Roll up, roll up – the UK’s largest two-day agricultural show and Norfolk’s blockbuster business and social event is bigger and better than ever! Read on to discover the most highly-anticipated events at this year’s show.
Welcoming more than 85,000 visitors every year, the Royal Norfolk Show has firmly established itself as East Anglia’s major social event of the summer, with families, friends and businesses gathering together to celebrate food, farming and the countryside. Over the two show days, there will be more than 24 hours of electrifying action in the prestigious Grand Ring, featuring exhilarating displays, music and performance.
GRAND SING WITH GARETH MALONE
Join Norfolk Music Hub and 3,000 young people from across the county as they come together for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform as part of a very special vocal celebration like no other!
Taking place at 12.20pm on Wednesday, June 28, the Grand Sing will be led by choirmaster and broadcaster Gareth Malone, who has helped galvanise the British choral scene through his award-winning BBC series, concert tours and recordings. In 2012, Gareth was given an OBE in the Queen’s birthday honours for services to music and his latest high-profile project saw him working with the Coronation Choir for Sing for the King on BBC One.
In partnership with Charanga and Big Sky Creative, this unique event will give young people from all corners of the county the chance to come together in song for an epic celebration. A specially selected programme has been put together, including ‘Flourish Song – We Are Norfolk’, which has been composed by our young people themselves and will be premiered in its entirety in the Grand Ring.
COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS TRIBUTE
In recognition of His Majesty the King’s wish to promote community cohesion and the spirit of volunteering, our local community champions will come together for a special event on the evening of Wednesday, June 28.
The tribute, organised in partnership with the Norfolk Lieutenancy and the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association (RNAA), will gather individuals from a range of community-based organisations, volunteering groups and recipients of local award schemes such as Eastern Daily Press Stars of Norfolk & Waveney and the BBC Make A Difference Awards. Expect to see members of the Scouts, Girl Guides, Cadet Forces, Sea Scouts, local charities and many others.
Proudly decorated in the colours of their uniforms, flags and banners, our community champions will be addressed by HM Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk, The Lady Dannatt MBE. The aim of the tribute is to say thank you to those who do so much for our communities and to acknowledge their work at the county’s biggest event of the year.
Managing director of the RNAA Mark Nicholas says: “The Royal Norfolk Show has a long history of honouring and recognising achievement and this year we are particularly delighted to promote Norfolk’s champions who do so much for our communities.”
Don’t miss the Community Champions Tribute in the Grand Ring at 7.15pm on Wednesday!
BUCKET BEATS XL – RECORD BREAKING ATTEMPT
Thousands of young people from across Norfolk are looking to make world history by joining together in the Grand Ring for Bucket Beats XL! The RNAA and Norfolk Music Hub are looking to break the current record for the largest percussion ensemble using recyclable materials.
The performance at 1.05pm on Thursday, June 29, will incorporate a specially commissioned buckets and junk percussion piece by Tim Brain from Louder Than Life Ltd, with all instruments designed and created by the young people involved. The performance is inspired by the incredible response to the original Bucket Beats project that was run digitally during the pandemic, reaching thousands of pupils across the county as part of Make Music Day.
Managing director of Louder than Life Ltd Tim Brain says: “This is a really exciting project and to be showcased at such a prestigious event as part of the Royal Norfolk Show is an incredible opportunity for young people across Norfolk to share the power of music and work together towards a common goal through the record attempt.”
SHETLAND PONY DERBY
A high-speed dash, a blur of coloured silks, flying manes and tails and the roar of the crowd – all the excitement of a day at the races condensed down to Shetland pony size! Blink and you’ll miss them, these pint-sized ponies and jockeys are fiercely competitive as they gallop over miniature steeplechase fences, just like their larger counterparts in the Grand National.
RETRAINING OF RACEHORSES CHAMPIONSHIP
Celebrating the versatility of our former racehorses, this championship will bring together the finest selection of ex-racehorses demonstrating their new lives as show horses, following a successful career.
