Gearheads and history buffs alike should mark their calendars for this Saturday, June 7, the 16th Annual Spring Fling Show ’n’ Shine at Sukanen Ship Pioneer Village & Museum. From gleaming classic cars to miniature steam-powered marvels, the day promises fun for the whole family — rain or shine.
“This event has been an annual highlight for 16 years,” said Evan Davis, board member and spokesperson for Sukanen Ship Museum. “We invite all vehicles 1980 and older to register for our Show ’n’ Shine. Our goal is a museum full of vintage automobiles for people to admire while exploring the village.”
In years past, attendance has varied with weather, but Davis said there are usually well over 100 classic cars, trucks, and motorcycles to line the museum grounds. The first 100 vehicles on-site will receive commemorative dash plaques; in peak years, more than 200 entrants have rolled through. Sunday drivers and restoration experts alike can tinker under the hood while chatting with fellow enthusiasts about rustproofing, carburetors, and restoration tips.
But the Spring Fling isn’t just a car show. For the past eight years, Sukanen Ship Museum has hosted a Model Engineering Show in one of its restored buildings.
“We’ll have half a dozen or more hobbyists displaying their creations,” Davis explains. “You’ll see small-scale steam engines, miniature pump engines, and even a tiny engine that clips on your tie and spins its flywheel. Just some absolute marvels of engineering technology."
With 55 heritage buildings on the property, visitors can wander through one-room schoolhouses, pioneer homesteads, blacksmith shops, and an authentic Canadian Pacific Railway station. The museum’s collection features tractors, farm implements, antique machinery, and the namesake S.S. Sukanen ship — Canada’s only inland-pioneer museum vessel, with a story that, while true, can be hard to believe. During Spring Fling, all buildings are open, offering an immersive look into early Prairie life.
The Kampen Hall will operate a cash-only concession for drinks, burgers, and hot dogs. Picnic tables and shady spots are scattered throughout the grounds, so attendees can refuel between admiring Model T’s and handcrafted miniature locomotives.
For Davis, Sukanen Ship Museum holds personal significance. “I grew up here," he explained. "My dad is one of the original founders back in 1969, so I've been there since I was born. I’m passionate about the place. We've got 55 buildings filled with anything you can imagine. A house, a ship, farm equipment, trucks, tractors, all of it.”
His affection for “anything with wheels” dovetails perfectly with the Show ’n’ Shine’s mission to celebrate classic automotive history while supporting the museum’s ongoing preservation work.
The event starts at 10 a.m. and finishes up around 4 p.m. Standard admission rates apply, and all proceeds support the restoration of Sukanen Ship’s artifact collection and maintenance of its historic buildings.
Whether you’re a classic-car pro, a curious kid fascinated by miniature steam engines, or simply looking for a fun family outing, the Spring Fling Show ’n’ Shine offers something for everyone.
For more information, visit SukanenShipMuseum.ca or follow the museum’s Facebook page for event updates.