Frankton Thunder 2025: Motorbikes, wrestling, and steam engines to hit Hamilton

The 2025 Frankton Thunder event kicks off on March 9 in and around Commerce St, Hamilton. Photo / Geoff Lewis

Hamilton’s automotive and community festival Frankton Thunder is heading into 2025 with new additions to the programme on top of its already well-loved annual features.

The event will be back in and around Commerce St, on March 9, from 9am to 3.30pm.

Organising committee chairman Ken McGeady said festival organisers were looking forward to a record number of cars, motorcycles, and military and vintage machinery – as well as those who just like a “rollicking good time”.

“We have interest from a number of Auckland car clubs along with steam train experiences offered by the Glenbrook Vintage Rail which links into Frankton’s past as a historic rail junction.”

The festival also caters to the general community including Steampunk, military re-enactors, the Thunder-Ink tattoo competition, Miss Frankton Thunder competition, Photorama competition, market stalls, food and entertainment.

Glenbrook Vintage Rail is planning two days of steam train excursions running from Frankton Rail Station. Photo / Geoff Lewis

Like last year, Glenbrook Vintage Rail is planning steam excursions running from Frankton Rail Station. Four seats on the Sunday trips can be won through Trade Me. Proceeds will be donated to support the work of the St Vincent de Paul Society.

A new feature for 2025 is the Frankton Thunder Wrestling Tournament which will start at noon on the Mico site in Lake Rd at the same time as the Photorama Competition.

The tournament was designed not only to be a challenge of physical strength but as a “great form of public entertainment”, McGeady said.

One of the festival’s traditional features is the Cruise-in which will leave from the Cambridge Raceway at 9.30am and allows participants to choose their own route into Frankton.

“This will fill the streets with a flood of automotive colour and commotion about 30 minutes later.

“The Frankton Thunder organising committee works hard all year to bring together this truly entertaining automotive and community festival for the people of Hamilton, the Waikato and beyond.”

Military and vintage machinery will be part of Frankton Thunder, 2025. Photo / Geoff Lewis