COACHING CLASSES
Stepping back in time, coaching is a display of our rich and elegant history with the horse. Teams of four horses pull large carriages and will be judged on their performance and appearance.
BOLDDOG LINGS MOTORCYCLE DISPLAY TEAM
The UK’s number one motorcycle display team base their show around the world’s largest and most sophisticated mobile landing system and at times ‘flying’ 35ft above the ground!
The show features the UK’s top-ranked freestyle motocross riders, incorporating the latest heart-stopping tricks usually only seen on TV. The team set the standard 12 years ago and now continues to push the boundaries of FMX and lead the way for all motorcycle display teams.
RAF FALCONS
The UK’s premier military parachute display team from RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire will jump from up to 12,000ft into the Grand Ring to perform a freefall display at speeds of up to 120mph. Don’t miss this high-octane adventure!
EMERGENCY SERVICES AND MILITARY VILLAGES
Head over to the Emergency Services Village and the Military Village to meet our community heroes! Find out more about the adventures of policemen, firemen and military personnel, as well as the skills they use to save lives. You can even step into the driving seat and see what it’s like to sit in a fire engine or learn CPR from the Norfolk Accident Rescue Service (NARS)!
AMAZING ATTRACTIONS
Vintage funfair rides, displays of antique farm machinery, archery, canoeing, cookery demonstrations, dog agility shows, hands-on activities, science workshops, live music, fire engines – the Royal Norfolk Show has it all!
For more information, visit royalnorfolkshow.co.uk
GRAND RING TIMETABLE
Wednesday, June 28
7.30am HOYS Ridden Cobs
9.30am Showjumping A&B Competition Sponsored by Eastern Power Systems
10.30am Shetland Pony Derby – Heat 1
10.55am Military Band
11.15am RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team Sponsored by Desira Group Ltd
11.35am Heavy Horse Turnouts – Singles Sponsored by Martin Goymour
12.20pm The Virtual Big Sing
1.00pm Coaching Marathon Parade (before departing on road route)
1.15pm Showjumping Norfolk Area Trial Sponsored by Broadland Business Park
2.45pm Coaching Marathon Judging
3.15pm Bolddog Lings Motorcycle Display Team
3.45pm Heavy Horse Turnouts – Teams Sponsored by R G Carter Ltd
4.25pm Heygates Country Feeds Team of 5 Competition Sponsored by Heygates Country Feeds Plus Grand Parade of Cattle and Shire Horses
5.30pm Scurry Driving
6pm RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team Sponsored by Desira Group Ltd
6.20pm Shetland Pony Derby – Heat 2 and Final
6.45pm Bolddog Lings Motorcycle Display Team
7.15pm Military Band and the City of Norwich Pipe Band and Norfolk Community Champions Tribute
Thursday, June 29
8.00am Showjumping 1.20m Open Two-Phase
9.30am Shetland Pony Derby – Heat 1
9.55am Bolddog Lings Motorcycle Display Team
10.25am RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team Sponsored by Desira Group Ltd
10.45am HOYS Heavy Horse Turnouts – Two-Wheeled Cart
11.15am Military Band
11.35am Showjumping International Stairway Grand Prix Sponsored by British Showjumping Business Partnership
1.05pm Bucket Beats XL
1.35pm Coachman’s Class
2.05pm Scurry Driving
2.35pm Heavy Horse Turnouts – Pairs Sponsored by Carrick Farm Enterprises
3.15pm Grand Parade of Cattle, Sheep, Pigs and Goats and Suffolk, Percheron and Clydesdale Horses
4.10pm Showjumping Ride and Drive Challenge Sponsored by British Showjumping Area 28 and Inchcape BMW and Mini
5.10pm Bolddog Lings Motorcycle Display Team
5.40pm Shetland Pony Derby – Heat 2 and Final
6.05pm RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team Sponsored by Desira Group Ltd
6.25pm Closing Ceremony including Military Bands and the City of Norwich Pipe Band
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