List of steam fairs


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 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.

Australia

  • Booleroo Steam & Traction Rally
  • Hunter Valley Steamfest
  • Lake Goldsmith steam rally
  • Scoresby Steamfest
  • Steam Rally Echuca Moama
  • SteamFest Tasmania at Sheffield

    Canada

  • Steam-Era - '
  • Threshermen's Reunion – '
  • Georgian Bay Steam Show _ ''''

    Ireland

  • Eyrecourt
  • Innishannon Steam and Vintage Rally – '
  • Stradbally - Irish National Steam Rally - '
  • Upton Steam Rally – ''''

    Netherlands

  • Dordt in Stoom, Dordrecht - bi-annual large event in and around the historic harbour district with steam powered ships, trains, river boats and other engines.

    Poland

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

    United Kingdom

Static events

Travelling shows

  • Carter's Steam Fair – A travelling funfair that travels throughout London and the home counties from Easter to Bonfire Night. Carters stopped travelling in 2022.

    United States

  • 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
  • - Annual show hosted by Badger Steam and Gas Engine Club near Baraboo, WI
  • - Annual show in Buckley, Michigan
  • Cama Powerup Spring and Fall Kent, CT
  • Central North Dakota Steam Thresher's Reunion – '
  • The Dover Steam Show – ' Annual show hosted by Tuscarawas Valley Pioneer Power Association
  • Great Steamboat Race - ' annual round trip race from Louisville, Kentucky to Jeffersonville, Indiana and back between steamboats on the Ohio River
  • Kansas & Oklahoma Steam and Gas Engine Show ' annual show by the K&O Steam and Gas Engine Association in Winfield, Kansas.
  • The Michigan Steam Engine and Threshers Club Reunion, Mason, MI.
  • Missouri River Valley Steam Engine Association Back to the Farm Reunion Boonevill, MO
  • National Threshers Association ' annual reunion/show held in Wauseon, Ohio, last full weekend of June
  • - Findlay, OH
  • - Annual show held on the third full weekend in August, in Nowthen, Minnesota.
  • Old Thresher's Reunion - ' Labor Day weekend, Mount Pleasant, Iowa.
  • Pageant of Steam - ' annual fair held in Canandaigua, New York
  • - held first full weekend in May in Pawnee, OK
  • Pioneer Engineers Club of Rushville, IN - yearly show in Rushville, IN
  • - Sagertown, PA.
  • Riverbend Steam and Gas Association Allendale, MI
  • Rock River Thresheree Edgerton, Wisconsin – '
  • Rough and Tumble Engineers Historical Association Kinzers, Pennsylvania
  • Shenandoah Valley Steam & Gas Engine Association, Berryville, VA "Pageant of Steam" held each year the last full weekend in July
  • Soule’ Live Steam Festival and Railfest annual event held the first weekend in November in Meridian, MS.
  • Southeast Old Threshers' Reunion annual event held July 1-July 5 in Denton, NC
  • 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.
  • Tall Stacks - held every 3 or 4 years in Cincinnati, Ohio since 1988; is a fair for steam powered riverboats.
  • - annual "Steam Show" in early July.
  • Western Minnesota Steam Thresher's Reunion Rollag, Minnesota
  • - Alexander, NY