Portersville Steam Show is for everyone
The Portersville Steam Show is starting up its gas, diesel and steam-powered engines for the annual summer event this weekend.
The list of attractions is longer than a country mile, and displays of its antique farm, oil and manufacturing equipment continue to grow.
Bob Lewis, a Steam Show organizer, said they expect a lot of people to attend the show, which runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at 1512 Perry Highway.
“We’ll have quite a few thousand through the gate,” he said. “We get quite a few people there.”
The show originated from an idea shared by a group of farmers in 1963, Lewis said.
“Farmers and mechanics started the group and had earlier shows in Lancaster Township. Later, they moved it to Portersville,” he said. “They wanted to preserve some equipment that they didn’t use for farming anymore.”
The event has grown to astronomical sizes, offering displays of steam- and gas-powered engines, antique cars, tractors, farm equipment and more.
In addition, the show features tractor rides, a flea market, sawmill, blacksmith, woodwork and print shops.
“We even have antique washing machines and houseware,” Lewis said. “There’s music and tractor pulls too.”
Local musicians such as the Wolf Creek Express Band will offer entertainment, and food and drink vendors will offer delicacies such as Amish donuts throughout the event’s run.
Lewis said attendees will notice new additions to the show grounds.
“We’re in the process of building a museum building which will have pictures, archives and videos, a lot of memorabilia from over the decades,” he said. “It’s under construction. And a group of us completed a new addition to the print shop.”
He said there’s no estimated completion date for the museum project.
Lewis said he hopes folks will be excited about the different attractions within the Portersville Steam show this year.
“This show is for everybody,” he said. “You name it, we got it.”
