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:

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

Canada

Ireland

Netherlands

Poland

Steam locomotive parade in Wolsztyn
Steam locomotive parade in Wolsztyn

United Kingdom

Great Dorset Steam Fair: night-time view of the line-up of 40+ showman's engines, in the vintage fairground section
Great Dorset Steam Fair: night-time view of the line-up of 40+ showman's engines, in the vintage fairground section

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] Dacorum, Hertfordshire 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)
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

United States

Steam tractor lineup at the 2010 Old Thresher's Reunion.
Steam tractor lineup at the 2010 Old Thresher's Reunion.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "Steam-Era". Ontario Steam & Antique Preservers Association. Retrieved 3 November 2008.
  2. ^ Georgian Bay Steam Show
  3. ^ "National Steam Rally back on track". Irish Steam Preservation Society. Archived from the original on 9 March 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2008.
  4. ^ Dordt in Stoom Archived 26 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "1000 Engine Rally Homepage".[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "Astle Park Traction Engine Rally". Archived from the original on 18 August 2010.
  7. ^ "Barton Gate Charity Steam Rally". Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  8. ^ "Boconnoc Steam Fair". Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  9. ^ "Cadeby Steam Rally at Mallory Park". Mallory Park. Archived from the original on 10 October 2008. Retrieved 3 November 2008.
  10. ^ Cadeby Steam & Country Fayre Archived 16 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ "Welcome to the Chickerell Steam & Vintage Show website". Archived from the original on 12 October 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  12. ^ Cromford steam Rally Archived 24 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ "Dacorum Steam & Country Fayre". Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  14. ^ Haddenham Steam Rally
  15. ^ Old Glory Events Guide pt2, 2008
  16. ^ Hollowell Steam Rally
  17. ^ Hollycombe Steam Collection
  18. ^ "The Island Steam Show".
  19. ^ Kettering Vintage rally
  20. ^ Old Glory Events guide, 2008
  21. ^ "Netley Marsh Steam and Craft Show, near Southampton, Hants". Netleymarshsteamandcraftshow.org. 17 September 2013. Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  22. ^ "Northleach Steam and Vintage Show, Northleach, Gloucestershire". Northleachsteamshow.co.uk. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  23. ^ Ringmer Steam & Country Show
  24. ^ Rudgwick Steam & Country Show
  25. ^ "The Basingstoke Canal (Sales Stand Venues 1991)". June 1991. Archived from the original on 10 September 2008. Retrieved 3 November 2008.
  26. ^ "The Robey Trust". Retrieved 15 June 2010. ...the Tavistock Steam Fair, normally takes place on the Sunday of the first weekend of June every year.
  27. ^ "Torbay Steam Fair". Retrieved 3 November 2008.
  28. ^ "Home ⋆ Welland Steam & Country Rally".
  29. ^ "Wiston Steam Rally". ((cite web)): Missing or empty |url= (help)
  30. ^ "Wrotham Classic Steam and Transport Rally –".
  31. ^ "All the fun of the steam powered fair". www.readersdigest.co.uk. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  32. ^ "Annual Steam-up". Antique Powerland. Archived from the original on 9 December 2008. Retrieved 15 February 2009.
  33. ^ The Buckley Old Engine Show Retrieved 2010-07-27
  34. ^ "Central North Dakota Steam Thresher's Reunion". City of New Rockford, North Dakota. Retrieved 3 November 2008.
  35. ^ "The Dover Steam Show". Tuscarawas Valley Pioneer Power Association. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  36. ^ "Kentucky Derby Festival:: Events". www.kdf.org. Archived from the original on 11 November 2008.
  37. ^ National Threshers Association Archived 9 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  38. ^ "Nowthen Historical Power Association, Inc".
  39. ^ "New York Steam Engine Association: Pageant of Steam". Retrieved 9 November 2008.
  40. ^ "Pioneer Engineers Club of Indiana, Inc". Pioneerengineers.com. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  41. ^ River Thresheree, Inc.[permanent dead link]
  42. ^ "Home". roughandtumble.org.
  43. ^ "Steam Shows".
  44. ^ Soule’ Live Steam Festival and Railfest
  45. ^ "2016 Southeast Old Threshers' Reunion".
  46. ^ Steamstock
  47. ^ "Tall Stacks Music Arts & Heritage Festival". Tallstacks.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  48. ^ Tuckahoe Steam & Gas Association
  49. ^ Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion
  50. ^ Connecticut Antique Machinery Association (CAMA)
  51. ^ Missouri River Valley Steam Engine Association (MRVSEA
  52. ^ Riverbend Steam and Gas Association
  53. ^ Hook, Larry. "Thousands flock to Mason for 54th annual Michigan Steam Engine & Threshers Club reunion". MLive.com. Retrieved 2 October 2017.

External links

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