The Royal Highland Show expects to welcome 217,000 or so visitors from today until Sunday. Already tickets for Friday and Saturday are sold out with higher sales recorded than previous years.
This is where you will find the biggest cattle shed in Europe for the next few days, with dairy cows and beef cattle all looking their best. There are 110 stands in the food hall of which a quarter are alcohol retailers ready to sell their wares. The Royal Highland main ring is looking fabulous and ready for the main event of the year.
While tradition remains at the heart of the Royal Highland Show, the event is far from conventional. Sitting alongside the traditional aspects including livestock competitions and parades – around 6,000 animals are brought to the Show over the four days – visitors can expect to see daredevil BMX riders Showing off their flips and tricks and be on the edge of their seats in the forestry arena as they are entertained by axe throwers, live chainsaw carving, and pole climbers.
The dedicated kid zone located in the Countryside Area will include live Sealpin Gundog and birds of prey flying demonstrations. The RHET Discovery Centre will also allow young visitors to turn their hand to milking Mabel the (fibreglass) cow and take part in honey tasting and candle making.
After the Show on Friday and Saturday, legendary country music promoters, Farmers Bash present the Royal Highland Hoolie which brings together some of the very best of Scotland and Ireland’s homegrown talent to the Royal Highland Centre. Eight live folk and country music acts will perform including headliners Tide Lines and Derek Ryan. Limited tickets are still available for the Hoolie which can be purchased from www.royalhighlandShow.org
Tidelines Lead singer Robert Robertson performs to fans in Princes Street Gardens Edinburgh to promote the upcoming gig at The Hoolie, Royal Highland Show this weekend
David Tennant, Head of Show for RHASS, said: “We’ve officially sold out across two days! The site transforms into the sixth largest population in Scotland the week of the Show; effectively we transform the venue into a mini town which is no mean feat, but our dedicated team have been working around the clock over the last three and a half weeks to ensure visitors have the best experience possible when they visit us this weekend.
“Our traditional Show elements very much remain at the heart of the weekend, with the best of British livestock and equine competing but we also have so many unexpected and family-friendly activities and entertainment for everyone to enjoy. From music to BMX stunts, cookery displays, the farrier competition, sheep sheering and birds of prey and sheepdog demonstrations, there really is something for everyone.
“With large crowds anticipated, we are encouraging those travelling to the Show to consider using public transport whenever possible. The Show is located just minutes from the tram and dedicated Lothian buses will drop you right at the door of the event. We’re looking forward to welcoming this year’s Show-goers through the gates come Thursday.”
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
