's Reunion (WMSTR) Rollag, Minnesota^[49]
• Western New York Gas & Steam Engine Association Annual Rally - Alexander, NY
• Cama Powerup Spring and Fall Kent, CT ^[50]
• Missouri River Valley Steam Engine Association Back to the Farm Reunion Boonevill, MO ^[51]
• Riverbend Steam and Gas Association Allendale, MI ^[52]
• The Michigan Steam Engine and Threshers Club Reunion, Mason, MI.^[53]

See also

• Live steam
• Hollycombe Steam Collection – essentially a steam fair, but in the form of a museum
• Thursford Collection – steam museum featuring traction engines

External links

• List of UK Steam Fairs
• UK Traction engine rallies
• Live listings of UK Steam and Vintage Events (Visitors may also submit to this Events Guide)
• "Old Glory" Online Guide to UK Events including steam rallies and fairs (dynamic list) - from the Old Glory magazine

(Old Glory also publishes a 'Free' paper version at the start of each year listing UK Events.)

• Search for steam fairs near you (UK only)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Steam-Era . 2008-11-03 . Ontario Steam & Antique Preservers Association.
2. http://www.cookstownchamber.ca/georgian-bay-steam-show.htm Georgian Bay Steam Show
3. Web site: National Steam Rally back on track . . 2008-11-03 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090309025308/http://www.irishsteam.ie/Welcome.html . 9 March 2009 .
4. http://www.dordtinstoom.nl/home_english.html Dordt in Stoom
5. Web site: 1000 Engine Rally Homepage.
6. Web site: Astle Park Traction Engine Rally. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100818004752/http://www.number1events.com/astle_park_traction_engine_rally.htm. 18 August 2010.
7. Web site: Barton Gate Charity Steam Rally. 15 June 2010.
8. Web site: Boconnoc Steam Fair. 16 January 2015.
9. Web site: Cadeby Steam Rally at Mallory Park. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20081010193222/http://www.mallorypark.co.uk/News/PressReleaseArchive2008/CadebySteamRallyatMalloryPark/tabid/557/Default.aspx. 10 October 2008. 2008-11-03. Mallory Park.
10. http://www.cadebysteam.co.uk/index.html Cadeby Steam & Country Fayre
11. Web site: Welcome to the Chickerell Steam & Vintage Show website. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141012010421/http://theportlandsteamshow.co.uk/. 12 October 2014. 4 May 2019. dmy-all.
12. http://www.cromford-steam.co.uk Cromford steam Rally
13. Web site: Dacorum Steam & Country Fayre. 31 July 2022.
14. http://www.haddenhamsteamrally.co.uk Haddenham Steam Rally
15. Old Glory Events Guide pt2, 2008
16. http://www.hollowellsteam.com Hollowell Steam Rally
17. http://www.hollycombe.co.uk Hollycombe Steam Collection
18. Web site: The Island Steam Show.
19. http://www.kettering-vintage-rally.co.uk Kettering Vintage rally
20. Old Glory Events guide, 2008
21. Web site: 2013-09-17. Netley Marsh Steam and Craft Show, near Southampton, Hants. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090410090530/http://www.netleymarshsteamandcraftshow.org/the_charity.htm. 10 April 2009. 2014-02-14. Netleymarshsteamandcraftshow.org. dmy-all.
22. Web site: 2014-12-16. Northleach Steam and Vintage Show, Northleach, Gloucestershire. 2014-12-16. Northleachsteamshow.co.uk.
23. http://www.ringmershow.co.uk Ringmer Steam & Country Show
24. http://www.rudgwicksteamshow.co.uk Rudgwick Steam & Country Show
25. Web site: June 1991. The Basingstoke Canal (Sales Stand Venues 1991). dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080910024944/http://www.basingstoke-canal.org.uk/bcnews157.htm. 10 September 2008. 2008-11-03.
26. Web site: The Robey Trust. 15 June 2010. ...the Tavistock Steam Fair, normally takes place on the Sunday of the first weekend of June every year..
27. Web site: Torbay Steam Fair. 2008-11-03.
28. Web site: Home ⋆ Welland Steam & Country Rally.
29. Web site: Wiston Steam Rally.
30. Web site: Wrotham Classic Steam and Transport Rally –.
31. Web site: All the fun of the steam powered fair. www.readersdigest.co.uk. 2015-12-07.
32. Web site: Annual Steam-up . Antique Powerland . 2009-02-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081209053725/http://www.antiquepowerland.com/info/annual.html . 9 December 2008 . dead . dmy-all .
33. http://www.buckleyoldengineshow.org/ The Buckley Old Engine Show
34. Web site: Central North Dakota Steam Thresher's Reunion . City of New Rockford, North Dakota. 2008-11-03.
35. Web site: The Dover Steam Show . Tuscarawas Valley Pioneer Power Association . 2018-09-18.
36. Web site: Kentucky Derby Festival:: Events. www.kdf.org . https://web.archive.org/web/20081111014215/http://www.kdf.org/events/eventviewer.asp?id=129 . 11 November 2008.
37. http://www.nationalthreshers.com/default.htm/ National Threshers Association
38. Web site: Nowthen Historical Power Association, Inc..
39. Web site: New York Steam Engine Association: Pageant of Steam. 2008-11-09.
40. Web site: Pioneer Engineers Club of Indiana, Inc . Pioneerengineers.com . 2014-02-14.
41. http://www.thresheree.org/Rock River Thresheree, Inc.
42. Web site: Home . roughandtumble.org.
43. Web site: Steam Shows.
44. http://www.soulelivesteam.com/ Soule’ Live Steam Festival and Railfest
45. Web site: 2016 Southeast Old Threshers' Reunion.
46. http://www.steamstock.org/ Steamstock
47. Web site: Tall Stacks Music Arts & Heritage Festival . Tallstacks.com . 2014-02-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140205013408/http://tallstacks.com/ . 5 February 2014 . dead . dmy-all .
48. http://www.tuckahoesteam.org/ Tuckahoe Steam & Gas Association
49. http://www.rollag.com Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion
50. http://www.ctamachinery.com Connecticut Antique Machinery Association (CAMA)
51. http://www.mrvsea.com Missouri River Valley Steam Engine Association (MRVSEA
52. http://www.riverbendsteamandgas.i8.com Riverbend Steam and Gas Association
53. News: Hook. Larry. Thousands flock to Mason for 54th annual Michigan Steam Engine & Threshers Club reunion. 2 October 2017. MLive.com.