Air date: October 31, 2003 (UK), July 20, 2004 (US)
Harold the Helicopter is glad that he isn't a steam engine, as he prefers flying in the sky to racing along the road or rails.
One summer morning, the engines prepare for The Vicar's annual fête. Harold wishes he could go to the fête, but he has to patrol the island. His job is to look for engines in need of help. As he does so, the engines travel across the island with their loads for the fête. Percy arrives at Maithwaite Station with furniture and decorations for the fête, as well as reminders. When he tells the people at Maithwaite to come to the fête, Harold overhears. He thanks Percy for the invitation but tells him he's too busy to attend.
When Harold lands at his airfield to refuel, he sees Pegasus, the cart horse who lives in a field nearby. Pegasus is getting ready to give children rides at the fête and is dressed in a shiny leather harness attached to a freshly painted cart. Harold becomes envious of Pegasus and wishes more than ever before that he could go to the fête. Thomas arrives with Annie and Clarabel, who are full of passengers. When Harold sees him, he asks him where he's going. Thomas tells him he's going to the Vicar's fête, as that's where everyone's going. Harold tells him that he's the only one who isn't going, as he's busy with his island patrol. Thomas tells Harold that he understands, as being a rescue helicopter is a very important job. As Thomas leaves, Harold tells him that nobody needs to be rescued today.
When Harold continues his patrol of the island, his pilot gets an urgent call from the Fat Controller. At Dryaw Station, the Fat Controller tells Harold that Pegasus is stuck in a ditch and that the children will be disappointed if he doesn't get to the fête. He orders Harold to rescue Pegasus at once. Harold tells the Fat Controller that he's ready for action, and flies away to rescue Pegasus. Nearby, Percy says that Pegasus is a funny name for a horse, so the Fat Controller tells him that Pegasus is the name of a flying horse in a very old story. Percy tells the Fat Controller that horses can't fly, and then he leaves for the fête.
Meanwhile, Harold flies up to the ditch where Pegasus fell. Thomas is nearby, with Pegasus' cart on a flatbed. Harold asks Thomas what happened, and Thomas tells him that as he and his crew were loading the cart, Pegasus wandered into a ditch and now he's stuck in it. Thomas tells Harold that if he can take Pegasus to the fête, he will take the cart. Harold tells Thomas that he'll put Pegasus into his sling, and Thomas tells him to hurry, as the fête could start at any minute. Thomas rushes off to the fête as Harold's pilot loads Pegasus into Harold's sling. Harold gently lifts Pegasus out of the ditch and carries him across the fields.
When Percy sees Pegasus flying through the sky, he is amazed. He believes that horses can fly after all. The children cheer for Harold as he carries Pegasus to the fête. When they arrive, Pegasus is hitched up to the cart and the fête begins. The fête is a big success, and the children have a wonderful time. Harold himself is the happiest of all because he stayed on duty and got to have fun at the fête with his friends.
This episode provides examples of:
- Earn Your Happy Ending: Harold wishes he could go to The Vicar's fête like his friends, but he has to patrol the island, and nobody seems to need his help at first. When Pegasus wanders into a ditch, he needs to be saved. Harold saves him and takes him to the fête, and as a result, he gets to go to the fête after all, where he is praised as a hero.
- Help, I'm Stuck!: When Pegasus wanders into a ditch, he gets stuck in it and needs to be rescued by Harold.
- Stock Footage:
- Footage of Harold flying next to the viaduct as Duke crosses it from "Trucks" is used near the beginning of this episode.
- When Harold tells the engines that he's busy patrolling the island and can't make it to the fête, footage of him flying over Donald at the fishing village from "Make Someone Happy" is used.
- When Harold tells Percy that he's too busy to attend the fête, a mirrored scene of him from "Thomas and the Rumors" is used.
- This episode ends with Harold flying through the sky as the sun sets with another scene from "Thomas and the Rumors".
