The pageant is held the second full weekend of August, starting on Wednesday and continuing through Saturday.
Besides steam engines, it features an antique tractor pull and a large flea market.
Due to the nearby Empire Farm Days event that was in various Upstate New York locations including nearby Seneca Falls and Pompey, held from Tuesday until Thursday,[1] some of the flea market vendors and many visitors attend the Steam Pageant on Friday and Saturday.
As of 2023 Empire Farm Days is a week before the Steam Pageant.
Until 1971, when 28 acres (110,000 m2) were purchased on Gehan Road off State Route 5 and US 20 3 miles (4.8 km) East of the City of Canandaigua,[2] the event was held at various places, including the old site of Roseland Waterpark on Canandaigua Lake.