If you are after a proper day out with the family over the August Bank Holiday, the Fordingbridge Steam and Vintage Fest is worth keeping on the radar. It comes back for its fourth year from Friday 28 to Sunday 30 August, over at Fryern Court Road in Fordingbridge, just north of town and on the edge of the New Forest. Gates open at 9am and shut at 8pm each day, so there is plenty of time to wander around without rushing.
Every week we pick 🏆 the 5 best 🏆 things to do in Southampton and send them to your inbox. Just one weekly email, no spam.
By submitting your email, you accept our Privacy Policy
The whole thing leans into a pre-1970s theme, and the organisers are keen for people to dress the part, with prizes handed out for the best outfits. The machinery is the main draw, though: steam engines and vintage tractors, classic cars going up to the 2000s — think Escort or Sierra — motorbikes, commercial vehicles, and working horses, from heavy plough horses to coach horses. It is not just for looking at, either. There is traditional ploughing, musical tractor drives, and live animal displays, including the Bob Hogg Sheepdog Display and the Lamb National Sheep Race, plus sheepdog shows and birds of prey. A fun dog show rounds it off, so it is easy to keep younger visitors occupied.
Beyond the machinery and animals, there is a fairground side to the day. The Ken Fox Wall of Death is a highlight, alongside traditional rides for children, craft and trade stalls, food vendors, and bars. As the day winds down, the music takes over, with live bands and tribute acts playing into the evening, which is when the site turns into something more like a gig than a country fair.
On price, a three-day adult ticket (age 13 and over) is £42.50, down from £47.50, and a single day ticket for Friday, Saturday or Sunday is £17.50, down from £20.00. If you only want the evening, entry from 5pm is £5.00 a day, and there is no extra charge if you already hold a day ticket. Children aged 12 and under go free, though personal assistants and carers need a paid ticket. Parking on site is free, and dogs are welcome as long as they stay on a lead.
Getting there is straightforward. The A338 is the obvious drive, or you can take the X3 bus, which runs between Salisbury, Ringwood and Bournemouth. If you would rather stay over, there is a good spread of local places nearby, from The Ship Inn and The Railway Hotel to campsites like Jubilee Campsite in Damerham, Nige's Camping Experience, Dots Camping, Hill Cottage Camping, Sandy Balls Holiday Park and Hill Cottage Farm. For anything you cannot find here, the organisers can be reached on 07702 804 604 or at steamandvintagefest.co.uk.
Published Date
16 August 2026
More information
