Hunton Steam Gathering | Annual event for steam engine enthusiast

Hunton Steam Gathering was founded in 1985 by David Robinson when he was the local landlord of the Countrymans Inn, Hunton. As an avid steam engine enthusiast, he established the first event with the help of local villagers and fellow vintage collectors. The first rally was held behind the village pub on land belonging to local farmers. It attracted more than 1000 people, far more than expected.

The first rally was established to raise funds for the development of the land that now forms the village green and playpark in the centre of Hunton. The show has continued to raise a great deal of money over the years to supply play equipment, landscape the village green, buy picnic tables and seats, erect a footbridge over the beck and supply litter bins for the village of Hunton.

The Steam Gathering has also made donations of over one hundred thousand pounds to local charities, including Marie Curie, Macmillan, Yorkshire Air Ambulance, the local village school, Parish Council, local projects and local Scout groups.

The event continues to grow and develop each year. The show attracts visitors and exhibitors from across the Country. Typically, the show attracts 10 thousand visitors across the weekend and is now the largest annual event of its kind in Richmondshire attracting tourism and investment to the local area. The show is run and organised by a volunteer committee and operates in a non-profit capacity.

Exhibitor highlights include 35 steam engines and 60 miniature steam engines along with an original set of steam gallopers. For the first time in 2022, the event welcomed a pair of Fowler BB1 steam ploughing engines that actively demonstrated steam ploughing throughout the weekend and they will return year on year. In addition to this, we have over 200 classic cars, 200 tractors, commercial vehicles, motorbikes, stationary engines and much more on display throughout the weekend.

A large Craft and Food Market showcasing local produce will be at the event alongside an avenue of varied trade stalls and autojumble. A bar with full catering facilities serving hot and cold meals will be operating throughout the weekend with evening entertainment on the Friday and Saturday nights.

Alongside the set of Steam Gallopers, an array of vintage fairground will provide entertainment for all ages. The action-packed main arena will see displays from the exhibits, Walworth Castle Birds of Prey, North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service demonstrations (Sunday), a classic Auto-test and much more. There will be a number of working demonstrations operating all weekend, including, forestry, bailing, threshing and chainsaw carving. Additional attractions include a vintage ploughing match on the Saturday of the event which will see various ploughing classes competing.

Over the weekend the site comes alive with the smell of steam, sounds of vintage working engines and fair organs playing throughout the site to create an atmosphere of nostalgia and bygone days. The event aims to provide something for all the family and is now one of the biggest events of its kind in the North.

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