We’re proud once again to be working with the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show team to produce the official pre-show magazine – your essential guide to the G&S Show, it contains everything happening across the two jam-packed days at North Dorset’s Turnpike Showground this August.
There are knights to cheer for, tractors to climb on, artisan treats to sample, dogs to ‘race’ (expect bedlam) … And when the show day winds down on Wednesday? The party kicks off – with live music and great food to keep the summer evening going. From main ring drama (yes, there will be flying lances and flying motorbikes) to ferret racing chaos, the brilliant Dog & Sheep Show, have-a-go crafts, milking demos and the all-important livestock lines, this year’s show promises more to see, do and taste than ever.
We’ve picked out 30 things you can do on the day – all included in the price of your ticket. That means for just £19, there’s an entire day’s worth of entertainment, activities and hands-on countryside experiences to enjoy, as well as over 500 stalls and producers to browse. (Top tip: screenshot the showground map and timetable inside so you’ve got it handy on the day.)
This year’s Show President is a familiar face: Minette Batters, former NFU President, shares her reflections on farming, food, and why she still makes time to walk the cattle lines at every show.
Elsewhere in the magazine, you’ll meet some of the incredible craftspeople bringing traditional rural skills to life – from stone carvers and signwriters to stick makers and thatchers. It’s a show built on passion, heritage and the kind of proper countryside magic you only get at G&S.
