Monday 8 August 2011

Showtime! - That's My World



Every year in August Valley's End holds its Village Show And Carnival on the meadow between the castle hill and the river.  It's a much less raucous affair than the Green Man Festival in May. This event is organised by the village for the village, there are no commercial booths, every booth is run by a village committee and all the money raised is for a village charity. The event itself usually makes a loss, which doesn't seem to deter the organisers.



We always have a brass band imported from the nearest Welsh town,  The Knighton Town Silver Band, who play tirelessly all afternoon. They are very good too.




The big show tent is the main attraction. That's where gardeners,  craftspeople, photographers, flower growers and arrangers, cake and bread bakers, jam makers and others exhibit their prize efforts and compete fiercely with each for first, second and third prize.



Blooms from the garden winner.
You would be shot if you cheated and added a bought flower!




There is something for everybody, This is the winning entry in the best dressed Teddy bear class.




Third prize in the Victorian tableau, which I liked better than 2nd and 1st prize entries.




The winning and possibly only entry in the quilting class. 
It is a beautiful quilt, made by a young girl.




There are always lots of things for children to do.
The Bouncy Castle is a great favourite.




For Dads there is the historic car exhibition. This tractor caught my eye instantly.


It's impossible to show pictures of all the events: dog shows, ferret racing, a fairground organ, puppet shows, an obstacle course, a beer tent and tea tent, even Appalachian dancers appear. When the brass band and the organ take a break, a jazz band plays. And sometimes, all three play at the same time, and the man with access to the PA system can hardly make his voice heard above the din. But he doesn't give up, oh no! He has a microphone and knows how to use it!


My contribution to That's My World for this week.

45 comments:

  1. What a fabulously fun event! Sounds like one all can be very proud to attend and participate in. Love when communities take pride in sharing with each other.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love these sorts of things where everyone is outside and showing off the things they've made. It always seems to me there is a certain kind of camaraderie that helps make sense of the world.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, I would love to be here. This is right up my alley...

    Pearl

    ReplyDelete
  4. The village shows are always very good - especially if the weather's nice. I am full of admiration for the organisers - they must work so hard for no pay!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'd rather wander around a local fair than sit through a Hollywood extravaganza any day. This one looks so colorful and fun. Just what I imagine to bid farewell to summer.
    Manzanita@Wannabuyaduck

    ReplyDelete
  6. one more charming plus about your spot on the globe! As ever your deft touch captures the event and your words and photos let us stroll along with you. One question: What was the temperature? Our weather here is so hot and humid that our interest in anything out of doors decreases as the temperature increases.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Absolutely delightful. I needed a lift and you provided it. Thank you. Don't know which photo I like best. The tractor is intersting. Once when we were driving in England we got stuck behind one. David loves anything mechanical so he as entranced.
    Love the silver band and the quilt, and the tents. All grand. Dianne

    ReplyDelete
  8. That looks like so much fun - a great summer day!

    ReplyDelete
  9. What wonderful fun this would be. I'd like it much better than that green man thing.
    I'm a little bit puzzled by the rocks under the onions, but the onions themselves are certainly done up to look their best.
    The tractor is great, and I really like the Victorian tableau.
    Yes, I think I'd like this fair.
    — K

    Kay, Alberta, Canada
    An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

    ReplyDelete
  10. I think an event like this is wonderful for community spirit!

    ReplyDelete
  11. nice a little something for everyone there...my kids would def love the bouncers...love going to things like this...

    ReplyDelete
  12. This looks like so much fun! The tractor is great. Love the quilt and the teddy bear dressing contest! I'm intrigued by the ferret racing! :D :D

    ReplyDelete
  13. What delightful captures of your fun, colorful world! I love the tractor! Great post for the day! Hope you have a wonderful week!


    Sylvia

    ReplyDelete
  14. This looks like a wonderful way to spend the day and enjoy all the best your village has to offer. My favorite event was the teddy bear dressing competition..so sweet!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I want to move to your village.

