We’ve had lots of questions from our fairground friends and fans asking where they can visit us this year and we are pleased that we can now confirm which locations we will be visiting this summer and autumn.
Our beautifully restored vintage fairground rides dating from the 1890s to the 1960s, have featured in films such as Paddington 2 and Rocketman and we are excited to be back on the road again after a year at home because of the pandemic. Our 2021 tour includes a range of rides suitable for toddlers, big kids, and anyone young at heart.
Save the date! Here are our 2021 Carters Steam Fair locations:
Lichfield – Beacon Park, open 24th July – 1st August. Book now to get free rides .
Bath – Royal Victoria Park, open 7 -22 August. Book now to get free rides
Maidenhead – Pinkneys Green, open 27-30 August (Bank Holiday weekend)
Hemel Hempstead – Boxmoor Common, open 4 & 5 September and 11 & 12 September
Croxley Green– open 18 & 19 September
Basingstoke – War Memorial Park open 25 & 26 September. Book now to get free rides
Englefield Green – 2 & 3 October. Book now to get free rides
Maidenhead – Holyport, 9 & 10 October. Book now to get free rides
Reading – Prospect Park, 16 & 17 October. Book now to get free rides
Book early and get free rides
We’ll be adding the rest of dates onto our website soon and if you book your ride tokens online before you visit, you’ll get extra free rides. Just select the day you want to visit, pick a token bundle and then show your order number or barcode email at the token booth when you arrive. You can always buy extra tokens on the day from the token booth, but the best value deals are always online before you visit.
Peace of mind when you visit
Our fairground owner Joby Carter has put a lot of thought into ensuring the 2021 fairground experience is covid-secure. We encourage our visitors to book online and choose the day they want to visit to enable them to monitor visitor numbers. Around the fair there are hand sanitising stations, staff wear masks, and the rides are cleaned and sanitised at regular intervals. The rides are also laid out further apart to enable more space for visitors to social distance from others as they move around the fair. Although we are an outdoor attraction, we encourage to wear a mask when they are near others and request they are worn at the token booth when you collect your tokens or are talking to our staff.
Enjoy our fairground art and history
When you visit, look around the fair at our vintage rides and attractions which we have lovingly restored using traditional techniques. During lockdown we offered virtual online courses in signwriting skills and Joby Carter published his first book, Signwriting Tips, Tricks and Inspiration. The global interest in these traditional signwriting and fairground art skills has helped save the fair and ensured it can continue to be on the road for everyone to enjoy. A visit to Carters Steam Fair is not only fun for all the family but also gives a unique chance to see these beautiful examples of fairground art and fancy lettering up close.
Joby Carter says:
“I encourage anyone visiting to take a close look at the lettering and artwork at the fair- it has all been done by hand using traditional signwriting skills and techniques – no computers or fancy software programmes! Stand next to our brightly coloured trucks with huge lettering over 1 meter high and see if you can figure out how we manage to paint it all by hand!”
Although it was a huge blow not being able to travel the fair in 2020, the traditional artwork and hand painted lettering at the fair has become a social media sensation in its own right. On Tik Tok videos of Joby Carter painting straight lines and lettering have amassed nearly 400,000 views. Over 3000 people all over the world joined Joby Carters virtual signwriting and lettering courses and 5000 copies of his book ‘Signwriting Tips, Tricks and Inspiration’ that was published during the pandemic have been sold. You can buy a copy of the book from the token booth when you visit, or you can enjoy some free children’s activities on our website.
What our visitors say:
Stephen Boyes at West Wycombe said:
“AWESOME! Yesterday lunchtime our family visited the Steam Fair. It is so colourful, great fun, family friendly and something that will give you happy memories for years to come. Parking was easy, the queue for entry well-spaced and not too long and buying tokens for rides quick and well organised. Every member of staff, token sellers, ride attendants, stall holders and stewards, etc. displayed a very friendly and helpful attitude. In particular, I would mention the gentleman on the waltzers and the ladies on the ‘flying swings and air rifle target shooting. Good humoured and highly professional. Interestingly I, without realising, had overpaid by one token on the ‘flying swings’ and the young lady subsequently sought me out and reimbursed me. How is that for honesty! The rides were of good duration and value for money. Covid19 and safety regulations were being fully observed but in a relaxed manner. We felt confident and completely safe. The quality of all rides and caravans, etc. is fabulous and the decoration and sign writing beautiful beyond words. Britannia, the traction engine, is fabulous!
This is an event not to be missed!”
Stay up to date with latest news and offers
If you’d like to be updated when we’re next near you, then you can sign up to our mailing list. We send out one monthly newsletter with all of the latest Carters news and information and if you tick the areas where you can visit the fair we will send you a reminder when we are near so you will never miss an event. Sign up here.
