Posted on 6th Feb
A VE Day parade celebrating how the county helped keep wartime Britain from going hungry in the 1940s is among attractions being lined up as part of this year’s Nottinghamshire County Show.
The event will take place on 10th May, when thousands of people, hundreds of animals, and dozens of traders will again descend on Newark Showground for the biggest day in the county’s farming calendar.
There will be familiar favourites, including livestock competitions; food and drink stands; the Make, Bake and Grow section; Nottinghamshire Young Farmers’ lawnmower race; equestrian events; and music.
A new act will make its debut in the main ring, the Squibb Freestyle motorcycle stunt show.
This year’s event is the 140th County Show, which began life as the Newark Show in 1868, when a group of local farmers got together to meet up and show off their livestock. It has taken place ever since, apart from when life was affected by disruptions such as the world wars and the pandemic.
History will also be in the air when organisers mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, when the country received word that the second world war was over, in May 1945.
The parade will celebrate Nottinghamshire agriculture’s contribution to the war effort, which saw its fields tended by Land Girls — the hundreds of women who volunteered to take on jobs left behind when men went off to war.
Elsewhere, there will be a dog show; a farmyard and friends section featuring miniature donkeys and animals from White Post Farm, Farnsfield; countryside games; and a community zone a hub of activities showcasing county organisations, performers, bands, and musicians.
Nottinghamshire County Show is organised by the Newark and Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society, a registered agricultural charity, which uses the show to promote the contribution the sector makes to society.
Show organiser Elizabeth Halsall said: “This year we wanted to celebrate the fact that this is our 140th show and mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, so we have planned events for both.
“The show will have changed a lot since 1868, but one thing has never changed — the importance of the farming community to our way of life, which is why we go to such great lengths to celebrate it every year.
“It takes a year’s work to put the show together and we’re really pleased with what we’ve got in store for 2025. From the events in the main ring to the livestock competitions, the food and drink, and the VE Day celebrations, there is plenty organised to give our visitors a full day out.”
Tickets are available at a discounted rate of £14 until 2nd May. For more information or to find out how to become a member of the society and enjoy exclusive access, go to www.nottinghamshirecountyshow.com
