The Cotswold Show Story
About The Show
The show runs over 2 days and takes place in 40 acres, in the heart of Cirencester Park. Every year, the Cotswold Show sees hundreds of attractions and tens of thousands of visitors, making it one of the most popular events in the Country Show calendar.
The Foundations
Back in 1985, The Earl Bathurst, who's ancestral seat is in Cirencester Park, had a dream of staging an event primarily for people in the countryside, or with an interest in farming, that was family-friendly, educational, and packed with entertainment. In 1989, that dream was realised, and after 8,000 people passed through the gates of that first show, the concept of 'Where Town Meets Country' was born.
The First Show
The date for that first show was set for the middle of September, as it fitted well into the farming calendar – after the harvest, but before the hunting season had started. The gates opened on a sunny September morning to a show that included a Falconry display, a vintage tractor exhibition and a fly-fishing demonstration that required the construction of a 150ft long fly-casting lake made from hay bales and sheets of plastic.
Making Improvements
In 2000, the date of the show was moved from September – which could suffer inclement weather – to July. The new date proved a hit with the visitors who came in even bigger numbers.
Upholding Tradition
Thirty-six years on, the show continues to grow, and Lord Bathurst is still keen to foster a sense of love and respect for, and understanding of, the countryside and country issues among his neighbours in towns and cities and to give everyone – whether from town or countryside – a great day out!
Keeping The Ethos
In recent years, the appeal of the show has widened by the inclusion of attractions such as Monster Trucks and Motorcycle stunt teams, even Shetland Pony racing and Parachutists! Nonetheless, the ethos remains the same "Where Town Meets Country".
© May Media
The show runs over 2 days and takes place in 40 acres in the heart of Cirencester Park. Every year The Cotswold Show sees hundreds of attractions and tens of thousands of visitors, making it one of the most popular events in the Country Show calendar.
Back in 1985, The Earl Bathurst, whose ancestral seat is Cirencester Park, had a dream of staging an event primarily for people from the countryside, or with an interest in farming, that was family friendly, educational and packed with entertainment. In 1989 that dream was realised, and after 8,000 people passed through the gates of that first show, the concept of ‘Where Town Meets Country’ was born.
The date for that first show was set for middle of September, as it fitted well into the farming calendar – after the harvest but before the hunting season had got underway. The gates opened on a sunny September morning to a show that included a falconry display, a vintage tractor exhibition and a fly-fishing demonstration that required the construction of a 150ft long fly-casting lake made from hay bales and sheets of plastic.
In 2000 the date of the show was moved from September – which could suffer inclement weather – to July. The new date proved a hit with visitors who came in ever-bigger numbers.
Thirty-six years on, the show continues to grow, and Lord Bathurst is still keen to foster a sense of love and respect for, and understanding of, the countryside and country issues among his neighbours in towns and cities and to give everyone – whether from town or countryside – a great day out.
In recent years the appeal of the Show has widened by the inclusion of attractions such as Monster Trucks and Motorcycle stunt teams, even Shetland pony racing and parachutists! However, the ethos remains the same: “Where Town Meets Country.”