Stithians Agricultural Show

It’s Cornwall’s biggest one day agricultural show held annually since the early 1800s on the Feast Day of St. Stythians Church, the nearest Monday following July 10. The show originally started as a competition between local parishioners to see who could grow the best vegetables, raise the finest cattle and breed the greatest horses. Today the purpose built showground provides a full day out for the whole family.

What happens?

Thousands of people descend on the large showground between Truro and Helston to enjoy musical entertainment, food courts, craft stalls, shopping opportunities around the Showground, a fairground, animals of all sorts including rare breeds, a dog show and dog agility competitions and craft and cookery competitions in the Domestic Marquee. In the Horticultural Marquee, there are splendid flower arrangements and displays of a very high standard.

How can you take part?

This is a show with plenty to see and do. The Taste of Cornwall is the marquee to see and, more importantly, to sample and buy truly local food, drink and produce. Kids will love the fur and feather section full of cute rabbits and clucking chickens. Watch the boundless enthusiasm of the dogs in the agility competition as they literally bounce around the courses. In the Countryside Area you can see craftsmen such as blacksmiths, weavers and beekeepers using traditional skills. The ever popular Horse Section features approximately sixty classes catering for most equestrian enthusiasts and throughout the day there’s an assortment of entertainment, such as an accordion band, school jazz orchestra, local choirs and line dancing.

Did you know?

The earliest record of the show comes from a report on the West Briton newspaper of the period which writes “The fair was abundantly supplied with cattle of the best quality and breed, better than we ever witnessed at any former exhibition. There was great competition in horses and especially in colts many of which would have done honour to the first exhibition in the kingdom”. The show is operated by a registered charity and social enterprise.

Stithians Agricultural Show