Eleven must-do activities at this year’s Royal Welsh Show

The Royal Welsh Show is renowned for its livestock competitions, but there’s a lot more to enjoy around the showground.

The pinnacle event in the British agricultural calendar, the Royal Welsh Show takes place at the showground in Llanelwedd, Builth Wells from July 22-25.

The show attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the heart of Mid Wales to celebrate the very best of Welsh and British agriculture. The action-packed four-day event features exciting competitions, livestock, horticulture, forestry, crafts, countryside sports, shopping, food and drink, a 12-hour programme of non-stop entertainment, attractions, displays and much more.

Here are 11 fun things you can get up to at this year’s show:

1. Check out the brand new Horticulture Village, celebrating all aspects of horticulture in Wales, including talks and demonstrations, VIP guests, competitions, micro beds, a sensory garden, live music and food court.
2. Watch the opening ceremony on Monday morning. This year’s show will be officially opened by Charles Arch, a well-known voice who started commentating back in 1980.
3. Cool down with an ice cream – pop along to Minoli’s of Machen under the Grandstand who are celebrating 30 years of trading at the show!
4. Watch the Farmers Weekly Britain’s Fittest Farmer qualifying heats competition in the Sports Village on Thursday, where farmers face a series of tough physical challenges designed to test speed, strength and stamina.
5. Shop around the stalls – pick up all sorts of unique and interesting souvenirs and gifts from the hundreds of trade stands.
6. Enjoy a well-deserved rest and bite to eat in the Welsh Food Village, Gwledd | Feast.
7. Experience the buzz of the Meirionnydd Shearing Centre on Wednesday afternoon for the senior championships.
8. Watch the pole climbing competition – new poles have been sourced from the nearby Doldowlod Estate to re-introduce the much-loved pole climbing competition. Weighing five tons each and standing 90 feet long, the poles are made from trees planted more than 60 years ago.
9. Watch the Grand Parade – take in the atmosphere of the Main Ring as winning livestock and horses come together on Wednesday and Thursday afternoon.
10. Sample the delicious goods from around Wales in the renowned Food Hall – from savoury delights to sweet treats.
11. Catch the Main Ring entertainment from 8am-8pm everyday – including the JCB Dancing Diggers, a Heavy Horse musical display, the RAF Falcons, the Regimental Band of the Royal Welsh and Meirion Owen and his sheepdogs. To mark the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society’s 120th anniversary and celebrate the feature county of Ceredigion, a Celebration of Welsh Agriculture Display will include a larger than life-size puppet of a Ceredigion farmer with animals, performers and singers. A unique display, not to be missed.