Rock Up to Grasmere Sports for the Perfect August Bank Holiday Day Out

Families heading to the Lake District for the August Bank Holiday weekend, can enjoy a blissful day out at Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show, if they rock up to its natural arena, in the shadow of some stunning Lakeland fells.

The Show, on Sunday August 24, promises to immerse attendees in irresistible Cumbrian culture, coming free of charge once they’ve bought their entrance ticket.

A full day’s entertainment can be had from the minute the show starts at 10am, signalled by the ceremonial ringing of the bell by the Bellman.  This is soon followed by the National Anthem, played by a whacky brass band including stilt-walking drummer, and then the start of sporting action at 10.30am, when track races commence.

Sporting action is unveiled all around, as the absorbing Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling ring springs into life and hounds and their owners line up for compelling hound trail races, in which the dogs follow an aniseed and paraffin scent across the fells.

Paragliders will soar overhead, as you wander food stalls, or tuck into a picnic you’ve taken along. Dogs can savour 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.

All can 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.  That might mean having to take the eyes off the fellside and the competitive spirit of the fell runners, young and old, whose feats on the steep ascent and descent are addictive to follow.

With hipes, chips and buttocks moves from the back-hold wrestlers from the local area, Scotland, Brittany and Iceland too, and more craft stalls than the Show has hosted for many a year, there’s tons to keep you occupied all day. The pinnacle of the event is then the prestigious Senior Guides fell race at 4.10pm, with everyone’s breath on hold, as they speculate whether the long-standing 1978 record will be broken.

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.

It all adds up to a fantastic day out and the perfect Lake District interlude during your al fresco vacation.  Buy tickets up to June 30 at an exceptionally good-value price of £9 for adults, £5 for kids and £20 for families.  The regular price, to 7pm on August 22 then rises to £12 for adults and £28 for a family (children still paying £5).  A further £3 and £5 is then payable for adult and family tickets bought on the gate (£15 and £33).  Head to www.grasmeresports.com to grab your tickets as fast as possible and then max every ounce of value out of your traditional Cumbrian-culture-filled day out.                                                         

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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.