List of steam fairs

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}} 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 fairs 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 fairgrounds 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.

{{Dynamic list}}

==Australia== *Booleroo Steam & Traction Rally<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Getting To Know Us |url=https://www.booleroosteamandtraction.com/about |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250401084657/https://www.booleroosteamandtraction.com/about |archive-date=1 April 2025 |access-date=1 April 2025 |website=Booleroo Steam & Traction Preservation Society}}</ref> *Hunter Valley Steamfest * Lake Goldsmith steam rally (Twice yearly) *Scoresby Steamfest *Steam Rally Echuca Moama *SteamFest Tasmania at Sheffield

==Canada== *Steam-Era - ''(Milton, Ontario)''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.steam-era.com |title=Steam-Era |accessdate=2008-11-03 |publisher=Ontario Steam & Antique Preservers Association}}</ref> *Threshermen's Reunion – ''(Austin, Manitoba)'' * Georgian Bay Steam Show _ ''(Cookstown, Ontario)''<ref>[http://www.cookstownchamber.ca/georgian-bay-steam-show.htm Georgian Bay Steam Show]</ref>

==Ireland== *Eyrecourt *Innishannon Steam and Vintage Rally – ''(1998- )'' *Stradbally - Irish National Steam Rally – ''(1965- )''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishsteam.ie/Welcome.html |title=National Steam Rally back on track |publisher=Irish Steam Preservation Society |accessdate=2008-11-03 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309025308/http://www.irishsteam.ie/Welcome.html |archivedate=9 March 2009 }}</ref> *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.<ref>[http://www.dordtinstoom.nl/home_english.html Dordt in Stoom] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526101917/http://www.dordtinstoom.nl/home_english.html |date=26 May 2010 }}</ref>

==Poland== thumb|right|Steam locomotive parade in Wolsztyn *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== [[File:GDSF (2007) Shomans Engines at night.JPG|thumb|right|Great Dorset Steam Fair: night-time view of the line-up of 40+ showman's engines, in the vintage fairground section]]

