Burton Automotive Hunter Valley Steamfest returns on Maitland on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 April 2025.
This popular festival of all things steam attracts tens of thousands of people to Maitland each year. (This year, it’s the first weekend of the school holidays).
See two of Australia’s historic steam locomotives, 3526 and 3265 at Maitland Railway Station roll into Maitland Station, browse the Railway Street Market, enjoy family-friendly activities and more.
The 2025 event will include an expanded program that stretches into the night, with diverse activities honouring the Hunter’s rich steam and industrial heritage and activities that appeal to enthusiasts of all ages.
Steamfest is spread over a large area of Maitland, with the Maitland Station Precinct being the central event area.
On Saturday night, at Steamfest After Dark, attendees can stick around to enjoy food trucks, carnival rides, live music, traction engine displays and an up close and personal experience with 3265 on the station platform right up until 8pm.
Burton Automotive Hunter Valley Steamfest are hosting a range of activities suitable for kids and families including train trips, carnival rides and more. It is free to visit the Maitland Station Precinct, market stalls and entertainment area.
Entry into The Bloomfield Group Rally Ground is $5. Persons under the age of 16 years are free but must be accompanied by a paying adult. This area is a steam enthusiast’s dream, a bustling hive of activity, showcasing engineering ingenuity across a range of machinery from the era of steam.
With specialty steam and food stalls, Australia’s largest collections of portable, traction engines and vintage farming equipment brought together by the Maitland Steam and Antique Machinery Association, as well as trackless train and the brand new people mover rides, steam powered corn cooking, coal shovelling, steam punk activities, the Maker and Merchant interactive space, wood carving, tractor pulls, displays, face painting and more there is something for everyone to enjoy while visiting the Rally Ground.
TRAIN TRIPS
Go on a train journey as part of your Steamfest experience. Grab your tickets and be part of the annual ARTC Great Train Race or take a ride on one of the many unique train trips visiting various Hunter destinations including Branxton, Paterson, and Port Waratah Coal Loop.
If you wish to take a rail journey on a steam or diesel engine then you will need to purchase a ticket. To avoid missing out on your preferred trip it is recommended that you purchase your ticket in advance. Although tickets are sold out for trains participating in The ARTC Great Train Race, there are still Steamfest train tickets available through Ticketek for other train rides.
Any rail journey tickets not sold out prior to the festival will be available to purchase from the ticketing tent located outside Maitland Station over the Steamfest weekend.
RAILWAY STREET MARKET
The Railway Street Market will be trading from 9am – 4pm on both days. This space will be filled with old world charm, bric a brac, soaps, pottery and more. The markets will be ‘the heart of the festival’, located along Railway Street, Maitland, adjacent to Maitland Station Car Park.
MAKER AND MERCHANT DISPLAY
This year, Hunter Valley Steamfest will continue to host the Maker and Merchant display, located on The Rally Ground. Be transported back to a time when the art of handmade was an essential skill, with a silversmith, tool maker, artist, glassblower, woodworker, jewellery maker, stonemason and leatherworker allowing audiences to engage, interact and be educated by ‘The Maker and Merchant’.
CARNIVAL LANE
Carnival Lane, located in the Maitland Station Car Park, will be packed with all of your kids favourite carnival rides as well as show bags, face painting, fairy floss and more.
COAL SHOVELLING
A favourite for kids, on the Rally Ground, is Steamfest Coal Shovelling Races. Kids will be put into teams and will have to tackle a course in a relay!
TRACKLESS TRAIN
Another crowd favourite at Steamfest is the trackless train, the perfect way to make your way through the entire Rally Ground.
GREAT TRAIN RACE
The highlight of the Burton Automotive Hunter Valley Steamfest program is the ARTC Great Train Race which will feature steam engines running parallel together whilst racing a Tiger Moth aeroplane. It’s always a fun thing to watch if you can’t get tickets on the participating steam locomotives.
ALTAPAC SHOW ‘N’ SHINE
Held in Maitland Park on the Sunday, the Altapac Show ‘n’ Shine is a spectacular display of motoring history. See over 500 cars of all makes and models from classic cars and hot rods to vintage beauties and muscle cars, as well as live rock n’ roll music and dancing.
As well as the incredible car display, you will also find a range of food and general stalls for your browsing while in the park. Steamfest Show ‘n’ Shine is sure to be hit with car enthusiasts both young and old.
For more information visit the Burton Automotive Hunter Valley Steamfest website.
Photo credit: Maitland City Council
Want more inspiration for family fun in the Hunter Valley? Check out our article 15+ Things to Do in Hunter Valley with Kids.