The Tuscarawas Valley Pioneer Power Association's 55th-annual Dover Steam Show is August 17-19 at the Tuscarawas County Fairgrounds in Dover. (Submitted photo)

Dover, Ohio - Visitors are invited to take a journey back in time and learn about the tools and techniques of a bygone era when the Dover Steam Show returns this weekend to the Tuscarawas County Fairgrounds.

The Dover Steam Show is an annual three-day celebration of antique farm machinery and steam-powered equipment sponsored by the Tuscarawas Valley Pioneer Power Association.

This year’s event begins Friday and runs through Sunday with a variety of activities and demonstrations planned throughout the weekend. 

“Friday night we’re doing a garden tractor pull, and Saturday during the day is the pedal tractor pull for kids of all ages. It can be from the young to the young at heart. We’ve got pedal tractors there for adults to participate, too,” said Tuscarawas Valley Pioneer Power Association President Emily Weldon.

An antique farm tractor pull will close out the evening on Saturday, and Sunday’s activities will culminate with a Grand Parade of equipment. 

Steam-powered machinery demonstrations will also be offered throughout the weekend. “There will be thrashing, cutting lumber, a shingle mill, baling straw all weekend,” Weldon said.

Food will be available for sale at the fairgrounds each day of the event, and there will also be a daily flea market and arts and crafts show.

“There will be all kinds of stuff. There can be anything from t-shirts to tractor parts, and the same with the arts and crafts. It can be anything from handmade dish towels to festive fall decorations or seasonal decorations,” Weldon said.
The event will be held rain or shine. Gates open each day at 8 a.m., admission is $5 per person and free for children ages 12 and younger.

Weldon noted that the goal of the annual event is to preserve the history of antique power equipment for future generations.

“There are many young people out there that have no clue what it took 50, 75, or 100 years ago to farm in this country, and the hard work that their ancestors went through to accomplish this is just phenomenal,” she said. “If we today don’t preserve this, it’s not going to be there for tomorrow.”

For additional information and a complete schedule of events, visit www.doversteamshow.com.

Stacey Carmany, TuscoTV