Family Fun 'Steams' into The Historic Dockyard for Easter!

With over 600 exhibits each day, steam trains, tractions engines, river trips and a vintage funfair the Medway Festival of Steam & Transport at The Historic Dockyard Chatham on March 23rd and 24th has to be the 'must do' family day out this Easter!

Bigger and better than ever, this annual family favourite will feature just about every type of land transport known to man. From mighty steam driven traction engines to tiny Second World War folding paratroop bicycles, all tastes are catered for.

This year the festival has taken on a decidedly 'Family Fun' flavour with all manner of rides and activities aimed at the family audience, with the aim of recreating a good old-fashioned Easter day out for young and old alike. One of the main attractions will be a bargain-priced Vintage Funfair - the centrepiece of which will be a spectacular Golden Gallopers carousel complete with its own fairground organ. Together with Chairoplanes, Swing Boats, Dobby Horses and other stalls this will bring a wonderful old-style fairground feel to the festival. A family ticket costs £32.00 which includes entry to the festival and admission to all the galleries and attractions of The Historic Dockyard. The fairground rides are all no more than £1.

Making a very welcome return will be the weird and wonderful Kondini's Show featuring fire-eating, escapology and feats of strength and also the Happy Feet Jazz Band with their New Orleans style Jazz Music played 'on the hoof' around the Dockyard. Other 'regulars' are the Newfoundland Dogs Team and the ever popular wagon rides with the Dray Horse Shires.

The exhibits are probably the best and most varied ever with the historic bus collection including an ancient steam-bus, a First World War period London Omnibus, and the very first Routemaster Coach, together with the very last Routemaster Bus to operate scheduled services in London. The steam exhibits boast a 1903 Burrell Traction Engine side by side with a modern steam tractor only completed in 2007 and in the two car classes Austins lead the way in the pre-war period and Ford leads the way post-war with models on display ranging from a 1953 Anglia through the Zodiacs and Zephyrs to the ubiquitous Cortina, and the Capri.

2008 is an anniversary year for at least two vehicles on show. It is the 50th anniversary of the Austin-Healey Sprite with its famous 'Frogeye' headlamps, and also the 60th anniversary of that Great British export triumph, the Land Rover. Both models will be well represented this year.

The Commercial Vehicles on display will include AEC's, Scammell's, Foden's, Bedford's and Commer's - nearly fifty Lorries and Vans make this year's Commercials Class the best to date.

Kit Cars and Specials have a lot to offer where 'speed freaks' can wonder at the exotic machines on display with some really souped-up examples to drool over. These include a Ferrari 365 GT, a Lamborghini Diablo and a V8 hot-rodded 1937 Ford. Also on display here will be the Kent Kit Car Club with a great range of specially built kits-cars.

All the galleries and attractions of The Historic Dockyard are open and are included in the entry price to the event.

Visitor information about this event can be obtained at www.thedockyard.co.uk.