Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Show will go on in form of Covid-secure festival
ORGANISERS of the Royal Bath & West Show have unveiled plans for a refined and Covidsecure version of the traditional Somerset showcase.
The Bath & West Country Festival is due to take place from August 27-29 at the Bath & West Showground near Shepton Mallet, having recently been postponed from June 3-5.
While the usual equine and livestock showing classes look set to be omitted from the schedule, the three-day event will still feature a plethora of activities, demonstrations and entertainment; including interactive experiences in the Farming for the Family section, fast-paced displays in the main ring and a much-enhanced food hall experience.
In a statement published this week, Rupert Cox, chief executive of the Royal Bath & West Society, said delaying the Country Festival will allow the “greatest opportunity” for the Society to host a “safe and holistic event” that the whole family can enjoy, without the “threat of coronavirus hanging over them”.
While the Society is “delighted” to be involved with the rollout of Covid19 vaccinations, Mr Cox added it was “clear that life is unlikely to be back to any semblance of normality until well into the summer”, making it a challenge to host mass public gatherings safely and securely until later in the year.
He continued: “While we had hoped to run our iconic event on our usual dates in early June, it has become apparent that even though a large percentage of the population will have been vaccinated, it is felt that the potential for continued safety
restrictions will limit our visitors enjoyment.
“While our new Country Festival will feel different to the usual Royal Bath & West Show, we know that the entertainment and diverse interests being promoted will provide a great day out for all the family, in a Covid19 secure environment.”
The Country Festival will include a strong focus on cider and honey exhibitions, with competitions still being a highlight for many visitors, as well as an array of musical acts and performers around the main lawn and Woodland & Countryside Conservation area.
The Royal Bath & West Society also plans to host four other shows in 2021, catering for specific target markets. Agricultural trade show, Grassland UK, is booked to take place on Thursday, May 6, followed by the Bath & West Equine Showing Show on May 21-22, which will run
behind closed doors and include qualifiers for the prestigious Horse of the Year Show.
Plans are also being put in place to host a livestock-showing event behind closed doors later in the summer, featuring all of the competitive classes that would have normally been held at the Royal Bath & West Show.
The Society’s events season will conclude with the 40th Dairy Show on Wednesday, October 6, bringing together farmers and professionals from over the UK to explore new technologies within the dairy sector.
Mr Cox said: “We are excited to host three specialist shows throughout the summer and autumn for our farming community as we recognise that even in difficult times, the agricultural sector is the core of our charitable objectives.”
For further details, please visit the website