The UK’s biggest harvest season celebration, the Malvern Autumn Show, is set to return to Three Counties Showground from 22 – 24 September 2023 with a programme packed full of exciting new experiences and unique entertainment. From the crowd-pleasing CANNA UK Giant Vegetables Championship to the colourful RHS Flower Show, here are nine new and unique experiences to expect from this year’s Malvern Autumn Show:
- CANNA UK Giant Vegetables Championships
Year after year, the CANNA UK Giant Vegetables Championships at the Malvern Autumn Show draws thousands of excited spectators eager to marvel at the enormous fruit and vegetables harvested by expert growers. Last year’s Show scored a record-breaking number of Guinness World Records, with 11 new titles set for everything from the heaviest field pumpkin (121.6kg by Mark Baggs from Dorset) to the longest turnip (4.605m by Joe Atherton from Nottinghamshire). A highlight of the Show for many visitors, this is a spectacle you won’t want to miss!
- RHS Flower Show
Another popular feature of the Malvern Autumn Show is the much-loved RHS Flower Show, which will bring with it a blaze of autumnal colour and dazzling seasonal blooms. This year will see a bumper crop of RHS medal winning nurseries displaying their finest bulbs, plants and flowers whilst once again competing for recognition from the esteemed RHS judges. Visitors can browse hundreds of beautiful blooms, as well as purchase interesting plants and bulbs to transform their own living spaces from the plant nurseries and plant and bulb arcades.
- Hear from some of the UK’s best-selling food & drink authors
A brand-new Octopus Publishing Takeover on Saturday 23 September will see some of the UK’s best-selling food and drink authors sharing snippets and insights from their latest books with Food & Drink Theatre host, and award-winning author and food writer himself, Mark Diacono. Visitors will also be treated to some special cooking demonstrations, plus the chance to meet some of the authors and snap up signed copies of their latest books. Keep an eye on the Malvern Autumn Show website for more updates and special guest announcements https://www.malvernautumn.co.uk
- A bigger and better than ever Family Green
The popular Family Green is back at this year’s Show and it will be bigger and better than before, packed full of free family fun for all ages. Youngsters can get ready for Halloween by making their very own magic wand, hand-carved from a piece of wood, as well as the chance to create their own broomstick to complete their magical toolkit. Families can get involved in weaving willow into the shape of a giant chilli, or try their hand at circus skills, including plate spinning, juggling, stilt walking, diabolos, unicycles and mini bikes. Plus, there will be plenty of arts and crafts activities to keep little hands busy throughout the weekend.
- Enjoy talks from horticultural experts and special guests
This year’s Garden Theatre will be hosted by BBC Escape to the Country host, Nikki Chapman, who will be chatting to expert horticulturalists and familiar faces from BBC Gardeners’ World, including Adam Frost and Arit Anderson. Catch sizzling live cooking demos from top chefs and best-selling cook book authors over at the Kitchen Theatre, hosted by food writer Mark Diacono. At the Harvest Pavilion, the Potting Shed Theatre will be hosted by gardening consultant, Martin Fish, who will be chatting to some of the UK’s leading nurseries, growers and specialist plant societies, sharing handy tips on plant care and creating and maintaining your own green spaces.
- Tuck in to some of the UK’s finest food & drink
Another new feature at this year’s Malvern Autumn Show will be the Great Taste Food & Drink Market. Enjoy a delectable array of artisan produce from a selection of award-winning food and drink producers, recognised by the world’s largest and most trusted food and drink accreditation scheme. Chat to the makers and find out more about their award-winning produce, indulge in a sample or two, and take home some tasty treats or stock up on special gifts.
- Meet some friendly furry friends at the World of Animals
A brand-new feature of this year’s Malvern Autumn Show, Joseph’s Amazing Racing Camels, promises to be a highlight of the weekend. Head to the World of Animals Arena to cheer on the camels as their compete in friendly races, and even meet these curious creatures up close. These are not just ordinary camels, these are celebrity camels, having features in numerous TV shows and films, working alongside well-known names including Sir David Attenborough, Will Smith, Jess Glynne and Tom Hiddleston.
The popular Exotic Animals area will return to this year’s Malvern Autumn Show, giving visitors the chance to get up close to fascinating creatures and learn more about them, including skunks, snakes, lizards, tarantulas, scorpions, pygmy hedgehogs and meerkats.
- Step back in time at the Vintage Village
Relive the golden days at the Vintage Village, back for this year’s Show with a bigger area featuring live bands performing toe-tapping music throughout the long weekend. Get into the spirit and don your finest vintage clothing, there’s also a ‘Best Dressed’ competition and a ‘Parade by Decade’ to get involved in. Learn some new (or old, as it may be!) moves in one of the free 1940s/50s dance lessons. A new vintage hair styling stand will see creative vintage hair-stylists curl, clip and spray hair into some of the most popular hair styles from yesteryear, with a free hair style per day offered to the winner of the ‘Best Dressed’ competition to complete their look.
Another new feature at this year’s Show, the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAFFi) will have a range of vintage military vehicles for visitors to admire, with home-front re-enactors on hand to chat to visitors about the vehicles and the role that the home front played during World War II.
- British Fuchsia Society’s 85th Birthday National Show
In celebration of the British Fuchsia Society’s 85th Birthday, a spectacular 10ft tall pyramid of beautiful fuchsias will feature in the Harvest Pavilion to mark the occasion. These dainty, ballerina-like flowers, originally from Central and South America, are popular plants for their versatility, and can be grown as standalone shrubs, informal hedges, climbers, in hanging baskets, patio pots or to bring colour to borders. Expert growers from the British Fuchsia Society will be on hand to offer tips and advice for growing these pretty plants at home.
For the full Malvern Autumn Show 2023 programme, and to book tickets (£20 in advance, with children aged 16 and under free of charge) visit: https://www.malvernautumn.co.uk/