With lots to look forward to in the agricultural and country event calendar this year, we have compiled a list of some of the key dates that you simply cannot miss!
→ National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham
The UK’s largest trade and retail shooting show, the British Shooting Show allows visitors to see a vast range of shotguns, rifles, pistols, air rifles, airsoft, (RIF) and optics as well as an abundance of shooting accessories, countryside organisations, ranges and shooting schools.
→ Willows Activity Farm, St Albans
Dubbed the ‘cutest event of the year, February Frolics includes live lambing with newborn lamb bottle feeding demonstrations and a full day of activities including arts and crafts, indoor play and live shows.
→ Thainstone Agricultural Centre
The first major event in the Scottish farming calendar, Royal Northern Spring Show features over 100 organisations promoting their latest products and services, as well as a show and sale of pedigree bulls by Aberdeen and Northern Marts.
→ Borderway Carlisle
This is the largest Expo event in the UK dairy industry, showcasing the best quality dairy cattle, the latest developments in dairy farming practice, breeding, genetics, machinery, equipment, technology, environmental issues, livestock marketing and export opportunities.
→ Bingley Hall, Staffordshire County Showground
The world’s largest gathering of Shire horses takes place in March each year for a celebration of the breed’s unique history and heritage. Pedigree Shire horses will be put through their paces over three days of competition with the prestigious King George V cup being awarded to the most impressive stallion on Saturday.
→ Royal Bath & West Showground, Somerset
The West of England Game Fair is an important countryside event, great for field sports including shooting, fishing and gun dogs and more. There is also a large array of country food, local producers and a Game Cookery Theatre.
5th April: Countryside Lincs
→ Lincolnshire Showground
Countryside Lincs is an interactive family day out all about food, farming and the countryside. Featuring a farmers market for the adults and lots of activities for the children including meeting farmyard animals and getting hands-on with creative crafts.
→ Euston Estate near Thetford
East Anglian Game & Country Fair features two days of fun events including dog shows, equestrian events, cooking demonstrations, competitions, children's activities, live music and much more.
→ Balmoral Park
The Balmoral Show has many exhilarating attractions over the 4 days of the show including livestock competitions, show jumping, circus workshops, dog handling displays and jiving. There is also a mini farm where children are given the opportunity to hold, stroke and even feed the baby animals.
→ Westpoint, Exeter
The Devon County Show is one of the South West’s premier agricultural shows which attracts top livestock exhibitors from the region and beyond. Every day there's a packed programme of entertainment in the Main Arena as well as the biggest Food Fair in Devon.
→ Stoke Park, Guildford
The show brings together hundreds of animals, food and drink, top class entertainment, exquisite rural crafts and competition to provide an unmissable day out with something for every member of the family.
→ Whitecross, Wadebridge
It’s the county’s biggest annual event and is brim-full of exhibits and activities which offer so much in the way of entertainment, competition, information, shopping and all that’s best in food and farming.
→ East Park, Brisco
The Cumberland Show combines tradition and agriculture with a fresh, modern focus to create a real celebration of farming, food and countryside. There is a range of livestock classes, heavy & light horses; poultry classes; and vintage vehicle classes along with many other activities.
→ Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh
The Royal Highland Show is one of Scotland's most iconic events, showcasing the very best of farming food and rural life. A great day out for everyone of all ages, get up close to the country's top quality livestock, taste exceptional food & drink and experience rural living at its most vibrant.
→ Norfolk Showground
With 700 trade stands, over 3000 animals, a packed Grand Ring Programme, Norfolk’s biggest food and drink experience and hundreds of attractions there’s something for everyone.
→ Salesbury Hall in Ribchester
The Royal Lancashire Agricultural Show is packed full to the brim with showjumping, livestock displays, incredible falconry shows, a children’s village and so much more.
→ Kent Event Centre
The Kent County Show is a showcase event for farming, countryside and rural life. The three day event brings together the very best of Kent with animals and food, fun and excitement and above all a sense of what ’The Garden of England’ has to offer.
→ The Showground, Watton, Brecon
This show is based around the Cattle, Sheep, Horse & Pony, Goat classes and a Poultry Show, which attract exhibitors from all over the Country. The show also hosts a major shearing competition.
→ The Whitfield Estate
Featuring the usual country fair favourites: terrier racing, working gun dogs, inter hunt relay, scurry racing, clay shooting, fly fishing and a parade of foxhounds. The fair offers a great shopping experience with over a 100 trade stands, a shopping and craft marquee and food hall.
→ The Whitfield Estate
Two main arenas are at the very heart of the Cheshire Country Show. First class entertainment is provided by some of the countryside’s top names and organisations in the UK. This includes live music, historical re-enactment, field sports, falconry and much more.
→ Chatsworth House
Featuring spectacular grand ring displays in the air and on land, demos from celebrity chefs plus entertainment for all the family. Held in the Chatsworth Park in the heart of the Peak District in Derbyshire, it attracts visitors from all over the country for a family fun day out.
→ Three Counties Showground, Malvern
Expert gardeners battle it out to see who can grow the heaviest or longest veg and be crowned the ultimate vegetable growing champion at the CANNA UK National Giant Vegetables Championship. With dog agility and floral displays, there is something for everyone.
→ South of England Showground, Ardingly, West Sussex
The Autumn Show & Game Fair features a plethora of ‘have a go’ countryside sports, displays and activities, and mouth-watering food and drink stalls – all designed to celebrate the joys of agriculture, countryside pursuits and 2020’s harvest.
→ Great Yorkshire Showground
Countryside Live allows visitors the opportunity to get up close to animals, learn about the countryside in an entertaining and interactive way and of course lots of shopping.
→ King's Hall School, Kingston Road, Taunton
A large, annual Christmas craft and lifestyle market held just outside Taunton. The show offers specialist crafts and artisan food from the South West. With more than 130 stands, including craft demonstrations, handmade Christmas gifts and children's entertainment.
→ Llanelwedd Showground
The Royal Welsh Winter Fair features hundreds of competitions held through the two days, plenty of trade stands as well as a delicious food hall so there is plenty to see and do at the Winter Fair.
→ Eikon Exhibition Centre, Balmoral Park, Lisburn
The Royal Ulster Winter Fair is the meeting place for the dairy industry in Ireland, where top class cattle compete for the title of Supreme Champion and trade stands display innovation and industry advances.
→ Hammersmith, West London
Olympia is the only UK Show to host all three FEI World Cup Qualifiers in Dressage, Show Jumping and Driving. Each performance includes an equestrian competition along with a variety of displays from around the World.
We hope you find this list of the 2020 UK Country Shows & County Fairs useful. For more content from us here at Waterman's Outdoor & Country Supplies, check out our other blog posts which can be found here.
