Visitors flocking to Great Dorset Steam Fair at Tarrant Hinton (From Bournemouth Echo)

Visitors flocking to Great Dorset Steam Fair at Tarrant Hinton

6:00pm Thursday 2nd September 2010 in

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The Great Dorset Steam Fair has been living up to its name with thousands of visitors streaming in on Thursday (September 2) for the second day of this five-day festival-style event.

The 600-acre show ground at Tarrant Hinton has been notably busy, according to festival chief Martin Oliver.

“The treasurer tells me it’s better than last year and better than 2008 – which was our 40th anniversary.

“It’s still busy today so I’m very pleased with that,” he added. Now the biggest steam and vintage show in the world, its ever-expanding line-up and variety are the key to its huge success, according to Mr Oliver.

“We’ve got five or six shows within the show,” he added.

“The steam exhibits, the old steam fair, the new fair, the country crafts, the heavy horse and the music festival –with an outdoor stage now which we’ve developed over the last two years. I think it’s the general sense of variety in the show which people enjoy.

“We’ve got all sorts of great attractions and fun entertainment – that’s the beauty of our show – it’s alive.”

Until it comes to a close on Sunday, September 5, visitors can enjoy 200 working steam engines and some 2,000 other working exhibits, a steam fun fair, vintage vehicles, working animals, country crafts, hundreds of trade stands and live music among the teeming attractions.

It attracts fans from far and wide – including a group visiting from Holland this year, added Mr Oliver, as well as steam engines shipped in from New Zealand especially for the occasion.

“We do extraordinary things – that’s how we stay at the top of the industry we’re in,” he added.

“If it’s going to be done it’ll be done at the Great Dorset Steam Fair.”