What's On

Events and Attractions

The 2024 schedule is coming together so please check back in coming weeks and months for further updates. In the meantime you can get an idea of what to expect from last year’s programme below.

Many of our old favourites returned for 2023, plus some new never-seen-before special events! A full day of ring events starts from 9am with sheep, horse and cattle judging in the Main Ring, finishing up in the Jubilee Ring with the Tug-o’-War from 7pm. As always at the Fair, if you keep your eyes peeled you might spot Uncle Tom Cobley (hopefully) on his grey mare, and merry (very) entourage, lending a hand about the field.

New this year we’re very excited to welcome Spike Milton’s Lumberjack Show. You will find Spike and his team to the right of the village entrance to the fair field, demonstrating their sawmill skills and introducing visitors to the world of Timbersports, from competitive wood chopping to the big noisy ‘hot saw’.

Going on throughout the day you’ll be able to go and visit the sheep and cattle pens, as well as the vintage machinery, or take a look around the Local Handicraft and Produce tent at the best of what the residents of Widecombe (and beyond) have come up with as part of their yearly attempts to out-bake (or grow) each other!

Other highlights to look out for are The Dartmoor Hill Pony Display Team, Canine Capers Dog Agility Display and the ever-popular Terrier Racing - back and better than ever!  Athletic types among you can enter the Uncle Tom Cobley Downhill Race in the afternoon (those of a nervous disposition may wish to visit the beer tent in advance). If that’s not extreme enough for you there's the Bale Tossing competition followed by the Tug-O'-War. All of this can be enjoyed with the accompaniment of some great musicians, whether on the Fair Field, down on the Village Green or in the garden at the Rugglestone Inn.

Music

The ever-popular ‘Folk at the Fair’ returns to the beer tent ‘main stage’ this year with great local artists of a folk-y persuasion playing from 10am through to nearly midnight—a great soundtrack to the day.

Also, in the early afternoon, there’ll be music in the garden at the Rugglestone Inn to entertain those who get down that way.

In addition to the great line-up on the Fair Field and down at the Ruggle, some of our musicians will be playing on the Village Green, providing an accompaniment for those moving around the village.

Food and drink

There’s always plenty to eat (and plenty of variety) at the fair. In the village there’s The Rugglestone, The Old Inn, and The Cafe on the Green serving up delicious fare, and in the field there’ll be a great range of local food producers from all over Devon, offering everything from hog roast to Thai cuisine.

If its a pint you're after, the beer tent will be in the normal place serving a range of good local ales and ciders, as well as wine, spirits and soft drinks.

rural pursuits & agriculture

With its roots set firmly in the agricultural traditions of Dartmoor, Widecombe Fair remains to this day true to its origins.

From its beginnings as a popular Fair, dealing mainly in local breeds of cattle, sheep, ponies and the odd intransigent spouse, it’s become over the years a showcase for the cream of locally-bred Dartmoor stock, as well as being the premier event of the moorland social calendar.

During the day you'll be able to witness and take part in a range of interesting and amusing rural pastimes, such as Ferret Racing, Hay-Making and Bale-Tossing, as well as the famous Uncle Tom Cobley Downhill Race (not for the faint-hearted!).

arts & crafts

We’ve always been keen to promote local craftsmen and women at the Fair, both those pursuing a more traditional line, as well as those more contemporary, from photographers, jewellers and potters, those working with leather, wool, wood, slate and so on, through to thatchers, bakers and wheelwrights, also, this year the Devon Guild of Craftsmen will be back on the Green exhibiting, demonstrating and providing perhaps the odd early Christmas present! There will be an amazing range of different people displaying such a variety of skills - not to be missed, both on the Green and in the Craft Field. With more local artists and makers than ever this year, there's sure to be something that catches your eye.