Thirlmere Festival of Steam

Thirlmere Festival of Steam The Thirlmere Festival of Steam will return 16-17 May 2026. The Festival of Steam is a unique and enjoyable event for the whole family!
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The Thirlmere Festival of Steam is an annual event delivered in partnership by Wollondilly Shire Council and Transport Heritage NSW, operators of the NSW Rail Museum. Since 1989, the annual Festival of Steam at Thirlmere has grown to become Australia’s premier steam event. It’s a community celebration of steam and nostalgia where locomotives of all kinds travel from afar, awakening the quaint vill

age of Thirlmere with the enchanting echo of a steam whistle. Throughout the village, there’s all the fun of a country fair to be had with great markets & music, rides & relics.

27/05/2026

What a way to wrap up two huge weekends of steam in Thirlmere! 🚂🔥

Following last weekend’s Huff ’n’ Puff and steam train rides, the 2026 Thirlmere Festival of Steam has officially become the biggest on record, helping deliver record visitation to the NSW Rail Museum across the two weekends.

From heritage train rides and live entertainment to Festival After Dark and the unforgettable triple-header steam spectacular, it was fantastic to see thousands of people enjoying the magic of steam once again.

Thank you to our volunteers, staff, partners, Wollondilly Shire Council, Transport Heritage NSW and everyone who joined us.

Until next time! 🚂✨

🎉Tomorrow Sunday 17 May the fun continues.... with even more to see and do! 🎉✨ Join us for a full day of festival fun — ...
16/05/2026

🎉Tomorrow Sunday 17 May the fun continues.... with even more to see and do! 🎉

✨ Join us for a full day of festival fun — from train rides and markets to food, carnival rides and live entertainment — all across Thirlmere.

Don’t miss:

🚂 Train rides and museum activities all day - including the Giant Ferris Wheel
🍔 Even more Food trucks & 🎤 live entertainment in the Eats & Beats Precinct (proudly supported by The Wilton) on Barbour Road
🛍️ Over 100 market stalls to explore
🎉 The spectacular Festival Parade at 11AM
🎪 The family carnival for even more fun

There’s something for everyone — don’t miss a moment!

🎟️ View the full program and book your tickets:
www.thirlmerefestivalofsteam.com.au

⭐ It all begins tomorrow… Saturday 16 May!Start your day with the steam trains, then watch the streets of Thirlmere come...
15/05/2026

⭐ It all begins tomorrow… Saturday 16 May!

Start your day with the steam trains, then watch the streets of Thirlmere come alive with so much to explore.

Wander through and discover:
🛍️ A boutique selection of market stalls
🍔 Delicious food trucks
🎤 Live entertainment all day — featuring Missy Lancaster at 6PM
🎪 Family carnival, including sensory session
🚂 Train rides, and museum activities — including the Giant Ferris Wheel
🌙 And when the sun goes down, the festival continues…
🚂 Night train rides & extended museum activities
🎡 Carnival rides under lights until 9PM
🎆 A spectacular fireworks display at 8PM, set against the magic of a steam train

There’s something for everyone — day and night!

Take a look at everything in store:
www.thirlmerefestivalofsteam.com.au

FESTIVAL OF STEAM FAIRGROUND CARNIVAL RETURNS THIS WEEKEND! 🎢Our family carnival is back and better than ever! Come on d...
14/05/2026

FESTIVAL OF STEAM FAIRGROUND CARNIVAL RETURNS THIS WEEKEND! 🎢
Our family carnival is back and better than ever! Come on down to Thirlmere Sportsground for an unforgettable weekend of excitement, with carnival rides & games to enjoy, from 12.30PM leading up to our spectacular 8PM Fireworks Show and finishing at 9PM on Saturday, May 16th! ✨
🎉 Special Deal Alert! 🎉 Get your wristband online before the event for $35!
🎫 Hurry, tickets are on sale now!
Get yours today at: www.thirlmerefestivalofsteam.com.au

A big thank you to all of our sponsors ahead of this weekend's festival! Thanks to their support, we're looking forward ...
14/05/2026

A big thank you to all of our sponsors ahead of this weekend's festival!

Thanks to their support, we're looking forward to an incredible weekend of magic as the streets of Thirlmere come alive. See you there!

13/05/2026

Steam is BACK this weekend at the Thirlmere Festival of Steam! Jump onboard a steam train ride at the historic Thirlmere Station, and see a range of amazing steam-powered displays. Don't miss it!

📯 Get ready — the Festival Parade is back this Sunday!Make your way to the streets of Thirlmere for one of the weekend’s...
13/05/2026

📯 Get ready — the Festival Parade is back this Sunday!

Make your way to the streets of Thirlmere for one of the weekend’s biggest highlights at the Thirlmere Festival of Steam.

Expect an incredible line-up, including:
🦾 Historic steam machinery
🐎 Mounted Police
🎭 Stilt walkers & steampunk performers
🕺 Local schools, dance and performance groups
✨ Plus some of your favourite characters and special guest appearances!

🎉 It’s a vibrant, high-energy celebration the whole family will love — don’t miss it!

📍 Sunday 17 May | Parade starts at 11AM

📢 Plan your day and find out more:
www.thirlmerefestivalofsteam.com.au

Wondering how to get to the Thirlmere Festival of Steam? 🚌 A FREE shuttle bus will operate between Tahmoor Train Station...
12/05/2026

Wondering how to get to the Thirlmere Festival of Steam?

🚌 A FREE shuttle bus will operate between Tahmoor Train Station (George St) and the Thirlmere Festival of Steam (Thirlmere Way) on Saturday 16 & Sunday 17 May in a continuous loop throughout the weekend.

Simply arrive by train or park nearby at Tahmoor, then hop on the shuttle direct to the festival precinct.

⏰ Shuttle services will run approximately every 30 minutes, including Saturday evening services operating until 8:05pm.

🌐 Visit the website for full timetable and transport information:
www.thirlmerefestivalofsteam.com.au

⭐ Thirlmere Festival of Steam starts this Weekend!🎤📋 To view the full schedule of activities & events or buy tickets ...
11/05/2026

⭐ Thirlmere Festival of Steam starts this Weekend!
🎤📋 To view the full schedule of activities & events or buy tickets
👉 Head to www.thirlmerefestivalofsteam.com.au

🚂INTRODUCING LOCOMOTIVE 3265, AKA HUNTER!🚂Locomotive 3265 entered service as 4-6-0 express passenger engine P 584 in 190...
10/05/2026

🚂INTRODUCING LOCOMOTIVE 3265, AKA HUNTER!🚂

Locomotive 3265 entered service as 4-6-0 express passenger engine P 584 in 1902. The 32 class hauled a range of passenger services on almost every line in NSW. With 191 members the class were among the NSW Railways’ most successful steam locomotive designs.

3265’s original livery was black, but in 1933 it was painted maroon and received the nameplate ‘Hunter’, to haul the Northern Commercial Limited express to Newcastle. The 32 class were soon replaced by larger locomotives on this run.

The locomotive ran for 66 years across NSW and was retired in 1968 after clocking 2,965,840km of service. It still has its original frame, and the cab is stamped with its builder's number. The locomotive was recently overhauled by Transport Heritage NSW

Catch 3265 as it leads steam train rides from Thirlmere to Buxton and return, in double header with 3001! To hop on board behind this amazing piece of history, visit www.thirlmerefestivalofsteam.com.au

📸 Joshua Goodfellow

Address

10 Barbour Road
Thirlmere, NSW
2572

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