    ReplyDelete
  16. What a wonderful little festival. I wish I could crash it. Gives me faith that the world is a beautiful place afterall.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Here in the Pacific NW we feel like summer has just begun (unlike the rest of the US, we have been cold and rainy), so your post is a nice visual affirmation of summer! Delightful!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I like all these pictures, so much fun. The teddy looks a bit like the queen - it's the hat I guess.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Love the whole idea of a village fete. Mostly what I know about them are from British tv shows - and they usually include a murder most foul (especially in Midsomer!) But yours looks fairly benign and loads of fun.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Well what fun! I hope there was also an exhibition of finely-wrought blogs?

    ReplyDelete
  21. I think the live music might be what I'd enjoy best. Or the jam-makers competition-- so long as you get to sample the goods.

    Beautiful, vivid photos, Friko.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Give a man a pulpit and a microphone and look out!! He is IN CHARGE!!!!
    Ha!!
    What a fun carnival! And great pics too
    Hugs
    SueAnn

    ReplyDelete
  23. Images from "All Creatures Great And Small" dance in my head. I'm living in entirely the wrong country. Give me a bucolic village fete!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Mr. Mature just read this and, being a "Creatures" nostalgiamaniac, too, he said we must schedule a trip next August (the very best time NOT to be where we are) to coincide with the Valley's End Fair. I'll watch for you!

    ReplyDelete
  25. This so reminded me of the series I'm now watching on DVD and have never seen before: "Midsomer's Murders." I'm on Set 14 now.

    The nearly 60 DVD's I've watched often feature an English village fair or gathering. The series takes place in the "cozy villages of Midsomer County."

    All your pictures brought home to me the fun of this event, but I most enjoyed the teddy bear photo. How the children must delight in entering their favorite Pooh!

    ReplyDelete
  26. That looks just like my type of day out .... wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Oh, I WANT that Teddy Bear! And the quilt is simply fabulous, made by a young talented person, obviously. This sure does look like fun...

    ReplyDelete
  28. Local fairs ar such fun with most people knowing each other and healthy rivalry in produce and baking and probably children's pets as well.

    ReplyDelete
  29. That looks like a really enjoyable, splendid event. Thank goodness the rain held off;-)
    I like the handmade entries - so impressive. The quilt is quite lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  30. That's surely a fun event. Everyone's seems very happy.

    Cassy from Acoustic Guitar Software

    ReplyDelete
  31. I was at the Harvest festival in Eastbourne, looks very much alike !

    ReplyDelete
  32. o, the fun and excitment of these events. I love them. SO much to see and do and so many folks to chat with. And, there is usually really good things to eat.
    You live in the best of places!

    ReplyDelete
  33. I guess I'm just a kid at heart and would love to have that Teddy Bear.

    I love fairs. We have a similar event here; the county Fair. They also show livestock at our fair the farm kids raise an animal all year to compete for prized. Our fair have rides; it's more of a carnival. But your fair looks like it is much more civilized with the bands and the bouncy castle. The guy with the oom-pah-pah horn looks like he could belt it out.

    It's a good thing it wasn't windy, though. There have been some bad accidents with those castles being up-ended with children inside.

    ReplyDelete
  34. what fun!



    Aloha from Waikiki;


    Comfort Spiral
    > < } } ( ° >

    ReplyDelete
  35. Your beautiful photos and commentary remind me of many TV shows or films I've seen set in British villages. I think of Maggie Smith always winning the 'best rose' in "Downton Abbey" for instance. I think of all the village gossip. I wonder what it's like to live there.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Such wonderful good ol' fashioned summertime fun!! Timeless!!!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Looks like great fun, wish I were there. Jim

    ReplyDelete
  38. This is ABSOLUTELY lovely! Although I am quite disappointed there are no photos of the ferret race. Maybe next year?

    ReplyDelete
  39. These type of shows are the best when the weather is good. You seem to have loved the whole experience.

    ReplyDelete
  40. What lovely sights and colours.... you paint a beautiful picture with your camera. To me, summer fairs or shows say that summer is nearly over. All too fast.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Hi Friko .. showing a village at its best .. absolutely wonderful to see.

    I loved the young girl's quilt - that's beautiful .. but the other entries show extremely talented people in the village - such fun to see .. thank you for showing us .. Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  42. The quilt is stunning. Thoroughly enjoyable cyber-visit to the village show and carnival.

    ReplyDelete

Comments are good, I like to know what you think of my posts. I know you'll keep it civil.