For photos of some of the past events visit the Photo Gallery.
In addition to the events listed below, the public is welcome to tour the collection at no charge during work days.
2026 Events Calendar – PDF
2026 Roots Sponsored Events
April 11 & 12
Saturday & Sunday
Steam Engineering and Operating Safety Class
Classes are for Roots members only. (Membership application)
To register for the class send:
- Your name, address, phone number and email address
- $75 payable to Roots of Motive Power (please be sure to note that this is for the Steam Engineering Class)
- Membership application and fee, if applicable
Roots of Motive Power
P.O.Box 1540
Willits, CA 95490
June 6 & 7
Saturday & Sunday
Railroad Operation and Safety Class
The Railroad Operation and Safety Class was first given in 2003 as part of the Steam Engineering Class, but it has become such an important function of Roots that we have created a two-day class just for this topic. The weekend includes a classroom session plus hands-on training. The training includes the following subjects: coupling and uncoupling, air hose connection, train movement signals and switch operation.
This class will be mandatory for anyone involved in operating railroad equipment.
Classes are for Roots members only. (Membership application)
To register for the class send:
- Your name, address, phone number and email address
- $75 payable to Roots of Motive Power (please be sure to note that this is for the Steam Engineering Class)
- Membership application and fee, if applicable
Roots of Motive Power
P.O.Box 1540
Willits, CA 95490
August 16
Sunday
Annual Meeting
Annual Meeting 11 AM, Roots Maintenance Yard
Election of officers, progress report of equipment restoration, repairs, acquisitions during the past year.
Annual Steam-Up, BBQ, Raffle and Auction Plans.
Open to Roots members.
September 12 & 13
Saturday & Sunday
Roots of Motive Power Steam Festival
The major steam-up event of the year is the Roots of Motive Power Festival, held annually in September at the Roots facility. Our work efforts throughout the year are aimed at having every piece of operable equipment under power. Plumes of steam and the shrieks of steam whistles will fill the air as a variety of steam-powered equipment is fired up.
In addition to the steam-up we reserve the Recreation Grove Park across the street for the Early Day Gas Engine Society and Bill Rose’s Model A Tour group to set up under the oaks. Late Saturday afternoon in the park we also hold the annual Roots Appreciation BBQ and raffle which has become legendary among the gourmet BBQ set. The smell of whole pigs roasting on the spit draws a huge crowd for the perfect ending to a wonderful day.
The steam-up is free and open to the public, however there is a charge for the BBQ.
November 29
Sunday
Special Workday - Decorate Engine House
Members and the Public are invited to help us decorate the Engine house for the Holiday Express.
December 5
Saturday
Christmas Holiday Express
A Christmas party features Santa arriving on a steam locomotive. Trees, trains, singing, carollers, and refreshments make this an event for kids of all ages.
Free and open to the public.
2026 Events in which Roots participates but does not organize
March 13 – 15
Friday – Sunday
Redwood Region Logging Conference - Ferndale CA
Roots has provided historic logging equipment for special community events such as the Redwood Region Logging Conference. The conference, an annual event showcasing new and old logging equipment and practices, alternates between Eureka and Ukiah. Roots of Motive Power demonstrates various pieces of historical equipment that document the history of the logging industry. For the RRLC Ukiah shows, up to 10 pieces of machinery from the Roots collection have been on display. On one of the days school children from all over the county are invited to tour the event.
For additional information see the RRLC website.
May 24
Sunday
44th Annual Willits Car and Bike Show
Sunday, May 24th, 2026, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
Located on Main Street in Downtown Willits. This year we’ve extended our event to begin on Main Street at E. Valley Street and wrapping around E. Commercial Street down to Marin Street. This is sure to be our BIGGEST display of beautiful vehicles!
Car enthusiasts, families, friends and community will gather to marvel at a stunning display of an array of vintage, modern, modified, stock, lowriders, kit builds and EV vehicles.
LIVE music by Soul Circus, staged kiddy-corner on S. Main Street & E. Commercial, there will be a variety of delicious cuisines to enjoy thanks to great food vendors, located in the Willits City Parking Lot and let’s not forget Willits own Northspur Brewing Co. serving up their delicious craft beer, an array of great buys on “Vendor Row On The Green” in Bud Snider Park, some special activities and so much more!
Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to experience the nostalgia and beauty of automotive history while spending a fantastic day with family, friends and the great community of Willits!
For more information contact the Willits Chamber of Commerce Monday – Thursday 10AM – 4PM at (707) 459-7910 or email: info@willits.org.
July 4
Saturday
Willits Frontier Day Parade
The annual July 4th celebration in Willits has become one of Roots’ main steam-up events since our first event in 1982 when we operated our newly completed Murray Brothers spool donkey on compressed air. As part of Frontier Days, which is sponsored by the California Cowboys Association, Roots of Motive Power volunteers steam up selected pieces of machinery and give tours of the facility on July 4th only. Also, on the afternoon July 4, a diesel-electric locomotive will pull a train for free rides. Frontier Days is a week long event which includes the July 4th parade and beef barbecue in the park, carnival rides, rodeo, junior rodeo and events at the Mendocino County Museum.
The Roots steam-up is free and open to the public.
September
TBD