While the organisers have promised the show will be one that visitors know and love, there will be a number of measures in place during this exceptional year to ensure it’s a COVID-secure event and safe for all visitors.
Most of the show will be staged outdoors, including food and drink, crafts and gardens, and there will be Covid Marshals on hand around the site to help keep everyone safe.
Food outlets will be dispersed around the showground, rather than concentrated in one place, enabling more space for socially distanced queueing and eating.
And instead of focusing all of the attractions in the Main Arena, displays and events will be spread across the 83-acre showground, again to prevent a build-up of crowds in one particular place.
The Great Devon Parade 2021 in the Main Ring on Sunday, July 4, National ‘Thank You’ Day, is designed to shine a light on those who have really stepped up to the plate through the pandemic.
And across the three days, the show promises to offer all of its usual impressive livestock competitions with 1,100 sheep, 100 goats, 80 pigs and 200 cattle, and counting, on their way.
With over 1,200 horses and ponies expected to attend this year’s Devon County Show, there’s going to be something for every equine enthusiast.
The Devon County Show is celebrating its 125th birthday this year and has been holding horse showing classes since its inception in 1872. This year will be no different, with over 160 classes with everything from Hunters to Hacks, Cobs to Connemaras and Shetlands to Show Hunter Ponies.
Away from showing there are seven impressive Show Jumping classes culminating in the International Stairway Competition.
There’s also scurry racing and private driving competitions as part of the equine entertainment.
In place of the normal traditional canvas craft and garden pavilion, this area will be a 163-metre courtyard of trade stands and colourful garden displays designed to inspire visitors with ideas for planting plus Devon crafts, floral art and home baking competition entries.
Add to all this police dog handling displays, fly ball demos, the Quack Pack, a Premier Dog Show and you have all the ingredients in place for what will undoubtedly be the biggest and best day out in the South West.
The Cornish Times is offering a pair of tickets to this year’s Devon County Show – look out for details in the current edition of the paper and get your entry in by post or email by Wednesday June 30!