THE Great Dorset Steam Fair will not take place in 2023, it has been announced.
Organisers of the event, which traditionally runs across the August Bank Holiday weekend at Tarrant Hinton, confirmed the cancellation in a statement, citing ‘significant and spiralling increases’ in costs.
The shock news comes after the 2022 event was hailed a success by organisers, with thousands attending.
The board of directors for the event said the decision was made with ‘great sadness and disappointment’ after a ‘thorough review’.
“This has been an extremely difficult decision for us to make,” a spokesman added. “While the 2022 event has been a fantastic and resounding success as a spectacle, it has been mired by significant and spiralling increases in contractor and infrastructure costs.
“As a big show we have big costs, which have risen disproportionately this year and, crucially, are very difficult to forecast for next year in the current economic climate.”
The spokesman said event organisers were still feeling the financial effects of the pandemic, as well as the aftermath of Brexit and the war in Ukraine, which had led to “significant increases” in the cost of staff, contractors, fuel, transport, material and equipment hire.
The board added: “The likelihood is event costs will continue to rise in 2023, compounded by the emergence of the cost-of-living crisis.
“With the ongoing economic situation, it is not prudent or sensible to hold the show next year and in order to safeguard and preserve the future of the Great Dorset Steam Fair, we believe this to be the right decision to enable us to continue in 2024 and beyond.”
The event is set to return in 2024, from August 22 to 26, with tickets on sale in autumn next year.