** Sadly the event has been cancelled due to flooding and unsafe grounds. **
The organisers will contact everyone with refunds
The Elvaston Steam Rally is held near the lovely Elvaston Castle in Derbyshire. It offers two days of events on the weekend of July
6th and 7th 2024. You can also camp on site from Friday afternoon to Monday morning.
Discounted Weekend Camping Tickets Here - Save £15 Three nights camping (tent, caravan, motorhome) and two days entry to the show for 2 adults and 2 children under 16, and including access to the Saturday evening funfair for just £45!
Let us just start off by saying despite the name this is not just a steam rally, so don't let that put you off if you're not into it! It's a great fun weekend, and a chance for a cheap weekend's camping with masses to do!
At the event will be a vintage and classic car display along with motorcycles, and masses of old steam traction engines. In addition there is a model show, a variety of market stalls, entertainment for children, including an amazing vintage fairground.
Steam Traction Engines, Vintage and Classic Cars & Motorcycles, Vintage Commercials, Tractors, Stationary Barn Engines, Fair Organs, Miniature Steam Engines, Model Show, Vintage Caravans, Craft Displays and Stalls, Market Stalls, Autojumble, Working demonstrations of Log Sawing and Threshing and more.
What's Else is On?
Entertainment including amazing Old-Time Fairground, Bouncy Castles, Falconry Experience, Punch & Judy! We are also having a flying demonstration of birds of prey in the main arena and gundogs will be in the main arena. This year, weather permitting, we will be inviting adults into the main arena to have a go at steering a big steam engine as many have expressed an interest in this.
There is a licensed bar on the rally site (not the camping field) and all Day & Evening catering facilities.
Where the Show is Held
The show is held in the grounds of Elvaston Castle Country Park, just south-east of Derby, and comprises a castle along with over 200 acres of woodlands, parkland and formal gardens and is worth a visit just for that! As well as visiting the rally, you can enjoy wonderful walks around the grounds.
Camp at the Show in your Tent, Caravan or Motorhome
Camping is from Friday 5th July at 1pm to noon on Monday 8th July. So you can turn up on the Friday afternoon, or evening, get settled into your pitch, ready for all the fun on the Saturday and Sunday.
You can
even stay for Sunday night, and leave Monday morning, to make it a nice long weekend. If you prefer you can arrive on Saturday before 1pm.
Book Now and Save
To book in advance and take advantage of the discount please download the booking form here
The all inclusive advanced price of £45 covers 2 adults and 2 children under 16 years and saves £15 on the gate price. Sadly there is no discount for single campers this year.
Advance camping bookings close on Saturday 15th June, so please return the form to arrive by that date to take advantage of these special rates.
Download your booking form here - Advanced booking now open and if you miss this you can turn up and pay on the gate - Advanced Booking closes Saturday 15th June 2024
The fee includes:
Bring your tent, caravan, motorhome or campervan
Your pitch from Friday to Monday - you get loads of space
Free entry to both days of the Rally for 2 adults and 2 children - you can collect your wristbands on arrival
Access to the evening entertainment in the beer tent (not open to the public)
Water, waste/ elsan disposal, toilets on site
Dogs welcome on leads
There are no electric hookups but you can use a generator *
If there are more than 2 adults in your party the extra adults should you can buy weekend passes for them, priced £16 and ordered and paid for on your booking form.
If you have not booked in advance, you can still attend and pay on the gate, but it will be at the standard rate of £60 for the weekend, so download the advanced booking form here and save £15!
* Generators are permitted but can only be run between 10am and 6pm. You need to tell the stewards you wish to use one when you arrive. You will be pitched in a
separate area if you are using a genny.
What's on In the Evenings for Weekend Campers....
Once the day ticket holders have gone home, weekend campers can enjoy lots more! The fairground and some stalls are open Saturday night with full food catering and the bar. There is entertainment in the beer tent both Friday and Saturday night. The whole event is designed to be family friendly and they welcome children.
Advance camping bookings closed on Saturday 15th June, so please return the form to arrive by that date to take advantage of these special rates.
Free Bus Services
Elvaston Steam Rally runs a free bus service to and from Derby and the surrounding area. Special Buses will be showing "Elvaston Steam Rally" destination boards. Click here to download a printable version of the Bus Timetables
For more show information visit their website but make sure you come back and use our booking form to save the biggest amount!
After you have Sent off your Advanced Booking form
Your tickets will be available to collect when you arrive at the show.
