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The Best Northumberland Country Shows to Visit This Summer
- Claire
- Jul 15
- 4 min read
Northumberland's country shows are some of the county's best-kept secrets, offering visitors a chance to experience rural life at its most authentic.
When people visit Northumberland, they often head straight for the big names: Bamburgh Castle, Alnwick Castle, Holy Island or Hadrian's Wall. And they're all outstanding places to visit. But if you really want to experience Northumberland, I'd encourage you to spend a day at one of our local country shows.
Summer shows, fairs and fêtes bring communities together to showcase the very best of rural life. Farmers, horse riders, bakers, crafters, musicians, gardeners and creative people, from poets to woodworkers, come together to compete, judge, volunteer or sell their wares. There are competitions, live music, dog shows, children's races and the occasional wonderfully eccentric tradition that has been part of the community for generations.
If you're visiting from overseas, this is the Britain you won't see in guidebooks. It's one of the best ways to experience the real Northumberland, beyond the castles and coast. Go to Scotland for the Highland Games. Come to Northumberland for a country show.
They're also a fantastic way to support local communities. Your entry ticket helps village organisations, charities and rural enterprises. Every cup of tea, slice of cake and handcrafted gift supports local businesses.
So, if you're planning a summer holiday in Northumberland, swap one day of sightseeing for a local show. You'll leave with an authentic taste of rural Northumberland, a bag full of locally made treasures and, quite possibly, a new appreciation for sheepdogs and homemade cake.
Northumberland country shows to visit this summer
25 July – Allendale Agricultural Show
1 August – Powburn Show
2 August – Gilsland Agricultural and Equestrian Show
8 August – Slaley Show
22 August – Falstone Show
29 August – Bellingham Show & Country Festival
29 August – Glendale Show, Wooler
31 August – Blanchland & Hunstanworth Show
Claire will be heading to Bellingham Show & Country Festival this year to tackle the 4-mile fell race, complete with a 600-foot climb onto the fell. The reward? Local brews and cake. (Most likely cakes, plural.)
Food, shopping and plenty of surprises
Food is a big part of any Northumberland county show. Alongside the classic burger van, you'll usually find local cheeses, artisan bread, homemade pies, Northumberland honey, ice cream and, almost always, a beer tent serving local ales.
The trade stands are another favourite. You might arrive intending to buy nothing and leave with a handcrafted chopping board, alpaca-wool gloves, three jars of chutney and a packet of all-natural dog treats.
The heart of any show is the demonstrations and competitions. Watch sheepdogs working in perfect partnership with their handlers, vintage tractors parked alongside classic cars and children throwing themselves into everything from egg-and-spoon races to tug-of-war. Just when you think you've seen it all, someone announces the fancy dress animal competition or Cumberland wrestling starts in the main ring.
What you'll find at a Northumberland country show
No two shows are exactly the same, but here's a flavour of what you can expect if you spend a day at a Northumberland country show, village fair or fête.
The country show classics
These are the sights and sounds you'll find at most agricultural shows across Britain:
Horse and pony showing
Heavy horse displays
Sheep, cattle and livestock competitions
Sheepdog demonstrations
Companion dog and gun dog shows
Home baking, crafts, photography, flowers, vegetables and local produce (expect enormous onions and wonderfully wonky vegetables)
Fell races
Vintage tractors and machinery
Live music
Tea tents serving homemade cakes
Beer tents pouring local ales
The wonderfully Northumbrian traditions
These are the uniquely local experiences:
Northumbrian Piping: Hear the distinctive sound of the Northumbrian smallpipes, an instrument found almost nowhere else in the world.
Cumberland & Westmorland Wrestling: One of Britain's oldest traditional sports. Originating in Cumbria, this unique style of wrestling has been part of rural life for centuries and remains a popular attraction at Northumberland country shows.
Quoits: Think of it as Britain's answer to horseshoes. Players throw heavy metal rings at a steel pin, and the game is still played competitively across Northumberland.
Dressed Walking Sticks: Beautiful handcrafted walking sticks. Judged not for how far they can walk but for the craftsmanship, carving and creativity that goes into making them.
Hadrian's Wall Conservation: Some shows even feature demonstrations showing how specialists safely remove moss from Hadrian's Wall to help conserve this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The delightfully eccentric
Every show has something you weren't expecting:
Animal fancy dress
Welly wanging
Hay bale tossing
Quad bike stunt shows
Terrier racing
Wonky vegetables
Pawrades (pet parades)
A few tips before you go
Wear comfortable shoes. Most shows are held in fields, so expect uneven ground. If the weather is particularly British, boots, wellies or shoes you don't mind getting clarted up with mud are a must.
Bring a tote bag. You'll almost certainly buy more than you planned.
Carry a little cash. Most traders take cards, but phone signal can be patchy in rural Northumberland.
Arrive hungry. Between the tea tent, burger vans, local produce and homemade baking, you'll want plenty of room.
Stay for the main ring. Even if you don't know a Suffolk from a Shetland, you'll soon be cheering on sheepdogs, admiring the heavy horses and wondering why you've become so emotionally invested in a dog wearing a superhero cape.
If you want to experience Northumberland like a local, don't just visit the landmarks. Spend a day at one of our country shows. You'll come away with muddy shoes, a full stomach, a few unexpected purchases and memories that no guidebook could have planned. Don't worry if you've never set foot on a farm or couldn't tell a Texel from a Suffolk. Nobody expects you to know the difference. Just wander, watch, chat to people and enjoy the day. Northumbrians are always happy to explain what you're looking at.
If you're exploring Hadrian's Wall while you're here, take a look at our guided walks or self-guided holidays to help you experience even more of Northumberland.
City people. They may know how to street fight but they don't know how to wade through manure. ― Melina Marchetta
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