Royal Highland Show facts for kids
The Royal Highland Show is Scotland's largest yearly event about farming and the countryside. It's like a huge festival for agriculture! The show is put together by the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland.
This amazing event happens every June at the Royal Highland Centre in Ingliston. It brings together over 1,000 businesses and farmers. You can see more than 4,500 farm animals, and nearly 190,000 people visit each year! It's the most important event for Scottish farming. People who show their animals or products can win special awards, prize money, and trophies worth over £1 million.
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History of the Royal Highland Show
The Royal Highland Show first started way back in 1822. The very first show was held in Edinburgh in an area called Canongate. For many years, until 1959, the show moved around different towns and cities across Scotland. It visited eight different areas, including Perth, Stirling, and Aberdeen.
In 1960, the show found its permanent home at the Ingliston site. This new, fixed location helped the show grow even bigger. It became more than just a farming event. It turned into a big celebration of Scottish food, the countryside, and farming life.
The show used to run from Sunday to Wednesday. But later, it changed to Thursday to Sunday. It usually takes place on the second-last weekend in June. The animal competitions are held on Thursday and Friday.
In 1948, during the show in Inverness, King George VI gave the event the special "Royal" title. This made it the Royal Highland Show!
There was no show in 2001. This was because of a serious animal illness called foot and mouth disease.
In 2010, the show celebrated two big milestones. It was the 50th year the show had been held in Ingliston. It was also the 170th show ever! Almost 190,000 people came to the 2010 event. In 2015, the show had its 175th event. It broke a record with 188,449 visitors! Important guests like the Princess Royal also visited.
What You Can See at the Show
The Royal Highland Show is packed with exciting things to see and do!
Farm Animals and Horses
You can see many different kinds of farm animals at the show. This includes sheep, cattle, goats, horses, ponies, and even donkeys and chickens. There are usually about 6,000 animals in total!
One of the most impressive sights is the Heavy Horse Turnouts. These are teams of very large horses pulling carts. In 2006, for the first time, all the main heavy horse breeds from the UK were at the show. This included Clydesdales, Shires, Percherons, and even Suffolk Punches.
The most important award for animals is the Queen's Cup. This award goes to the best animal in a different category each year. For example, in 2006, it was given to the best goat!
At the 2015 show, there were:
- 1,000 beef and dairy cattle from 20 different breeds
- 1,500 sheep
- 2,000 horses
- 100 goats
- Over 500 birds
Shopping and Food
The Royal Highland Show is a great place to see and buy products from the countryside. You can find large displays of farm machines and tools. There are also supplies for horses and outdoor sports gear. Many groups that support farming and the environment have stalls to share their work.
Inside the exhibition halls, you'll find huge shopping areas and a special food and drink hall. Most of the products are from Scotland. But you can also find things from other parts of the UK and even other countries. For example, you might find European wines or German sausages. The food hall lets you taste many different foods. There's even a kitchen where chefs show you how to cook with the products. Outside, there are even more market-style stalls. Banks, supermarkets, and food companies also have their own areas to show how they support farming.
Fun Competitions and Displays
Beyond the animal rings and exhibition halls, there are lots of exciting competitions and shows. You can watch international sheep shearing contests. There's also show jumping with horses, and driving competitions. You might see tug-of-war teams, dog obedience trials, and displays about forestry and falconry. You can also watch farriers (people who shoe horses) at work and other traditional countryside activities.
Music and Entertainment
Different bands and music groups play at two bandstands. You might hear the band of HM Royal Marines or many pipe and drum bands. Usually, over 50 different groups perform, including school bands and rock bands.
Famous Visitors to the Show
The Royal Highland Show welcomes many visitors each year. It also has a history of attracting very important guests! Some of the well-known people who have visited include:
- Queen Elizabeth II visited several times. Her first visit was in 1960 for the opening of the new Ingliston site. She also came in 1984, 1992, and her last visit was in 2009.
- Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother attended in 1954 and 1964.
- Anne, Princess Royal visited in 2008 and 2015.
- Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester attended in 2006.
- Mariann Fischer-Boel, who used to be in charge of agriculture for Europe.
Gallery
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Terrier racing,Royal Highland Show
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Macrobert Pavilion, Royal Highland Show
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Lothian Buses for the Royal Highland Show, 20 June 2015
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Jumping in the main ring at the Royal Highland Show 2018 over a jump in the shape of the Forth Rail Bridge.
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Exmoor stallion, Dunkery Wigeon in the Mountain and Moorland pony championship at the Royal Highland Show 2018, ridden by Hayley Reynolds