On the weekend of the show, please arrive AFTER 1pm on Friday. The gates may be locked before that time and there's nowhere to park on the lane. There's a big Asda nearby in Spondon so you could park there or in the Co-op car park in Borrowash at the top of the lane leading to the rally should you have mis-timed your arrival. If you park in the main Castle car park you will be charged. Please don't enter before 1pm even if the gates are open as we have young cadets working in the field before noon. If you do go onto the camping field before noon you will be directed to the pay and display Castle car park opposite. You can also arrive on Saturday morning if that is easier.
On arrival you will be given a registration slip to fill in so please bring a pen!
If you have a blue badge PLEASE wave it at the stewards who will give you your registration form otherwise you WILL be in the wrong place.
Likewise if you're needing to either reserve a pitch for friends or are joining friends already there tell the gate steward and make arrangements for your friends to meet you.
Once you're clutching your registration form you will be directed to your pitch. You can then get set up, have a cuppa at your leisure then take the completed form back to the stewards who will exchange it for your envelope containing your camping passes and wristbands which you need to wear all weekend to gain entrance to the showground. Each person has one wristband which is for both days and Saturday night's entertainment on the showground. Please don't lose it or take it off during the event as it costs £16 per person to replace it!
Please check all your tickets are as ordered before leaving the booking in area
Please keep to the speed limits shown, there will be kiddies, elderly and disabled people around. Repeat offenders will be removed for the safety of everyone.
Due to the dreaded elfnsafety there are to be no mini-motorbikes, motorised mini kiddie scooters and similar things and no bouncy castles so please leave them at home.
Discounted Weekend Camping Tickets Here - Save £15 Three nights camping (tent, caravan, motorhome) and two days entry to the show for 2 adults and 2 children under 16, and including access to the Saturday evening funfair for just £45!
Advance camping bookings closed on Saturday 15th June 2024, so please download and return the booking form to arrive by that date to take advantage of these special rates.
Hi Pam,
Still here and was looking forward to Elvaston but the email said no single camping this year, they tried that last year then changed their minds so thought I’d ask you is there single camping or not,
Barry.
I know Barry and am so sorry to lose a valuable supporter like you.
In the past I had total control but alas no longer and posts like yours make me feel terrible. New people have come in and interferred with my section and won't be told what works. I have over 42 years of experience running the camping section and count many of this group as my friends.
I know you stayed in the generator field which is now pretty much redundant as so many units now have solar panels but the genny field will be retained and perhaps people who prefer a quieter, less busy pitch can stay there. [Don't all rush at once!!]
Hi Graham, of course single campers are very welcome this year. Barry isn't coming because there is no further discount price for singles in addition to the already discounted UKCS price.
All units booking through UKCS whether one or two adults pays a special discount price of £45 if they book and pay in advance otherwise it's £60 for all who turn up on spec not having booked.
we had thought although hadn't mentioned it to you Pam was to put motorhomes on that field. We get alot of them and that field is bit flatter it also spreads the units out so minimizing fire risk
This event sounds like fun! Very tempted to book, but is it going to be possible to request pitching on the generator field please? I haven't actually got a generator but it sounds as though that field is more spacious, and quieter. I like to have plenty of space around me.... Also, as someone has said it's flatter, will I need to bring levellers for my caravan? Thanks.
Of course you would be very welcome to pitch in the generator field. On arrival please explain to the stewards you would like to be at the bottom of the field as you need space and they should accommodate you.
The camping is on a farmer's field so we cannot guarantee anything like a bowling green! I would bring levellers to be on the safe side.
Pamcram I am going to be a real wuzz and leave booking for a while and wait to see what the weather forecast is a bit nearer the time. I have heard of too many people ending up stuck in fields following sudden heavy downpours (the like of which are becoming increasingly common nowadays).
A bit of a gamble as you might fill up the field and either I won't be able to book at all, or will find myself in a very tight space! I'll play it by ear for now, thanks.
Advance booking closes 3 weeks in advance of the event to obtain the special UKCS advance booking discount. After that date it's on spec only at the full price of £60.
I am currently petitioning the committee to reinstate single camper price reductions for next year. Will let you know if there is a change of heart, shame it's too late for this year as will miss our friends.
Just a little reminder, only 3 weeks left to get advanced bookings in as they close on June 15th with no exceptions for late delivery as it takes time to process all the forms and prepare your envelopes for collection from your hard working stewards.
If you book and pay in advance you save yourself £15 on the day gate price of £60. The £45 is a special rate only available to UK Campsite members. The fee includes camping from Friday 5th July at noon to Monday 8th July at noon plus admission to the rally on the Saturday, Saturday night and Sunday for 1 or 2 adults and their children under 16.
Please will the following contact me as soon as possible as they do not appear to be UKCS members qualifying for the discount we offer. Should they not confirm their member name, as stated on the form, there will be a £5 supplement to pay on arrival.
