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Jocelyn Songer, left, drives through the grounds of the Yankee Engine-uity Show in 2019 with her niece Lillian Songer, then 8, in tow. The 47th annual event will be held at the Orange Municipal Airport the weekend of June 29. -
Linda Langevin drives some attendees through the grounds of the Yankee Engine-uity Show in 2019. The 47th annual event will be held at the Orange Municipal Airport the weekend of June 29.
ORANGE — The Central Massachusetts Steam, Gas and Machinery Association is gearing up for its 47th annual Yankee Engine-uity Show, set for the Orange Municipal Airport the weekend of June 29.
Exhibits are slated to open at 8 a.m. on that Saturday and Sunday, and will continue throughout the day. There will be a tractor parade at 1 p.m. on Saturday and a second one at noon on Sunday, with the 50/50 raffle winner’s name being drawn after that parade.
“We start in September, October and then we really start digging in January, February,” association President Michael Toomey said of the planning process. “It’s always the last full weekend in June.”
There will be different types of gas and steam engines, tractors, models and machinery, antique cars and trucks, live demonstrations, and a large 1898 C.H. Brown & Co. steam engine made in Fitchburg. Entrance to the show is $5 per vehicle.
There will be concessions, with a variety of different food available on the grounds.
The flea market will also be open on Saturday and Sunday. Vendor spaces are still available and the cost is $40 per space for both days. Dean Lamontagne, in his fourth year of running the flea market, said 10 vendors were committed by June 19 and there are usually about 30. Most vendors sell farm equipment and miscellaneous engine-related parts. About half of the vendors sell items professionally.
“Some people are cleaning out their garage,” he added. “It brings in a crowd. People love the flea market portion of it, and some people, that’s all they come for.”
Call Lamontagne at 413-323-9519 for more information about becoming a vendor.
Toomey said he has been involved with the Central Massachusetts Steam, Gas and Machinery Association since 1977. He said the “soup-to-nuts” variety of displays is his favorite aspect of the event.
He also mentioned the association’s membership has dwindled greatly over the years due to old age. Membership costs $15 per year.
“There’s still a band holding this together,” he said, “as long as we can.”
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or
413-930-4120.