===Static events=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ !Event !Location !Years active !Notes |- |1000 Engine Rally<ref>{{cite web|title=1000 Engine Rally Homepage|url=http://www.1000engines.co.uk/1000/}}{{Dead link|date=May 2019|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> |Chelford, Cheshire |1985- |staged in June |- |[http://abbeyhillrally.co.uk Abbey Hill Steam Rally] |Yeovil, Somerset |1980- | |- |Astle Park Traction Engine Rally<ref>{{cite web|title=Astle Park Traction Engine Rally|url=http://www.number1events.com/astle_park_traction_engine_rally.htm|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818004752/http://www.number1events.com/astle_park_traction_engine_rally.htm|archivedate=18 August 2010}}</ref> |Chelford, Cheshire | |staged in August |- |Barton Gate Charity Steam Rally<ref>{{cite web|title=Barton Gate Charity Steam Rally|url=http://www.doveridgesteam.co.uk/|accessdate=15 June 2010}}</ref> |Barton Gate, Barton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire |1995- | |- |[http://www.boconnocsteamfair.org Boconnoc Steam Fair] <ref>{{cite web|title=Boconnoc Steam Fair|url=http://www.lsvc.org/|accessdate=16 January 2015}}</ref> |Cornwall |1998- | |- |Burtonwood Airfield |Lancashire |1970s-1980s | |- |Cadeby Steam & Country Fayre<ref>{{cite web|title=Cadeby Steam Rally at Mallory Park|url=http://www.mallorypark.co.uk/News/PressReleaseArchive2008/CadebySteamRallyatMalloryPark/tabid/557/Default.aspx|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010193222/http://www.mallorypark.co.uk/News/PressReleaseArchive2008/CadebySteamRallyatMalloryPark/tabid/557/Default.aspx|archivedate=10 October 2008|accessdate=2008-11-03|publisher=Mallory Park}}</ref><ref>[http://www.cadebysteam.co.uk/index.html Cadeby Steam & Country Fayre] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916005238/http://www.cadebysteam.co.uk/index.html|date=16 September 2008}}</ref> |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<ref>{{Cite web|title=Welcome to the Chickerell Steam & Vintage Show website|url=http://theportlandsteamshow.co.uk/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012010421/http://theportlandsteamshow.co.uk/|archive-date=12 October 2014|access-date=4 May 2019|df=dmy-all}}</ref> |Chickerell, Dorset |2004- | |- |Cromford Steam Rally<ref>[http://www.cromford-steam.co.uk Cromford steam Rally] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724085724/http://www.cromford-steam.co.uk/|date=24 July 2008}}</ref> |Brackenfield, Derbyshire | |38 years (as of 2008) |- |Dacorum Steam & Country Fayre<ref>{{cite web|title=Dacorum Steam & Country Fayre|url=https://www.dacorummachineryandsteam.co.uk/|accessdate=31 July 2022}}</ref> |Dacorum, Hertfordshire |2007- | |- |Great Dorset Steam Fair |Dorset |1968‒2024 | |- |Grand Henham Steam Rally |Henham Park, Blythburgh, Suffolk |1974- | |- |Haddenham Steam Rally and Heavy Horse Show<ref>[http://www.haddenhamsteamrally.co.uk Haddenham Steam Rally]</ref> |Haddenham, Cambridgeshire |1974- | |- |Holcot Steam Rally & Country Fair<ref>Old Glory Events Guide pt2, 2008</ref> |Holcot, Northamptonshire | |11th year (2008) |- |Hollowell Steam Rally and Heavy Horse Show<ref>[http://www.hollowellsteam.com Hollowell Steam Rally ]</ref> |Hollowell, Northamptonshire |1986- | |- |Hollycombe Steam Collection<ref>[http://www.hollycombe.co.uk Hollycombe Steam Collection]</ref> |Liphook, Hampshire |1971- | |- |Island Steam Show<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Island Steam Show|url=http://www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk/events/the-40th-island-steam-show.aspx}}</ref> |Isle of Wight Steam Railway |1975- | |- |Kettering Vintage Rally & Steam Fayre<ref>[http://www.kettering-vintage-rally.co.uk Kettering Vintage rally]</ref> |Kettering, Northamptonshire |2000- | |- |Knowl Hill Steam Rally |Knowl Hill, Berkshire |<nowiki>c1969-2004</nowiki> | |- |Lincolnshire Steam and Vintage Rally<ref>Old Glory Events guide, 2008</ref> |Lincolnshire | |23rd year (2008) |- |Market Bosworth Steam Rally |Cadeby, Leicestershire | | |- |Netley Marsh Steam and Craft Fair<ref>{{cite web|date=2013-09-17|title=Netley Marsh Steam and Craft Show, near Southampton, Hants|url=http://www.netleymarshsteamandcraftshow.org/the_charity.