THE SMALLHOLDING and Countryside Festival, a popular family event, is being held at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells on the weekend of May 20-21.
A celebration of rural life and country living with smallholding pursuits at its heart, the festival showcases the diversity of the Welsh countryside. Visitors can expect an array of display ring attractions, competitions, children’s activities, shopping trade stands, live music and delicious food and drink.
The Smallholders Centre will be the main port of call for those wanting to learn more about the smallholder’s way of life. It’s an ideal place to stock up on the essentials from the agricultural and smallholding themed trade stands.
A variety of activities will be held in the Country Life Area, including the Premier Open Dog Show (Crufts 2024 qualifier), The Woodville Medieval Reenactment Camp, BASC Gun Dogs Demonstrations and British Army Health and Fitness.
Forestry competitions, sporting and countryside activities, all accompanied by live music from the bandstand, complete the programme.
Those looking for family fun can get involved in the biking activities and tackle an obstacle course. Children can give cycling a go, with helmets and bikes provided.
Also featured in the Country Life Area, The Panic Family Circus returns to entertain with circus skills, workshops and traditional puppet shows. For animal interactions, Pentre Pop-Up Farm will have a variety of small farm animals and a Forest School discovery area will offer craft and sensory activities.
The display ring will be jam-packed with displays, including three times world champion Steve Colley’s Motorbike Stunt Show. The Little Nippers Lurcher and Terrier Show, Gentle Giants Shire Horses, Hackney Horse and Pony Driving display, the M.A.D Team Mountain Bike Aerial Display and show jumping and working hunter competitions also feature over the weekend.
For dog lovers, The Welsh Premier Open Dog Show is held all weekend with the opportunity to see thousands of dogs competing for a chance to qualify for Crufts 2024.
Visitors are welcome to bring their own dogs along to the festival and the RWAS feature county of Glamorgan will be hosting a novelty Fun Dog Show in the Country Life Area.
For garden and plant enthusiasts, Farming Connect Horticulture will be taking over the Members Centre with a Growers Market. Experienced growers, representing a cross-section of the horticulture industry, will share their knowledge and expertise and showcase their products.
The Meirionnydd Shearing Centre will become the Wool Zone, an area to promote the versatility and wonderful creations which can be made from wool, with demonstrations and wool-related trade stands. Wool handling competitions will be held as well as blade shearing, which is new for this year’s event.
The festival will feature a vintage and classic theme throughout, including the Welsh Festival of Land Rovers 75th Anniversary Display, a vintage tearoom in the Country Life Area, vintage cars and bikes, Glamorgan Tractors, a vintage dairy demonstration and the Meirionnydd Vintage Shearing Display.
It wouldn’t be a Royal Welsh event without showcasing the best food and drink produce that Wales has to offer. Visitors can sample delicious goods in the renowned Food Hall or grab a tasty bite at one of the food stalls dotted around the showground and Street Food Area.
Tickets for the festival are available on the RWAS website – www.rwas.wales. Earlybird online tickets are £18 for adults, £5 for children, or £40 for a family.
