The Great Dorset Steam Fair Is Almost Upon Us!
If you’re looking for a fun family day out on this year’s summer bank holiday then be sure to visit the Great Dorset Steam Fair! At over 600 acres of exhibiting area, full of steam attractions, it’s one of Europe’s largest outdoor events. It’s therefore no surprise that the event regularly attracts up to 200,000 visitors a year!
Where Is It?
Founded in 1969 the event has been held at Tarrant Hinton in Dorset every summer since 1988. This means the fair will now celebrating its 47th birthday. If you’re looking at attending then event then travel is simple. The field is easily accessible by car, bus and train and there is plenty of accommodation around. For timings the event lasts from Thursday 25th to Monday 29th August with the gates opening at 8am every day.
The events enclosure is a large spacious farm which means there are plenty of exhibits and attractions to explore. To celebrate the anniversary of World War One there is currently a unique attraction available for you and your family to explore.
What’s On?
The Great Dorset Steam Fair has arguably the largest collection of steam equipment to be seen anywhere in the world, with exhibitors travelling from all over the planet. The fair features hundreds of steam powered machines including tractors, road locomotives, steam lorries, rollers, and even saws. The festival also features over 60 steam powered musical organs playing songs all throughout the day and night.
This year’s event marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Steam Plough Club. You can celebrate this milestone by visiting a special steam exhibition which will be on display at the fair. The display will consist of steam ploughing engines illustrating the impact they had on the farming industry.
We previously mentioned a unique World War One attraction for your family to explore. This year is extra special as 2016 marks the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. The display will be feature an authentic replica western front trench system dug in the field with steam vehicles from the 1914 – 1918 conflict. Visitors will be able to explore the trenches in their own time whilst also watching demonstrations and re-enactments of historic events.
There’s so many events and exhibitions going on over the 5 day festival there’s too much to list. If you want to check out the full list of events and exhibitions be sure to check the Steam Fair website for more information.
Live Action
If you’re looking for something more exciting and action packed then don’t worry; they’ve got that covered as well. There will be a special Bolddog Lings freestyle motorcycle display team at the fair showing off their heart stopping tricks as they launch themselves into the air. In total there will be 3 stunt displays featuring motocross bikers performing a range of aerial tricks, 5 time world cycle trails champion Jack Carthy performing seemingly impossible motorcycle stunts and Big Pete the UK’s number 1 monster truck team! These motor events are perfect for the family, especially for young ones with an interest in motor vehicles.
If you’re planning on staying around for the whole day then be sure not to miss the Steam Fairs music festival. Consisting of 6 stages with an action packed line up throughout the day, the festival offers a wide variety of music to please everyone. The outdoor concert attracts the country’s best tribute acts as well as a number of original and chart topping bands. To find the all the times for each of the acts performing be sure to visit the festival’s official website for more information.
How Much Are Tickets?
Tickets for the event can be booked in advance online if you want to secure your entry. If you book early then you’ll get your tickets slightly cheaper than the on the day prices, so if you get your tickets booked in advance you can save a nice amount. Adult day tickets start from £16.50 each with children’s tickets starting from £7 and for over 60’s they also offer senior citizen day tickets starting from £15.
The venue has plenty of parking if you are planning on travelling by car. If you live far away and don’t fancy making an early long drive there in the morning, many visitors choose to stay overnight in the area. With over 200,000 people visiting over the 5 days hotels in the local area can book up fast. If you need a place to stay for the night be sure to check which rooms we have available here.
Here at the Springfield Country Hotel we have a variety of accommodation ranging from en-suite standard rooms with walk in showers to spacious family rooms. But we’re much more than just a hotel! We also have plenty of onsite spa and leisure facilities including 2 heated pools, a gymnasium, games room and our newly opened spa. To book your stay at the Springfield click below to see the range of rooms we have available.