It was certainly a great sight at the first day of the Royal Norfolk Show as many families gathered to celebrate this annual Norfolk-centric event, representing everything that is Norfolk in the best way possible.
With children running around in glee and parents happy to have entertainment for their children on a hot summer’s day, the Royal Norfolk Show is truly a family event for all ages.
Of the many attractions and experiences on offer at the Royal Norfolk Show, an especially eye-catching one was the Ferris wheel, an attraction that could be seen for miles and proved to be popular with showgoers, a long-time classic. At an event like the Royal Norfolk Show, who wouldn’t expect a traditional ride like a Ferris wheel? It simply wouldn’t be right without one.
Over at the other end of the show, people were having an equally great time watching equine racing, most notably the Shetland Pony Derby. An exciting, short, yet fast-paced heat of pony-riders racing their ponies against the clock, with one goal in mind: reach the finish line first. It was an exhilarating watch, and the crowd certainly seemed to think so, with their cheers and claps at the sight of various ponies galloping around the racetrack and jumping over obstacles.
With the pony derby hard to beat, their next contenders, the Knights of Middle England, naturally took it as a challenge to keep the momentum going, with some fantastic jousting and trick riding, transforming you back to the Middle Ages. The honourable knights rode gallantly, braving a number of different challenges (which also included fire!) to prove their chivalry and stay true to their title of knight.
Away from equine racing and the like, we creep closer to the heart of the show, animals and most importantly, agriculture. Many children enjoyed squealing at and poring over the animals on display (I did too, of course!), which involved a selection of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and even rabbits! What a wonderful mix of livestock from farms all over Norfolk. It was lovely to see children pointing out different animals with great curiosity, providing an enriching experience for the whole family.
Finally, an arguably educational, interesting and even royal affair (thanks to a surprise visit by Princess Anne!), the Discovery Zone. Here, children and their families could learn about this year’s Discovery Zone theme, Mint and Mustard, two of the rarest and most important crops grown in Norfolk, through the Mint and Mustard trail. Children learned about the history of the two crops and their prominence in Norfolk (home of Colman’s Mustard), how they’re harvested and even make their own mint sauce in the STEMM marquee, which was definitely a family favourite! Who doesn’t love mint sauce?
All in all, the Royal Norfolk Show was definitely a huge success for this year. I had a great time and I can’t wait to see what next year has in store.
Blog piece and photography by Alice Yared of Norwich School.
