Steaming in at 42nd Great Dorset Steam Fair (From Bournemouth Echo)

Steaming in at 42nd Great Dorset Steam Fair

7:30pm Wednesday 1st September 2010 in

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SUNNY skies heralded the opening of the 42nd Great Dorset Steam Fair near Blandford today.

The ever-popular show – known as the biggest steam and vintage show in the world – drew more than 200,000 visitors from far and wide last year and organisers are anticipating record numbers for this year’s five day event.

The gates of the 600-acre show ground at Tarrant Hinton opened at 8am to let the old fashioned fun begin.

Overall there are 200 working steam engines and some 2,000 other working exhibits performing tasks such as hauling loads, sawing planks or threshing and bailing, as well as a steam driven fun fair with classic carousels and swingboats.

Vintage and classic vehicles from tractors to motorcycles will be exhibited as well as working heavy horses, while country craftsmen from thatches to cider makers will be showing off their skills, alongside hundreds of trade stands and exhibitors.

And if that’s not enough the show ground is teeming with live music from the outdoor concert stage and entertainment pavilions, all well stocked with local and national ales.

And there are food stalls, a countryside arena in which sheepdogs and birds of prey will perform, children’s entertainment including Punch and Judy and a modern fun fair.

Steam fair chief Martin Oliver told the Echo there was so much going on the event had “a festival feel these days.”

He added: “The weather is fantastic. We’ve done great trade for the first day. It’s one of the busiest Wednesday’s I’ve ever seen.”

The event is the first held without its founder, Martin’s father Michael Oliver, who died last year.

A memorial service will be held at the show in his honour on Friday.

See Friday’s Daily Echo for photos and click the images below for our pictures from previous events.