If you know any of these people please give them a shout, I can be contacted here or at
Little reminder, advance booking close just two weeks today. No more bookings can be accepted after 15th June, should you miss our cut off date instead of the £45 members' rate the on the gate price is £60 for 2 adults and their children under 16.
Please note, following an earlier post, I haven't had a single response from any of the people listed below.
Please will the following contact me as soon as possible as they do not appear to be UKCS members qualifying for the discount we offer. Should they not confirm their member name, as stated on the form, there will be a £5 supplement to pay on arrival.
If you know any of these people please give them a shout, I can be contacted here or at
Hello, Folks, reminder just one week left to get those advanced bookings in at the very special UKCS rate of £45, saving £15 on the gate price. I will do a daily countdown until Thursday which will be the last day to post off your application first class to ensure it arrives by next Saturday, 15th June.
Reminder, these people may have a £5 supplement to pay on arrival as they have not confirmed their membership details with me. They only have until next Saturday to get in touch.
This is your daily countdown reminder, friends. Application forms must be with us by next Saturday 15th June in order to qualify for your special UKCS discount on full price camping.
Reminder, these people may have a £5 supplement to pay on arrival as they have not confirmed their membership details with me. They only have until next Saturday to get in touch.
This is your daily countdown reminder, friends. Application forms must be with us by next Saturday 15th June in order to qualify for your special UKCS discount on full price camping.
Reminder, these people will have a £5 supplement to pay on arrival as they have not confirmed their membership details with me. They only have until next Saturday to get in touch.
Probably the last call for 1st class applications for pre-booking, closes Saturday.
Regretfully, due to time constraints, no further applications can be processed after that date. The treasurer has to do her thing with the forms and payments getting the forms to me on Tuesday night for some frantic envelope stuffing and lists for your lovely chief camping stewards, Alan and Tracy which are handed over the week before the rally for them to sort out spaces/requirements for everyone on the camping fields.
My partner is filling in the form now and paying by bacs, posting 1st class tomorrow so fingers crossed it will get there by Saturday
We have only had our motorhome a few months so really looking forward to our first Steam Rally Weekend
And that's it for the advanced bookings for another year.
Would there be any interest from our single friends IF the committee can be persuaded to change their minds and re-instate the single person discount for next year?
I'll be back midweek to update the list of UKCS attendees and email those who didn't provide a UKCS membername with details on how to pay the supplement for non-members.
For those who couldn't commit to pre-booking there will be space available from the Friday at noon at £60 per pitch for 2 adults and their under 16s, extra adults are £18 per person.
Thank you for booking with us. Please will you email me your details privately, UKCS username, full name, address and vehicle reg plus a rough idea of when it was posted. I can then check if I have it, otherwise it will be tomorrow as am getting the final batch of applications tonight.
Thank you SO much for your support and kindness. Unfortunately have had a bit of grief this year from people who, for whatever reason, haven't given their UKCS username. I think, if UKCS still want to work with us next year, the form will have to be re-designed slightly to make the requirement for usernames clearer.
Here is the almost final list of UKCS attendees confirmed by the closing date of 15th June Thank you for your interest, everyone, we look forward to seeing you.
BigPaul50
Billie Holiday
KKKKatie
TallslimDave
WitchEcho
CarolPaul
Alreid
Deano3528
MikeJames
Pauline28
KP Campers
Daveha
Geoffw
JoannaLMW
Michael95.....
Lin297
Bessie48
Kev+Marg
PeterMC
Carolwhit
Shorty69
AngiesDad
Bruce56.....
WellcroftFT3
Openroad123
Kaz at ..[won't give your email but you know who you are!
SandySanders
Lenellwood
Patdav
Plumbo
MillyMandy
LittleHilda
Glyn2025
If your name isn't here please check your emails including junk folder as several emails have been sent out but I haven't had a reply. If there is no message from me then please get in touch with your name and postcode then I will try to help.
Thank you to those who have supported us in previous years. We have had a few "regulars" who forgot to put their UKCS usernames this time.
I'm sorry for not knowing your username. I may recognise your real name but don't keep usernames in my head. Last year I was told I may not keep any records which may identify past attendees hence this year as well as your envelopes looking different I no longer have any forms to look back on to give my forgettery a jog. Everything was shredded then fed to Chichester, our steam roller.
Yes, this is correct, sadly we have just received the news, here is what we have been told:
Our committee are saddened to announce that this year's Elvaston Steam Rally has been cancelled due to the current poor ground conditions.
Last Tuesday evening the area was subjected to extremely heavy rain fall, approximately 20% of our site being affected by standing water and swamp like conditions.
