Buckley Old Engine Show — Local services in Wexford Township

A family favorite event which transports you back into the past.

If you have kids, head to the Hayfield Town Hall first and get the scavenger hunt materials. It helps the kids stay engaged, have fun, and see everything. They get prizes, too.

They have it all. Old steam/diesel/gas engine tractors, steam train on a loop you ride for FREE, buggies, pumps, kids’ events, threshing, field plowing (my favorite!), sawmill, veneer, cider mill, tractor parade, prony brake, and spark show (the kids’ favorite).

Two steam trains, one full size and another ¼ scale, are able to be ridden for free. You even get a free ticket to take home. After a ride on the large train, visit the woodshop just behind it or the many buildings just across the street.

The Old-Time Necessities Building demonstrates some old skills and craftsmanship. The Harness Shop is a demonstration of leather creations. There is a new Toy Box shop that has many old toys on display.

Field plowing demonstrates the raw power of the tractors. The Prony Brake also measures the power of the tractors. The Avery tractor was my favorite, but was sold this year and no longer there, which is sad.

The Snow Engine in the red Webber Barn is a massive 1,100 HP 225 ton pump for natural gas that shakes the ground when it runs. There are other demonstrations and things for kids in that building.

The Music Building is not as well documented, but the kids have fun learning to square dance there. It runs throughout the show and later, typically.

The kids also love shopping at the Flee Market. I enjoy the vendor food. Bayou Billy’s Andouille Sausage on a Hoagie Roll with cheese and lots of hot sauce is my favorite. Gibby’s Fresh Cut Fries was a favorite of the kids. The Old Fashioned Ice Cream is great, too.

The spark show is just after dark. They use sawdust to produce a spectacular display of spark-like appearance. Subject to weather, though.

There is so much to do. Been going there since at least 2015 and still feel like we haven’t...

This was my first experience at Buckley, and I can't wait to go back! The grounds were HUGE and there is so much to see. There was something for everyone, no matter what age you were. They had live music, and plenty of affordable food vendors. There was a big train that you could pay to go on, and they also had a small train for kids that had been moved there from the Traverse City Zoo. That was the most steam engines I've ever seen in one spot, and I'm so sad that we weren't able to stay for the sparks show on Saturday night. After spending the entire day in almost 90 degree heat, we were pretty well spent and decided to just head for home, but I'm sure with that many that it was a sight to see! My only reasoning for giving 4/5 stars is because you can't have golf carts in there. We did not need one, and I understand why they don't allow them due to the high amount of traffic in there. But there were a lot of older people/handicap that looked like they were having some difficulty getting around. However, I did hear shuttles being called for all day long at different locations, and that's not something that I typically hear at other shows that I've been to. Overall, it was a great day...

There is absolutely nothing quite like this event. The Buckley Old Engine Show is a nostalgic trip back to the past with all of the old ways of getting things done around the late 1800's and early 1900's with authentic equipment and tools. You can ride a steam locomotive around the location and adjoining campground, and when you're done viewing all the amazing displays, there is a huge flea market full of bargains and plenty of food vendors to bring you right back to the present. All in all, it's an event that I look forward to every year. Four days of the third week of August, the Buckley Old Engine Show has something for folks...