From marvelling at pumpkins that could rival Cinderella's carriage, to seeing celebrity guests and tucking into some of the tastiest local produce around, the Malvern Autumn Show promises a fantastic family day out.
Taking place from Friday 22 to Sunday 24 September 2023 at the Three Counties Showground, just over the Gloucestershire border, the three-day show is a spectacular celebration of the season, which also incorporates the CANNA UK Giant Vegetables Championship offering up a bumper crop of gigantic veggies from massive marrows to colossal carrots — with 11 Guinness World Records broken at the 2022 event!
Award-winning food writer and grower, Mark Diacono, is hosting The Kitchen Theatre and providing cooking demonstrations throughout the weekend. Special guests for 2023 include Great British Bake Off winner and Strictly star, John Whaite, sharing stories and memories from his new memoir Dancing on Eggshells; and fellow Bake Off contestant Crystelle Pereira who is discussing how to make vegetables the star of the table with chef and photographer, Joe Woodhouse.
Also on the bill are author Helen Rebanks, who shares her love of food and farming; author and expert forager, Liz Knight; loveable German GBBO contestant Jürgen Krauss, who is cooking up Christmas treats with The Ginger Pig's Rebecca Seal; and Channel 4 Sunday Brunch regulars, Joel Ridley and Neil Harrison shaking up cocktails using 'the world's best spirits'.
Nicki Chapman hosts The Garden Theatre, which welcomes Gardeners' World presenters Adam Frost and Arit Anderson; BBC The Big Allotment Challenge floral expert, Jonathan Moseley; award-winning gardener and broadcaster, Ben Dark; and author Kiran Sidhu, who are all sharing tips and showing off their skills; while professional horticulturalist and presenter, Martin Fish, hosts The Potting Shed.
Green-fingered guests can get inspired at the RHS Flower Show, with showstopping floral displays from handpicked nurseries across the country and RHS gardening advisers on-hand to offer horticultural tips. Many of the nurseries in attendance also offer an abundance of specialist plants, flowers and bulbs to take home, too. There's even a plant crèche, which will take care of your purchases during the day, so you can pick them up when you're ready to head home.
Foodies can eat and drink their way around the Three Counties, sipping on cider from the Westons Cider Garden, sampling local spirits and cocktails in the Gin Village, tucking into tasty street food or shopping for artisan produce to take home in the Food and Drink Village; while shopaholics can pick up everything from plants and bulbs in the Gardening Village to beautiful handmade crafts, artwork, homewares, fashion and accessories at the Countryside Shopping Pavilion.
There's plenty to keep families entertained, too, with circus skills, pedal tractors, garden games and bushcraft skills on the Family Green; talented pooches performing in the Top Dogs Arena; and new friends to make at the World of Animals with guinea pigs, rabbits, alpacas, horses and sheep to see.
Visitors can even take a step back in time at the Vintage Village, with classic caravans and vintage vehicles on display; retro dancing to take part in; a vintage pub and wartime tea room providing retro refreshments; and demonstrations of traditional skills from blacksmithing and forestry skills to willow weaving in the rural craft area.
