Thousands expected at today's Newport Show
Newport Show, one of Shropshire’s leading one-day shows, is taking place today with thousands of people expected to attend.
The event programme includes more than 100 livestock classes, a horse and dog show. Other activities will be family entertainment, vintage vehicle and machinery displays, live music, trade stands, antique stalls, craft fair, schools marquee, handicraft and horticulture competitions, and fairground rides.
Two popular animal shows, Cyril the Squirrel and his Racing Terriers and The Sheep Show - which includes dancing sheep, will take centre stage in the entertainment programme.
Cyril the Squirrel and his canine team will entertain the audience in the Village Green with their fearless stunts including the ultimate Ring of Fire challenge.
The live Sheep Show combines education and entertainment featuring nine different breeds of sheep. Led by experts from New Zealand, the show takes a fun journey through the breeds. There is also a shearing display and the chance to learn more about wool as well as seeing the sheep performing their dancing finale – The Sheep Show Shuffle.
Show manager Clare Farrell said: “Cyril the Squirrel and The Sheep Show are just two of the highlights in this year’s programme that is bursting at the seams with fun for all the family.
“Cyril and his canine companions will keep the audience spellbound with their daring activities and The Sheep Show is highly entertaining. If you’ve never seen a sheep with natural dreadlocks arriving to the sound of Bob Marley, this is your chance!
“Both shows are hugely popular and entertaining and we’re delighted to have secured them for Newport.”
The newly expanded Festival of Food will have its own dedicated zone for visitors to explore and includes demonstrations from local and celebrity chefs, producers and wine experts along with hands on workshops for children and adults.
Food producers will be showcasing some of the best tasty treats from Shropshire and surrounding counties while a pop up street food area will offer a taste of dishes from around the world.
Great British Bake Off champion Nadiya Hussain will give two demonstrations in the food theatre with former Le Manoir Aux Quats Saisons chef Steve Lyons from All About the Food cooking up some tasty seasonal treats. Experts from Shropshire’s Tanners Wines and the Salopian Gin Company will also give presentations.
Nadiya said: “I’m very excited to be coming to Newport Show and Shropshire for the first time. I’ll be demonstrating recipes from my new book and I’m looking forward to meeting Bake Off fans.”
Telford curry expert Lajina from Masala Magic will lead the adult masterclass in Indian cooking. There will also be three different sessions in the Little Foodies marquee for children aged five to 11 to make breakfast bars, pizza and blueberry muffins. Registration is required on the day for individual sessions and each child will receive a goodie bag from The Cook Shop in Newport.
The Festival of Food will also feature a range of stalls including some of area’s top food producers.
The show’s Festival of Food Chairman Tony Asson said: “With Newport Show’s agricultural roots, food production and local produce has always played an important part in our event to encourage greater understanding of the journey from farm to fork.
“With the growing popularity in home cooking and healthy eating and the brilliant response to our previous food activities, creating the Festival of Food was a natural progression.
“There will be something food related for the whole family to get involved in from demonstrations in the Little Foodies marquee for children to get hands on experience in cooking to adult masterclasses in Indian cooking.
“The Street Food market will offer a vast range of tasty dishes for people to buy and eat on site and we will be welcoming more traders than ever with locally produced and grown food for sale.”
Last year’s Newport Show attracted a record breaking 13,000 visitors.
