Ed
29 August 2018
Conjure up visions of Yorkshire and a bagatelle of benign farm animals may well spring into your mind’s eye. Rolling green farmland with grazing cattle is almost as emblematic of the region as ferret breeding and Yorkshire pudding, so how better to summarise the best of rural life than a massive celebration to praise the best of the best and to inspire and educate future generations in the ways and mores of life in the county? Introducing the Great Yorkshire Show.
Introducing the Great Yorkshire Show.
The Great Yorkshire Show has been a national highlight on the event calendar since it began way back in 1838. Nowadays, it is showcased at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate during the second week of July every year. As of 2018, the exhibition is 160 years old, and is showing no signs of dying out with attendance records surpassing 135,000 visitors. All walks of Yorkshire life are represented at the fair and even though the show has a predominantly rural theme, other elements such as cookery, art and fashion have been included so that other facets of Yorkshire life are represented.
Arguably, the Great Yorkshire Show is England's premier agricultural event with highlights that centre around animal performance, best in show fancying, celebrity chef demonstrations, competitions and a mountain of family activities and displays for children and adults to enjoy. Lose yourself among the shopping stands and discover some of the bargains and offers too.
In 2018, specific events have included: appearances by TV chef Rosemary Shrager who led cookery demonstrations and classes; live music from local bands; and the unveiling of the Craven Heifer, a Grand Cattle Parade; acrobatic displays from celebrity horse riding lothario Lorenzo and a giant sculpture to celebrate 160 years of the Great Yorkshire Show.
Demonstrations and displays include:
Decoying woodpigeons, gundog demonstrations, ferrets, fly-casting demonstrations, hound workouts, falconry displays, wildfowlers’ talks and British Deer Society demonstrations are amongst the vast number of activities to witness and get involved in.
Don’t forget to follow some of the equine displays where guests can see many different breeds of horse, interesting shows of riding prowess and technique, and livestock shows like The Grand Cattle Show with judging categories and demonstrations. Pig, goat and sheep rings are great for seeing some live and interactive events such as milking competitions and more.
For budding cookery fans, there are some great culinary demonstrations using the best in Yorkshire produce. Learn some previously well-guarded cooking secrets from the highly respected Yorkshire cookery fanbase. A busy programme of food-centric events takes place in the on-site Great Yorkshire Food Theatre. For gourmets and gastronomes head to the cheese shows where you’ll find interactive auctions and classes.
Other events include a fashion show, an art show, and competitions to find the best hives and honey, sheep shearers, flower arrangers, farriers, and ironworkers. Of course, there are many more classes, demonstrations and competitions added to the programme year-on-year to keep visitors on their toes, so be sure to visit the Great Yorkshire Show website for a full programme of events.
We have some lovely cottages throughout Harrogate and its outlying area. Many are perfect for families and couples wishing to attend the Great Yorkshire Show, so if you are planning to attend why not take a look at our collection of exciting properties?
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.