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410090530/http://www.netleymarshsteamandcraftshow.org/the_charity.htm|archive-date=10 April 2009|accessdate=2014-02-14|publisher=Netleymarshsteamandcraftshow.org|df=dmy-all}}</ref> |Netley Marsh, Hampshire |1971- | |- |Northleach Steam & Vintage Show<ref>{{cite web|date=2014-12-16|title=Northleach Steam and Vintage Show, Northleach, Gloucestershire|url=http://www.northleachsteamshow.co.uk|accessdate=2014-12-16|publisher=Northleachsteamshow.co.uk}}</ref> |Northleach, Gloucestershire |c1950s- | |- |[http://mosterton.isgreat.org Mosterton Summer Show] |Mosterton, Dorset | |Latest Rally - 2 & 3 July 2011 |- |[https://www.muchmarclesteamrally.com/ Much Marcle Steam Rally] |Much Marcle, Herefordshire |1986- | |- |Ringmer Steam & Country Show''<ref>[http://www.ringmershow.co.uk Ringmer Steam & Country Show]</ref>'' |Ringmer, East Sussex |2003- | |- |Rudgwick Steam & Country Show''<ref>[http://www.rudgwicksteamshow.co.uk Rudgwick Steam & Country Show]</ref>'' |Rudgwick, West Sussex |1987- | |- |Rushmoor Steam Rally''<ref>{{cite web|date=June 1991|title=The Basingstoke Canal (Sales Stand Venues 1991)|url=http://www.basingstoke-canal.org.uk/bcnews157.htm|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910024944/http://www.basingstoke-canal.org.uk/bcnews157.htm|archivedate=10 September 2008|accessdate=2008-11-03}}</ref>'' |Rushmoor Arena, Aldershot, Hampshire |<nowiki>-c1991</nowiki> | |- |[https://web.archive.org/web/20110814023801/http://www.somersetspectacular.co.uk/steam.htm Somerset Steam Spectacular] |Low Ham, Somerset | |52nd year. mid July (2011) |- |[http://www.scortonsteam.co.uk Scorton Steam] |Scorton, Lancashire |2005- |held on third weekend in June |- |[http://www.shrewsburysteamrally.co.uk Shrewsbury Steam Rally] |Shropshire |1962- |Late August Bank Holiday Sunday and Monday (Organised by The County of Salop Steam Engine Society) |- |[http://www.vintagerally.co.uk Silloth Vintage Rally] |Silloth Green, Silloth-on-Solway, Cumbria |2000- |held on third weekend in July |- |[http://www.shakespearesrally.com Stoke Prior Steam Rally] |Bromsgrove, Worcestershire | |Held on the Third Weekend in September, Latest Rally 20-21 September 2025 |- |Tavistock Steam Fair<ref>{{cite web|title=The Robey Trust|url=http://www.therobeytrust.co.uk/|accessdate=15 June 2010|quote=...the Tavistock Steam Fair, normally takes place on the Sunday of the first weekend of June every year.}}</ref> |Tavistock, Devon | |- |Torbay Steam Fair<ref>{{cite web|title=Torbay Steam Fair|url=http://www.torbaysteamfair.com|accessdate=2008-11-03}}</ref> |Torbay, Devon |1987- | |- |Welland Steam & Country Rally<ref>{{Cite web|title=Home ⋆ Welland Steam & Country Rally|url=https://wellandsteamrally.com}}</ref> |Welland, Worcestershire |1964- | |- |Wiston Steam Rally''<ref>{{cite web|title=Wiston Steam Rally|url=}}</ref>'' |West Sussex |2011- | |- |Wrotham Classic Steam and Transport Rally<ref>{{cite web|title=Wrotham Classic Steam and Transport Rally –|url=https://www.wrotham.org/}}</ref> |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.<ref>{{Cite web|title = All the fun of the steam powered fair|url = http://www.readersdigest.co.uk/entertainment/out-about/all-fun-steam-powered-fair|website = www.readersdigest.co.uk|accessdate = 2015-12-07}}</ref>

