• HOME
  • History
  • Charities
  • School
  • The Song
• COMPETITORS
  • Cattle
  • Cups & Prizes
  • Horse & Pony
  • Sheep
  • Home Produce
  • Dog Show
• EVENTS
  • Main Rings
  • Ring Five
  • Bale Tossing/Rolling
  • Downhill Race
  • Grand Parade
  • Lamb Shearing
  • Terrier Racing
  • Widecombe Derby
  • Vintage
  • Tug Of War
• VISITORS
  • Entry Fees
  • Fair Field Plan
  • Traffic & Parking
  • Map
• MEDIA
• EXHIBITORS
  • Trade Stands
  • Fair Field Plan
  • Traffic & Parking
• SPONSORS
• PHOTOS
• CONTACT US
  • Entry forms & Schedules
  • Links

A Celebration of Traditional Dartmoor Life

For all media & advertising queries contact media.    

Set in the wonderfully picturesque Dartmoor village, Widecombe-in-the-Moor, there is no better time to visit Dartmoor in all its splendour. The fair is a porthole of rural life throughout the ages. A fine example of this being the stark contrast between the peaceful but surprisingly efficient blade shearing demonstration and the fast and furious sheep shearing competition in the marquee with an atmosphere to rival the beer tent! The bygone days can also be revisited with a charming display of vintage machinery and traditional crafts that can be seen in the heritage marquee. Whether its shopping around the local produce trade stands, watching the spectacles in the main ring, or even just enjoying Dartmoor’s finest ale in the beer tent, there is something for everyone at this years Fair, with terrier racing and a family dog show, even the dog will enjoy it! The main ring promises a day of entertainment packed full of thrills and spills with new events for this year including the Widecombe Derby and the Shepherd’s Challenge. Training of the pantomime horses for the Widecombe Derby is already being taken very seriously by the local pubs who are each putting forward a horse and a handler in the fashion of a pantomime dame - for the paddock. As for the Shepherds challenge, the only training needed will be of your voices in order to cheer your favourite to success!

Accompanying this country scene, there must be livestock, and there is certainly no shortage! For those animal lovers among us there will be showing classes of Sheep, Cattle, Primestock, Horses and Ponies. Not only this but in the main ring there will be a musical ride performed by the Dartmoor Hill Pony Display Team as seen at Devon County Show - and a parade of hounds. By no means must we forget the unique cross-country race from the top of Widecombe Hill to the fair field; the Uncle Tom Cobley Novelty Race has to be seen to be believed! It is impossible not to cheer on the brave but possibly slightly mad competitors emerging on to the fair field having watched them pick their own routes down the hill though bogs, gorse thickets, streams and whatever else the moor throws at them.
Strength is delightfully restored in the form of wonderful local food including a delicious hog roast, so if your feeling strong why not take part in the bale tossing, square bale rolling or tug o’ war…or you could just cheer the teams on and enjoy the antics from the side lines. Entry to the fair field will be free this year, with only a £10 charge per car for car parking you’d be mad to miss out!
In the last 20 years Widecombe Fair has raised in the region of £40,000 for many different charities, this year the committee has chosen to support the charity “Farm Crisis Network” an organisation dedicated to supporting and helping farmers and their families who are in difficulty.
The next Fair will be held on Tuesday the 11th September 2012, look forward to seeing you there.