Enjoy a High-Flying August Bank Holiday Spectacle

There’s nowhere quite like the Lakeland village of Grasmere for a uniquely Cumbrian day out, and on August Bank Holiday Sunday (August 24), one of the UK’s oldest traditional sporting events takes on a new dimension, blending rich Lakeland heritage with daring airborne drama.

Now in its 175th year and older than the modern Olympics, Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show offers a full day of family fun and exhilarating sport, set in a natural arena nestled beneath breathtaking fells.  

A full day’s entertainment lies in store the minute the show starts at 10 am, signalled by the ceremonial ringing of the bell by the Bellman. This will be followed by the National Anthem, played by a wacky brass band including a stilt-walking drummer. Sporting action kicks off at 10:30 am with the track races and goes on all day, until around 5 pm, after the pinnacle of the event – the Senior Guides’ fell race – has reached its thrilling conclusion.

The programme centres on unique and traditional sports rooted in centuries-old Cumbrian culture, including fell racing. Fell races are available for several age groups, with all racing up Butter Crag (either to the full summit height of 294 metres for the Senior Guides, or the age group turnaround point).

Then there is hound racing, with dogs following an aniseed and petrol trail and overcoming similar obstacles to the human racers, including walls. The third thrill is Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling – something only 5% of Brits have ever seen – and offering hipes, chips, and buttocks moves from the back-hold wrestlers from Cumbria, Northumberland, Scotland, Brittany, and Iceland too.

But 2025 marks a new high, with the first-ever Grasmere Hike and Fly Race. This new paragliding event, featuring 12 skilled pilots, will see participants race across the fells and through the air, using a mix of running and flying to navigate between waypoints. 

From a dramatic launch from the Grasmere Sports Field to a grandstand sprint finish (pilots must land in an adjacent field and race in on foot), this spectator-friendly race promises to be a jaw-dropping spectacle. The skies above the showground will buzz with colour and movement from 10.30 am to 2 pm, all tracked via GPS and shown on a big screen.

Even family dogs can enjoy the day, by savouring their own fun dog show - not for pros, just normal doggies like Rex or Shep. Kids can engage in circus skills with Circus Avago, spinning plates before you can say ‘diabolo’, and any grandparents can have fun tapping their feet to the jazz band’s sessions.

Everybody is welcome to have a go at riding the unrideable bike, or maybe pedalling a penny farthing, mini tandem, unicycle, bendy bike, or balance trike from Wonder Wheelers. This year, you can even go home and say you were scammed, but not by the admission price. Sam the Scam will be on hand to show off some popular fairground and racecourse scams from yesteryear, including Find the Lady, Prick the Garter and the Three Shell Game.

With even more craft stalls than the Show has hosted for many years, plus food and drink stalls and classic cars on display, there’s all-day fascination assured.

Whether you're visiting the Lake District for a summer break or just looking for a magical day out, Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show offers a cultural deep-dive into the real Lake District, filled with timeless tradition and thrilling innovation.

Tickets are best value when bought in advance, for £12 for adults, £5 for children and £28 for families. These prices are available until 7 pm on August 22 and are available via online purchase at the Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show website at www.grasmeresports.com. On-the-day adult and children’s tickets will also be available, at a higher cost.

Press calls: Jane Hunt, Catapult PR, 0333 2424062 – jane@catapultpr.co.uk 

1 Statistics taken from a research survey conducted by Censuswide, on behalf of Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show, in late April 2025.

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Editors notes

Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show is an iconic event taking place in the heart of the English Lake District on the August Bank Holiday weekend. Its long historic roots date back to 1868 and it is renowned for its fell running, hound trails and Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling competitions, as well as being a fantastic family day out.