Mirfield Show is preparing to welcome thousands of visitors back to Huddersfield Road with a medieval theme, BMX stunt displays, animals, competitions and live music.
The annual agricultural and family show takes place at Mirfield Showground on Sunday August 23, with the gates, stalls and attractions opening at 9am and the main ring programme running until 4.30pm.
This year’s theme is ‘Medieval Mirfield’, with archery, axe throwing, dressing up and even a full suit of armour among the activities.
There will also be hobby horse making followed by a grand parade and younger visitors can meet Princess Merida from Brave.
The show is organised by the not-for-profit Mirfield Agricultural Show Society and relies on a large team of volunteers. It regularly attracts more than 10,000 people and has grown into one of the town’s biggest annual events.
One of the headline attractions will be a BMX stunt show, with two performances in the main ring at 12.15pm and 3.45pm.
The main ring opens with the horse and pony show at 9am before the Air Training Corps marching band at 11.45am and the official welcome at noon.
After the first BMX display, Sutton School of Performing Arts takes over at 1pm, followed by singer and comedian Alex Slater at 1.30pm and Katie Philpott School of Dance at 2.30pm.
The ATC marching band returns at 3pm before the second BMX performance brings the main programme towards its close.
Grange Moor Brass Band will also be playing in the band tent, with performances at 11am, 12.30pm and 2pm.
Around the field visitors will find stilt walkers, Pinxton Puppets, inflatables, Brian’s Balloons, a threshing machine and representatives from organisations including the Royal British Legion, RAF Association, Countryside Police, Holme Valley Mountain Rescue and Andy’s Man Club.
The Crowlees Field children’s area will have soft play, donkey rides, a football shootout and activities from Go Wild Outdoors.
The medieval theme runs through many of those activities. Children will be able to try archery and axe throwing, dress up, make hats and create their own hobby horses.
The finished hobby horses will get their moment in the spotlight in the Hobby Horse Grand Parade at 3.15pm.
There will also be a storybook corner and a meet-and-greet with Princess Merida, while the children’s ring will host traditional games, races, and welly wanging throughout the day.
For all the extra entertainment which has been added over the years, Mirfield Show has kept strong links with its agricultural roots.
The horse and pony section starts early, with registration from 7.30am and the first class promptly at 9am.
Eight classes are scheduled, ranging from horses and ponies judged on condition and Mountain and Moorland entries to veteran, novice rider and ridden classes.
There is also a Bonny Pony and Handsome Horse Grand Parade. Fancy dress is optional for that class but competitors have been encouraged to follow the medieval theme, with extra rosettes available.
Online horse and pony entries remain open until Saturday August 22, while entries can also be made on show day.
Dogs have their own competition too.
Registration for the Fun Dog Show starts at 9.30am with the first class at 10am and the championship scheduled for 3.30pm.
There are 12 classes including best condition, best terrier, waggiest tail, best rescue, most appealing eyes, best puppy, most handsome dog, prettiest bitch, best working dog, child’s best friend and golden oldie.
Entries are taken at the dog ring on Crowlees Field on the day and cost £1 per class. First and second placed dogs from the individual classes can qualify for the championship.
Animal Corner will feature Joe’s Mobile Farm, with organisers listing rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, ducks, a turkey, pony, donkey, goat, sheep, Jersey cow and alpaca among its animals.
The show’s small livestock area is also due to include bees and traditional skep making, Walk on the Wildside and Our Little Home Farm.
The competition marquee remains another important part of the day and there are classes for adults and children.
Flower and vegetable exhibits, domestic entries and children’s entries can be brought in from 7.30am, with entries closing at 9.30am.
The marquee then shuts for judging at 9.45am and reopens to visitors at noon. Scarecrow judging takes place at 11am and prizes are presented at 2pm. Exhibits can be removed from 4pm.
The show’s competition material includes flowers and vegetables, baking and handicrafts, with the full schedule available through the official competition portal.
There is also an incentive for keen competitors. An adult aged 16 or over who enters four or more eligible classes can qualify for their own £4 adult show ticket, which can be claimed once their entries have been dropped off on show weekend.
Live music will run through much of the day, with six performers booked for 40-minute sets.
Courtney Ellis starts the music stage at 10am followed by Jake Ash at 11am and Sienna Craven at noon.
Adam Acoustix performs at 1pm, Brad Mack at 2pm and Birdy closes the stage programme with a set from 3pm until 3.40pm.
Visitors who want a break from the rings and entertainment will find a large spread of stalls across the showground.
The list includes Mirfield organisations, charities, independent traders and animal charities alongside food, drink, crafts and gifts.
Among the organisations due to attend are Mirfield in Bloom, Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice, The Kirkwood, Guide Dogs, Hollybank Trust and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.
The Made in Yorkshire craft tent also returns and the Mirfield Makers Marquee is back after proving popular last year, featuring 12 stalls from the local area.
Accompanied children under 16 get into Mirfield Show free.
Adult tickets bought in advance cost £7.50, with a booking fee applying to online Eventbrite purchases.
Advance sales continue until Saturday August 22 and people with advance tickets will have a priority queue on show day.
Adults paying at the gate will be charged £12 and there are no concessionary prices.
Advance tickets can also be bought locally from Reids of Roberttown, The Pie Shed Mirfield and The Mirfield Emporium.
As usual, there is no public parking at the showground itself.
The main public car park is at St Mary’s Church Fields. It is less than a 15-minute walk from there to the showground but a free park-and-ride service will operate throughout the day.
Buses leave St Mary’s every 20 minutes from 8.20am, following a circular route through Mirfield with stops at the bottom of Lee Green by Greenside, the One Stop, Old Bank outside the Community Centre, near Zion Baptist Church and the bottom of Knowl Road before reaching the showground.
The final outward bus leaves St Mary’s Church Fields at 4pm.
Return buses from Huddersfield Road outside the showground begin at 10.25am and run every 20 minutes, with the final service back to St Mary’s leaving at 5.30pm.
Limited Blue Badge parking will be available at St Mary’s Community Centre and the park-and-ride vehicles are accessible.
Accessible toilets will be available and a small area beside the main ring is reserved for people using mobility aids, subject to space.
The show’s roots stretch back more than 80 years.
The first Mirfield Show was staged in July 1945 in the Memorial Grounds, opposite today’s showground by the Mirfield Agricultural and Horticultural Society.
Horses, cattle, dogs, rabbits, poultry, pigeons, horticulture, farm produce and trade stalls all featured in that first event.
The show grew during the following decades but stopped during the 1980s.
It was revived in 1995, when a new agricultural society set out to create an event which retained its farming connections while becoming a family day for the whole town.
More than three decades after its revival, the mix is still recognisable: horses and dogs, home-grown produce and competitions alongside music, food, local organisations and family entertainment.
Gates open at 9am. Full details, competition schedules, the running order and advance tickets are available at mirfieldshow.com.