Considerable effort has been made to rearrange the site layout around the affected areas, however, it became apparent this was not practical and would have a detrimental effect on our ability to offer the public the usual high quality show.
Obviously safety was another consideration, as the location of the largest area of standing water compromises safety access routes within the site, and the reduced area available to us would not be sufficient to accommodate all of our exhibitors safely.
We trust you can fully understand the reasoning behind our decision and will continue to support the event going forward.
Our various section heads will be in touch with exhibitors, traders, campers and sponsors in the near future. Details and a plan for any refunds that are due will be posted shortly.
Cheques will be destroyed and bacs payers will be contacted regarding refunds.
Thank you, Ratty. Dave has now kindly brought the laptop up to my sickbed.
The committee are all heartbroken, not just for a year's work wasted but for all the local charities we support, our campers, day visiots and exhibitors alike. As you can see for the pictures the site simply isn't safe and we are getting complaints from a few people, not UKCS. As a long standing exhibitor told us, you're dammed if we do and dammed if we don't.
Thank you, everyone for your understanding. Cheques will be destroyed, BACS repayments will take longer.
If I hear any more news I will, of course, keep you updated.
Can I please ask that you don't ring Helen, our treasurer, the lady who took the forms and payments.
As you can imagine she is absolutely overwhelmed with the amount of work notifying and refunding hundreds of people.
Please be assured those who paid by BACS WILL be refunded, cheques will be shredded but it is all going to take time. No one will lose out, please bear with us.
Really sad to see this. A friend sent me the event cancelled poster and at first I thought they had found the one from when it was cancelled about 15 years ago. I hope to see you all soon and am sorry for how all the hard work has been for nothing.
URGENT!!! With Elvaston being cancelled if you booked and paid by BACS PLEASE check your phones. There are still 6 people our treasurer has contacted regarding a refund but hasn't had a response from them despite leaving messages.
If you paid by cheque that has been destroyed so no worries on that one.
Elvaston Steam Rally Camping Weekend July 2023
An amazing fun weekend for all the family, with camping and caravanning on site from Friday to Monday. Children's entertainment, old steam, engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and onsite bar. Save £15 by booking in advance. ....view article
Elvaston Steam Rally Camping Weekend July 2022
An amazing fun weekend for all the family, with camping and caravanning on site from Friday to Monday. Children's entertainment, old steam, engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and onsite bar. Save £15 by booking in advance. ....view article
Elvaston Steam Rally Camping Weekend July 2019
An amazing fun weekend for all the family, with camping and caravanning on site from Friday to Monday. Children's entertainment, old steam, engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and onsite bar. Save £20 by booking in advance. ....view article
Elvaston Steam Rally Camping Weekend July 2018
An amazing fun weekend for all the family, camp on site from Friday to Monday. Children's entertainment, old steam ,engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and onsite bar. Toilets and showers available for campers and caravanners. ....view article
Elvaston Steam Rally Camping Weekend July 2017
An amazing fun weekend for all the family, camp on site from Friday to Monday. Children's entertainment, old steam ,engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and onsite bar. Toilets and showers available for campers and caravanners. ....view article
CANCELLED Elvaston Steam Rally Camping Weekend July 2016
An amazing fun weekend for all the family, camp on site from Friday to Monday. Children's entertainment, old steam ,engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and onsite bar. Toilets and showers available for campers and caravanners. ....view article
Elvaston Steam Rally and Camping Weekend July 2015
An amazing fun weekend for all the family, camp on site from Friday to Monday. Children's entertainment, old steam ,engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and onsite bar. Toilets and showers available for campers and caravanners. ....view article
Elvaston Steam Rally and Camping Weekend July 2014
An amazing fun weekend for all the family, camp on site from Friday to Monday. Children's entertainment, old steam ,engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and onsite bar. Toilets and showers available for campers and caravanners. ....view article
Elvaston Steam Rally and Camping Weekend July 2013
An amazing fun weekend for all the family, camp on site from Friday to Monday. Children's entertainment, old steam ,engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and onsite bar. Toilets and showers available for campers and caravanners. ....view article
Elvaston Steam Rally and Camping Weekend July 2012
An amazing fun weekend for all the family, camp on site from Friday to Monday. Children's entertainment, old steam ,engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and onsite bar. Toilets and showers available for campers and caravanners. ....view article
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Comments on this article from our visitors
Really sad to see this. A friend sent me the event cancelled poster and at first I thought they had found the one from when it was cancelled about 15 years ago. I hope to see you all soon and am sorry for how all the hard work has been for nothing.
