The Smallholding & Countryside Festival returns to the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells, Mid Wales, this coming Spring.
Taking place on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st May 2023, the Festival is a celebration of rural life and country living with smallholding pursuits at its heart. The weekend-long event is a showcase of the real diversity of the Welsh countryside and a fantastic day out for families, garden enthusiasts and anyone with an interest in the great outdoors.
With a full packed programme of livestock and equine competitions, displays, demonstrations, tradestands, live music and activities, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
All of the usual attractions and areas will once again be found at the event. The Smallholders Centre will continue to be the main port of call for those wanting to learn more about the smallholder’s way of life. The area, located in the South Glamorgan Hall, will be the ideal place to stock up on the essentials from the agricultural and smallholding themed tradestands – whether you need a new bucket or perhaps a piece of machinery, you’ll be sure to find what you need at The Smallholders Centre.
A variety of activities will be held in the Country Life Area, including the Premier Open Dog Show (Crufts 2024 Qualifier), Panic Family Circus, Pentre Pop Up Farm, The Woodville Medieval Re-enactment Group, Donkey Encounter, forestry competitions, sporting and countryside activities, all accompanied by live music from the bandstand.
The Display Ring will be jam-packed with displays for your entertainment, featuring Show Jumping and Working Hunter competitions, The Steve Colley Motorbike Stunt Show, The Little Nippers Lurcher and Terrier Show, Hackney Horse and Pony Driving Display, and the M.A.D Team Mountain Bike Aerial Display.
Visitors to this year’s Festival can find a variety of interesting tradestands, including a tourism section. Farmers and smallholders who wish to diversify can look around at the manufacturers of glamping pods and shepherd’s huts and speak with planning consultants. For the green-fingered, plants, gardening tools, furniture, and ornaments will be available for purchase at the many gardening and horticulture stalls. We will have representatives from various farm animal breed societies at the Festival, where you can ask experts questions about the different breeds.
The event will feature a vintage and classic theme throughout, including the Welsh Festival of Land Rovers 75th Anniversary Display, 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! Sample the delicious goods in the renowned Food Hall or grab a tasty bite at one of our many food stalls.
Fancy competing? Entries for livestock and equine competitions are now open and competitors can view the schedules and enter online at our website. Entries close at 11.59pm on Monday 3rd April.
With over 600 livestock classes and special awards for sheep, pigs, goats and cattle, many of which are for traditional, rare and native breeds, there is an opportunity for everyone to get involved.
We are delighted to announce the exciting news that this year’s Festival will host Rising Star qualifiers for the 2023 London International Horse Show. We are also launching brand new Home-Produced classes within the equine section with the support of the Welsh Pony & Cob Society (WPCS).
For the dog lovers amongst you, The Welsh Premier Open Dog Show is held at the Festival all weekend with the opportunity to see thousands of dogs competing for a chance to qualify for Crufts 2024.
Go to our website to view all of the competition schedules, including Wool Handling and Blade Shearing.
For those of you across the border, we’re just a hop, skip, and a jump away! The Royal Welsh Showground is easily accessible from all routes and is located where the A470 and A483 cross at Builth Wells.
Tickets for the Smallholding and Countryside Festival are available on the RWAS website. Earlybird online tickets are £18 for adults, £5 for children or you can purchase a family ticket. Discounted tickets are available for RWAS members. Visit rwas.wales / cafc.cymru for more information about the Festival or to buy tickets.
