The award-winning Royal Three Counties Show, recognised as the UK’s Rural Event of the Year 2024 in the NOEA awards, is returning to the Three Counties Showground in Malvern from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 June. Over 90,000 visitors are expected at the 90-acre showground across three days to enjoy a programme bursting with exciting new features, special guests and leading voices from the worlds of food and farming, outstanding entertainment, local food and drink, family fun and lots of animals!

With so much going on across the long weekend, here are five unmissable highlights expected at this year’s Royal Three Counties Show...

1. Special guests and leading voices from the worlds of food and farming

This year’s Royal Three Counties Show special guest line-up includes star of Prime Video’s Clarkson’s Farm, young farmer and best-selling author Kaleb Cooper on Sunday 15 June at the Future of Farming Theatre and the ever-popular Machinery Demo in the Main Arena. 

BBC’s Saturday Kitchen and Channel 4’s Food Unwrapped presenter, chef and author, Matt Tebbutt, will also appear at the Show on Sunday 15 June, sharing his expert tips and passion for fresh, seasonal produce at the Food & Drink Theatre. Matt will also be giving guests a warm welcome at a new VIP two-course lunch in the Members Pavilion on Sunday. Tickets are limited in number and selling fast!

TV presenter, author and smallholder, Kate Humble will join the Food & Drink Theatre on Saturday 14 June, followed by a book signing of her most recent book; ‘Home Cooked’. Kate will also join a panel of special guests and experts for a Q&A session at the Future of Farming Theatre, adding to its line-up of informative talks and panel discussions on topics spanning farming, diversification, succession planning and the latest developments in agricultural technology.

Royal Three Counties Show Ambassador, Farmer, BBC Countryfile presenter and co-owner of Cotswold Farm Park, Adam Henson will join the special guest line up on all three days of the long weekend, and Will Young, best known as Farmer Will and for his appearance on ITV2’s Love Island, joins the Royal Three Counties Show on Saturday 14 June, featuring on the Future of Farming Theatre and the Food & Drink Theatre. Visitors to the show can also meet Farmer Will as part of a special VIP lunch in the Members Pavilion. 

2. Over 8,000 animals to admire!

Royal Three Counties Show is known as one of the largest annual agricultural celebrations in the UK, and features a staggering 8,000 animals across the long weekend.  A highlight for many is the Grand Parade of Livestock, taking place daily in the Main Arena at 3.45pm.

Over the three show days, nearly 900 livestock classes will take place in the Farming Village. Visitors will have the opportunity to find out more about a wide range of animals, including goats at the dedicated Goat Show area, a new Pig Village celebrating the British Pig Industry, and the chance to learn more about British wool and watch highly skilled sheep shearers in action during fast-paced competitions and informative demonstrations. 

A new feature at this year’s show is an interactive learning and animal encounters area, provided by the award-winning Attwell Farm Park in Worcestershire. Visitors of all ages can get up close and hands on with friendly farmyard animals and learn more about their lives and care.

3. Tractor-loads of fun for families!

This year there are 101 free things to do at the show, including building sandcastles at the free children’s beach area, discover more about the fascinating lives and vitally important role of bees at the Bees & Honey Tent, admire heritage skills and craftsmanship such as farrier and blacksmith competitions, pack a picnic and enjoy the live music and entertainment from the bandstand, enjoy ride-on pedal tractors for kids and explore realistic toy machinery  cheer on the young farmers in their Tug of War competition, get your hands dirty and dig for your dinner at the popular Potato Dig, and much more! Royal Three Counties Show has been a popular day out for families for decades, and it’s easy to see why. Tickets for under 16s are free of charge, and each year there is a packed programme of entertainment to suit all ages. Plus, it makes a special day out for Father’s Day on Sunday 15 June!

Get up close and hands on with friendly farmyard animals at the interactive learning and animal encounters area, provided by Attwell Farm Park. Youngsters will watch in delight as Rolo and Sprout, two adorable mini spotted ponies, proudly entertain visitors with their Mini Pony Show, while magnificent (and somewhat larger!) Shire Horses, brought to the show by the Shire Horse Society, will demonstrate their role as working animals and what makes them so unique.

4. Exciting live entertainment

Each year Royal Three Counties Show boasts a jam-packed programme of exciting entertainment, and this year promises to live up to expectations! The Main Arena will host the return of some show-favourites, including the Bolddog Lings freestyle motocross stunt display show, performing jaw-dropping tricks 35ft high in the air and a brand new never seen before stunt this year. The British Army’s Parachute Display Team - the Red Devils - will make a spectacular return on Friday and Sunday with the Jump Dogs joining the show on Saturday, free-falling through the sky at speeds of 120mph with flags and coloured smoke. 

The new Private Driving Championships and Concourse D’elegance Driving held on Sunday, will demonstrate the historic aristocratic practice of parading horse-drawn carriages, and is a great way to round off the weekend for equine enthusiasts. 

5. Indulge in some of the UK’s very best food and drink

Local food hero and Herefordshire’s very own award-winning chef, Anthony 'Murf' Murphy, one of four founders of the popular independent restaurant group, The Beefy Boys, will host a new-look Food & Drink Theatre (a gastronomic highlight of Royal Three Counties Show) with appearances from special guests to share award-winning burger recipe and offer tips to recreate your own version at home. As well as a BBQ competition for local chefs on Saturday 14 June, Murf will be hosting a fun Burger School on Sunday 15 June, a fantastic treat and gift idea for Father’s Day.

A brand-new Grain to Garden Bar will be the place to relax with a refreshing drink. Located in the new ‘Grain to Garden’ feature garden from this year’s RHS Malvern Spring Festival, three impressive agricultural grain silos have been creatively repurposed into immersive spaces, demonstrating how farming heritage can be woven with the soft beauty of nature.

Advance day tickets to the Royal Three Counties Show cost £24.85 for adults and children under 16 are free. To book tickets, visit www.royalthreecounties.co.uk/ or call 01684 584 924.