MORE than 200,000 visitors are expected to flock to this year's Great Dorset Steam Fair.

And with 1,000 trade stands and 2,000 exhibitors, the show is set to impress. 

The event is so large that more then two miles of water piping and ten miles of electric cabling is put in place before the opening day.

Thirty large generators are hired each year, with just one of them powerful enough to supply electricity to a small village.

When is it?

The show will take place from Thursday August 22 until Bank Holiday Monday, August 26.

Car parks open at 7am and the gates to the showground open at 8am. The car parks close at 2am.

Where is it?

The fair takes place in the village of Tarrant Hinton, on the A354 between Blandford and Salisbury.

I don't have a car - how can I get there?

The nearest train station is Salisbury and from there is a direct bus to the showground.

If you're coming by bus, Damory Coach Company are providing bus services from Salisbury and Blandford.

What is on this year?

Among the attractions for 2019 include steam exhibitions, World War One and World War Two commemorations, stunt displays, heavy horse displays, live music and a fairground.

The Showman's Engines and Old Time Steam Funfair are a favourite, but there will also be heavy haulage road locomotives, steam tractors and lorries, rollers and road making, ploughing engines, steam threshing, steam woodsawing, steam timber loading and haulage, miniature steam engines, and cars. 

There will also be craft stalls, plenty of trade stalls and rural displays.

Is there entertainment at night?

Night time at the steam fair is spectacular as the electric lights go up and you can see the steam fair in a different light.

There's also plenty of live music to keep you entertained, from Grizzly and the Grasshoppers to Straight Razors and Tom Clements.

What food and drink will be on offer?

There will be draught ales, ciders, lagers, Guinness, spirits and wines alongside real ales.

The festival prides itself on having an excellent selection of outside catering stands including Indian, Mexican, crepes, pizza, hog roast/carvery, steaks, Cornish pasties, jacket potatoes, toasted sandwiches, and ploughman’s as well as the good old English fish & chips and hot dogs.

There's also country ‘tucker’ including fresh cooked bread, cakes and pastries, home made speciality sausages and pies, strawberries, cream teas, local jams, cheeses, pickles and ploughman’s lunches in the marquee.

Can I bring my dog?

As long as it's on a lead, yes.