Growing up in the rural farmland of Illinois in the American midwest, the annual county fair was a much anticipated event. I have fond memories of elephant ears and caramel apples, riding the thrilling Tilt-A-Whirl, stock car races, farm animal competitions (remember Charlotte’s Web ?), and my favourite: the cooking and crafts tents. The county fair was just plain FUN!
After I moved to England, I was so happy to discover that the county fair/county show was alive and well on this side of the pond (where the whole idea probably originated anyway). Mr. Tea and I have now been to several of these (Egham Royal Show and Royal County of Berkshire Show) and mark our calendar with the dates every year. We arrive promptly at opening time, and try to see and do everything we can before early afternoon when the crowds begin to swell.
Come on, let’s go for a walk and I’ll show you around, where you will see:
Hearty food like pasties,
Baps,
and – of course – ice cream!
There are cakes to be judged,
and prizes to award.
Flowers to evaluate,
and more prizes to award!
One of the most enjoyable things about county shows are the interesting exhibitors, like Greyhounds in Need, a charity dedicated to the welfare and rescue of greyhounds.
This was a rather unique exhibitor, a company that manufactures “environmentally friendly biodegradable coffins from sustainable resources”. I think they are beautiful.
Yes! Save the hedgerow! The NHLS is committed to conserving hedgerows through traditional skills. Their patron is HRH The Prince of Wales.
I always wondered how a thatched roof is constructed.
There is music,
and animals,
and fun, wonderful things for the kiddie winks:
Carousel
Punch and Judy Show
Do you know about the Coconut Shy?
The ECB Cricket Factory teaches children (and adults) about the sport. (Note to self: Next time, give this one a go. Am hopeless at understanding cricket!)
But besides this ↑, the best part of the county show for me,
is this,
this,
this,
and THIS!!!!!!!!!!
“Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.”
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I'm Denise, an American expat Anglophile living in Surrey, England. Rather conveniently, I love tea. The longer I live in this enchanted land and the more I see and do, the more I discover that in one way or another almost everything here has a tea connection. 
