Masham Sheep Fair will take place Saturday 30th September and SUNDay 1st October 2023
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About Masham sheep fair
Masham boasts one of the largest and finest market squares in England, famous for its sheep sales where in the past as many as 70,000 sheep were sold each year.
The popular Masham Sheep Fair commemorates these times, raising much money for charity, and filling the town with sheepy fun and entertainment. Masham is a wonderful market town which is worth visiting at any time of year, as well as during the Sheep Fair! It's also a great base for exploring the beautiful Yorkshire Dales.
Events include an action packed programme on both Saturday and Sunday, with sheep showing, Sheep Racing, Craft Market, Bishop Blaize Procession, Fleece Stalls, Sheepdog Demonstrations, Hand Bell Ringers, Morris Dancers, Art Exhibition and Tours of Theakstons & Black Sheep Breweries, as well as a small Children's Fair. The theme for the flower display in St. Mary's Church will be "A Harvest of Fruit".
The popular Masham Sheep Fair commemorates these times, raising much money for charity, and filling the town with sheepy fun and entertainment. Masham is a wonderful market town which is worth visiting at any time of year, as well as during the Sheep Fair! It's also a great base for exploring the beautiful Yorkshire Dales.
Events include an action packed programme on both Saturday and Sunday, with sheep showing, Sheep Racing, Craft Market, Bishop Blaize Procession, Fleece Stalls, Sheepdog Demonstrations, Hand Bell Ringers, Morris Dancers, Art Exhibition and Tours of Theakstons & Black Sheep Breweries, as well as a small Children's Fair. The theme for the flower display in St. Mary's Church will be "A Harvest of Fruit".
Over 30 years of the sheep fair
Susan Cunliffe-Lister and a band of willing volunteers started the Sheep Fair 30 years ago. It was intended as a one-off to raise money for farmers in Africa – Sheep Aid. We raised £7,950 and it was decided to make It an annual event, raising money for local charities. Since then we have raised £158,700 for Yorkshire charities. We kept going through the two Foot & Mouth affected years with ‘scarecrow shepherds and sheep’. We used to have a sale of rare breeds on the Sunday but the biosecurity after the foot & mouth outbreak made this too difficult. This led to new activities such as the very popular sheep racing, sheepdog display with the ducks and the Sheep Show, sponsored by Black Sheep Brewery.
Local photographer Guy Carpenter took these images of the 2016 show and we think he's really captured the essence of this amazing event.
A big Thank you!
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Thank you so much to everyone who came to the 2022 Sheep Fair. Your visit enabled us to make donations to all these local organisations:
Yorkshire Air Ambulance: £12,210; Masham Young Farmers: £500; Masham School: £400; Masham Sports Association: £200 Masham Junior Sports: £200 Masham Community Office: £100 Further details from Mrs Susan Cunliffe-Lister - susancunliffelister@icloud.com Entry forms from Broadley's, 3-5 Market Place, Masham, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 4DZ |
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