Shop for Christmas at RWAS Winter Fair
Christmas shopping has become one of the big attractions for visitors to the Royal Welsh Winter Fair. According to an on-line survey conducted following last year’s Fair, 17.5% of respondents said that shopping for Christmas gifts was one of the main reasons for their visit to the event. So, with just over three weeks to go to Christmas following this year’s Winter Fair on November 30 – December 1, and with some 300 trade stands to choose from, shopping will again be high on the agenda for many visitors.
The Winter Fair was established 20 years ago and it rapidly built a reputation as the finest prime stock show in Britain. By 1995, however, the RWAS recognised the need to develop the event by broadening its appeal to a wider audience especially farmers’ families. Today, a significant proportion of Winter Fair goers are drawn from urban as well as rural areas.
Flower arranging, antiques, art, fashion, jewellery, cosmetics, crafts, clothing and demonstrations of various activities are now all part of the enhanced programme. The produce and handicrafts show at the Fair attracts enthusiastic competitors – and audiences – from across Wales and further afield and the classes have become a test of the flair, imagination and skill of exhibitors. The ability to prepare and present delicious confections and mouth-watering savouries is high on the list of requirements for competitors in the produce section while inspiration and inventiveness are also needed to produce winning exhibits in the handicraft classes.
The theme for this year’s produce and handicrafts show which also has a number of classes for children, is ‘Christmas Music’ and the RWAS will award Welsh Royal Crystal and championship prize cards to competitors gaining the most number of points.
Floral art displays at the Fair, which were again well-rated in last year’s survey, also demand imagination and original thinking by competitors. The theme for 2009 is ‘In the bleak mid winter’ and there are classes ranging from a Christmas door decoration entitled ‘A warm welcome’ to ‘Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’ which has attracted a record entry of 117 exhibits. Floral art and cake decorating demonstrations will be featured in the showground’s International Pavilion where visitors can also enjoy a free glass of mulled wine and a mince pie. Santa will be located in his grotto situated opposite the Pavilion.
As well as the show and sale of livestock with some 1400 entries, the Winter Fair also stages a major poultry show and a hound show and the popular Food Hall displays the best produce from Wales – the ideal location for purchasing food and drink for the festive season.