Great Dorset Steam Fair OFF for 2024
The event's organisers are blaming rising costs
Last updated 17th Nov 2023
There's bad news for fans of the Great Dorset Steam Fair - the event won't be going ahead again in 2024.
The agricultural festival at Tarrant Hinton was also cancelled this year, with organisers blaming 'spiralling costs' following the Covid pandemic.
The board of directors has made the announcement through their social media channels.
They'd posted an update in August in which they said they hoped to go ahead in 2024, but the latest post says it's been 'a long and detailed process and they've not been in a position until now to make a further public announcement'.
The event cost £4.2 million to arrange in 2022 - which was up £700,000 from pre-pandemic levels, and that impacted on 2023's ability to host the Fair.
A further increase in operating costs was also expected for the 2024 event, predicting to have been around £4.7 million to £4.9 million.
Organisers say that would have meant a ticket price rise of up to 75%.
They've said 'in the midst of the cost-of-living crisis, the overwhelming likelihood is that the majority of visitors would find this to be unacceptable or unaffordable'.
Great Dorset Steam Fair Managing Director, Martin Oliver, said:
“The GDSF is a World-renowned event and is enormously popular but, sadly, the harsh reality is that there is little we can do financially to make running the 2024 event financially viable. Post Pandemic, operating costs increased disproportionately (when compared to our income) and would increase substantially again in 2024. The country is still gripped in the cost-of-living crisis and we do not believe that we can risk imposing a significant increase in ticket and camping prices without drastically reducing attendance at the event. So, a perfect storm situation exists. As an organisation we have looked at every option possible financially to try and find a way forward, this has also included putting the Event up for sale over the past few months (through a specialist broker).
"Whilst there has been interest in the sale of the Event and discussions are ongoing, we are yet to finalise a deal that would enable the 2024 event to run. With this in mind, we are very aware of the timing for all involved, for visitors (who wish to book tickets, camping and hotels, bed and breakfasts, etc) to section leaders, staff, contractors and exhibitors who need to reserve the dates to ensure their availability/book time off work etc and for the management team to organise the event.
"This is not the news that everyone who enjoys the GDSF was hoping for and no one is more disappointed with this outcome than us as organisers. It is a desperately sad situation that we are unable to continue but, unfortunately (despite our best endeavours), the current position is that the 2024 show will not be running. Nevertheless, the Event remains for sale and we remain hopeful that there may be a Great Dorset Steam Fair in 2025 and the present management team will do all we can to assist in making this happen.
My sincere thanks to everyone for your loyal and past support, it is very much appreciated.”