The Harbottle Show is a traditional Borders Show with a great mix of the old and the new. As well as Produce and Craft competitions, Sheep classes, Terrier races, Quoits, Cumberland Wrestling and also a Car Boot Sale, Food stalls, Trade Tents, Have a Go Archery, a Dog show, Childrens Games and our own mini Music festival in the Music Stage Tent.
It's a grand day out for all the family.
The show is held in "The Oak Field" at Harbottle. A magnificent setting, the site is a natural amphitheatre below the fells of the ancient Drakestone and overseen be ruins of Harbottle Castle.
According to the Schedule for the show held on Saturday 8th October, 1932, it was "The Seventieth Annual Show". That suggests that the first Show was held about 1862. It may have been 1859 as the Show probably wasn't held during WW1.
Over the years the Show has kept with tradition, with activities such as the Cumberland Wrestling, Terrier racing and Northumberland Quoits competitions, now we also have entertainments, childrens games, Have a go Archery, a Car Boot sale, Music and much more. In particular this year we have an exhibition about the Harbottle Castle and displays of old crafts such as Spinning, Basketry and Pole Lathe demonstrations.
If you have any items, photographs, or personal memories of historical importance to the Show please contact the secretary via the contacts form below.
Old Games. New Games. Serious fun for all the family.
Keeping up the long tradition of village shows across England, the folk of Harbottle bring in their produce and craft work to compete and display in the Exhibition Tent all with the hope of a First and the Red Rosette.
So come along early and enter anything from your prized Gladioli, you best Jam or even a Giant Leek. This years schedule will be available shortly but in the mean time you can take a look at the full list of last years competitiion classes in the Show Schedule 2017. And if baking is your thing then why not try your hand at class 57 the Singing Hinny made to a set recipe. (click here for a copy).
Keeping up a long tradition, the Rothbury Highland Pipe Band are at the show every year. The band was formed in 1920 as Rothbury Kilted Pipe Band. Currenly there are 22 in number including new young pipers and drummers learning the ropes to ensure the Band will continue well into the future.
Now in its fifth year at the Harbottle Show, 'The Music Stage' goes from strength to stength and we are now working hard to bring a fantastic range of performers to the 2018 show. In the past we have been privileged to host Rod Clements of Lindisfarne fame and Alistair Anderson the internationally recognized master of the English Concertina and Northumbrian Pipes and a whole host of great local performers and bands.
In 2017 we had a great line up for the whole afternoon including the winners the RGS Battle of the Bands Competition 2016 Alnwicky a fantastic up and coming young band.
Click on the poster to see the 2017 full line up.
Proceedings were opened at noon by the Rothbury Highland Pipe Band to rally the crowds, and then the fun began.
A collection of a few pictures from our past shows.
Click to enlarge.