==United States== [[File:MW Old Threshers Reunion 2010.JPG|thumb|Steam tractor lineup at the 2010 Old Thresher's Reunion.]] *Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum - bi-annual show in Vista, California *Antique Power and Steam Show - Large annual show taking place in the Lake County Fairgrounds in Indiana. *Antique Powerland, Brooks Oregon. Annual Steam-Up<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.antiquepowerland.com/info/annual.html |title=Annual Steam-up |publisher=Antique Powerland |accessdate=2009-02-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209053725/http://www.antiquepowerland.com/info/annual.html |archive-date=9 December 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> *[http://www.badgersteamandgas.com/Club_events.htm Badger Steam and Gas Show] - Annual show hosted by Badger Steam and Gas Engine Club near Baraboo, WI * [https://www.buckleyoldengineshow.org/ Buckley Old Engine Show] - Annual show in Buckley, Michigan<ref>[http://www.buckleyoldengineshow.org/ The Buckley Old Engine Show] Retrieved 2010-07-27</ref> *Cama Powerup Spring and Fall Kent, CT <ref>[http://www.ctamachinery.com Connecticut Antique Machinery Association (CAMA)]</ref> *Central North Dakota Steam Thresher's Reunion – ''(1958- )''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://newrockfordnd.govoffice2.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={5AF9FD69-1983-4678-8791-D5A52C20BE07} |title=Central North Dakota Steam Thresher's Reunion |publisher=City of New Rockford, North Dakota| accessdate=2008-11-03}}</ref> *The Dover Steam Show – ''(1964- )'' Annual show hosted by Tuscarawas Valley Pioneer Power Association<ref>{{cite web |url=http://doversteamshow.com/index.html |title=The Dover Steam Show |publisher=Tuscarawas Valley Pioneer Power Association |accessdate=2018-09-18}}</ref> *Great Steamboat Race - ''(1963- )'' annual round trip race from Louisville, Kentucky to Jeffersonville, Indiana and back between steamboats on the Ohio River<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kdf.org/events/eventviewer.asp?id=129 |title= Kentucky Derby Festival:: Events|website=www.kdf.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081111014215/http://www.kdf.org/events/eventviewer.asp?id=129 |archive-date=11 November 2008}}</ref> *Kansas & Oklahoma Steam and Gas Engine Show ''(1982- )'' annual show by the K&O Steam and Gas Engine Association in Winfield, Kansas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ctnewsonline.com/news/article_b1b5b8d8-5e7b-11ef-8c50-f726a2591b20.html |title= Keeping history alive at the K&O Show |publisher= Traveler Courier Online |date= 2024-08-20 |accessdate= 2025-11-23}}</ref> *The Michigan Steam Engine and Threshers Club Reunion, Mason, MI.<ref name="Hook">{{cite news|last1=Hook|first1=Larry|title=Thousands flock to Mason for 54th annual Michigan Steam Engine & Threshers Club reunion|url=http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2012/07/thousands_flock_to_mason_for_5.html|accessdate=2 October 2017|work=MLive.com}}</ref> *Missouri River Valley Steam Engine Association Back to the Farm Reunion Boonevill, MO <ref>[http://www.mrvsea.com Missouri River Valley Steam Engine Association (MRVSEA]</ref> *National Threshers Association ''(1944- )'' annual reunion/show held in Wauseon, Ohio, last full weekend of June<ref>[http://www.nationalthreshers.com/default.htm/ National Threshers Association] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080709033549/http://www.nationalthreshers.com/default.htm |date=9 July 2008 }}</ref> *[http://nwoama.com/nwoama1/ Northwest Ohio Antique Machinery Association Antique Machinery Show] - Findlay, OH *[http://www.nowthenthreshing.com/show/ Nowthen Threshing Show] - Annual show held on the third full weekend (Friday-Sunday) in August, in Nowthen, Minnesota.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nowthenthreshing.com/|title=Nowthen Historical Power Association, Inc.}}</ref> *Old Thresher's Reunion - ''(1960- )'' Labor Day weekend, Mount Pleasant, Iowa. *Pageant of Steam - ''(1960- )'' annual fair held in Canandaigua, New York<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pageantofsteam.org/|title=New York Steam Engine Association: Pageant of Steam|accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref> *[http://www.oklahomathreshers.org/ 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<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pioneerengineers.com |title=Pioneer Engineers Club of Indiana, Inc |publisher=Pioneerengineers.com |date= |accessdate=2014-02-14}}</ref> *[http://pioneersteamandgas.com/ Pioneer Steam and Gas Engine Society] - Sagertown, PA. *Riverbend Steam and Gas Association Allendale, MI <ref>[http://www.riverbendsteamandgas.i8.com Riverbend Steam and Gas Association]</ref> *Rock River Thresheree Edgerton, Wisconsin – ''(1955- )'' <ref>[http://www.thresheree.org/Rock River Thresheree, Inc.]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> *Rough and Tumble Engineers Historical Association Kinzers, Pennsylvania<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.roughandtumble.org/ |title=Home |website=roughandtumble.org}}</ref> *Shenandoah Valley Steam & Gas Engine Association, Berryville, VA "Pageant of Steam" held each year the last full weekend in July<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.svsgea.com/steam-shows.html |title = Steam Shows}}</ref> *Soule’ Live Steam Festival and Railfest annual event held the first weekend in November in Meridian, MS.<ref>[http://www.soulelivesteam.com/ Soule’ Live Steam Festival and Railfest]</ref> *Southeast Old Threshers' Reunion annual event held July 1-July 5 in Denton, NC <ref>{{Cite web | url=http://dentonfarmpark.com/event/2015-southeast-old-threshers-reunion |title = 2016 Southeast Old Threshers' Reunion}}</ref> *Steamstock: An Antiquarian Exposition in Point Richmond, CA is an annual event held in July in a former Ford motor factory, next to the Rosie the Riveter Museum.<ref>[http://www.steamstock.org/ Steamstock]</ref> *Tall Stacks - held every 3 or 4 years in Cincinnati, Ohio since 1988; is a fair for steam powered riverboats.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tallstacks.com/ |title=Tall Stacks Music Arts & Heritage Festival |publisher=Tallstacks.com |accessdate=2014-02-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140205013408/http://tallstacks.com/ |archive-date=5 February 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> *[http://tuckahoesteam.org/ Tuckahoe Steam & Gas Association near Easton, MD] - annual "Steam Show" ''(1973- )'' in early July.<ref>[http://www.tuckahoesteam.org/ Tuckahoe Steam & Gas Association]</ref> *Western Minnesota Steam Thresher's Reunion (WMSTR) Rollag, Minnesota<ref>[http://www.rollag.com Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion]</ref> *[http://alexandersteamshow.com/ Western New York Gas & Steam Engine Association Annual Rally] - Alexander, NY

==See also== {{Portal|Trains}}

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

==Notes== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20180810173147/http://steamfair.co.uk/ List of UK Steam Fairs] *[http://www.steam-up.co.uk/ UK Traction engine rallies] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080803210937/http://www.tractiontime.co.uk/modules/extcal/calendar-month.php Live listings of UK Steam and Vintage Events] (Visitors may also submit to this Events Guide) * [http://www.mortonsmediagroup.com/ogevents/eventsguide.asp "Old Glory" Online Guide to UK Events] including steam rallies and fairs (dynamic list) - [http://www.oldglory.co.uk from the Old Glory magazine] ::''(Old Glory also publishes a 'Free' paper version at the start of each year listing UK Events.)'' *[http://www.steamfairs.co.uk Search for steam fairs near you (UK only)]

Category:Steam festivals Steam Steam