Working with the slogan ‘Show your kids something older than
you!’ Milton Steam-Era is entering its 38th year with a
rejuvenated format aimed at attracting young families equally with
all other age groups that have patronized the Labour Day weekend
event for years.
‘The antique equipment steam engines, tractors, trucks,
be getting younger every year,’ explains Brad Clements, a
director of the Ontario Steam and Antique Preservers Association
which runs Steam-Era. ‘We’ve got gas and steam powered
equipment dating back 70 years and more, and we’ve always drawn
thousands of people who remember those ‘good old days’ but
increasingly, we’re finding younger people are interested in
the novelty of farm life of the early 1900s and the war years.
‘Maybe it’s Canadian a mania but our agricultural
pioneers are definitely attracting attention from city dwellers as
much as rural.’
Steam-Era, which is featuring Allis-Chalmers equipment this
year, is offering a lot of action and entertainment throughout the
Milton Fairgrounds all weekend long. From antique tractor pulls and
threshing contests to the twice daily parades of rolling stock,
there’s always something to see and do. Families are invited to
participate in games and activities every afternoon in front of the
grandstand. Threshing, Baker fans, and an antique sawmill are
demonstrated regularly every day, along with more than 150 full
scale and model gas engines used for everything from washing
clothes to grinding grain. In addition to the sights and sounds of
puffing steam engines, chugging gas tractors, humming gas engines
and old cars and trucks, there is the lure of the show and sale of
antique and new farm toys and model railways and the popular flea
market/trading post.
Agricultural history is very much alive on Labour Day Weekend in
Milton at Steam-Era ’98, the largest show of its kind in
eastern Canada.
For further information, call Brad Clements at
(905)878-6576.
