County shows all across the UK have been cancelled and postponed this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Shropshire County Show, first held in 1875, was among them. In March it was announced that this year’s Shropshire County Show would be postponed until 2021.
If you typically attend the show and have found yourself disappointed, there are digital options available instead.
Organised by five local charities, the Shropshire Virtual Show is due to start on 22 August. It promises all of the usual features of a county show, including competitions, events, shopping, and more.
“It is a show along the lines of a county show, but entirely ‘online’,” Mrs Dean Harris, the High Sheriff of Shropshire, explained in a promotional email. “There is so much for the whole family including music, entertainment, comedy, demonstrations and competitions to enter.”
Competitions include arts and crafts (with a theme of ‘Lockdown Creations’), a virtual dog show, a horse arena, and the ‘Open Gardens’ event.
There’s also the ‘Shropshire’s Got Talent’ virtual talent show.
In addition to competitions, the event will feature a ‘virtual shopping village’. Local businesses will be hosting virtual shopping stalls, which people can browse and purchase from entirely online.
Local businesses interested in opening a stall can visit the booking website – stalls will be open from 22 August until 31 August.
All proceeds raised from the show will go to the five organising charities, which are:
- The Cavalier Centre
- The Movement Centre
- League for Friends to RJAH
- Dog A.I.D
- Shropshire Rural Communities Charity
You can also make a donation to these charities directly.
The Shropshire Virtual Show begins on Saturday 22 August 2020, and will last for a week until 31 August.
Visit the Shropshire Virtual Show ‘How it works’ page for more information.