Chatsworth Country Fair 2012
Friday 31 August, Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 September
Information for Trade Stands
Prospective Trade Stand Holders
Chatsworth Country Fair is held over 3 days, and is always the Friday, Saturday and Sunday following the August Bank Holiday. This means the 31st August, the 1st and 2nd of September in 2012. It also falls usually on the last days of the summer holidays.
Held in the park of Chatsworth House, home to the Dukes of Devonshire, the 2012 event will be the 31st Country Fair. It has become one of the largest and best in England, and is an essential part of the Derbyshire and Midlands calendar. Given good weather, we can expect crowds of the order of 90,000 people over the three days. The focus of the Show is the Grand Ring on the "big flat", with over 300 trade stands and crafts. Around the park are over 40 showground attractions, many with a country theme. Details of these can be found on the website.
Some of them are mini shows in their own right. For example, the Country Fair hosts one of the largest Horse Driving meets of the year, one of the biggest hot air balloon lifts in the country after Bristol, a major sporting clay pigeon shoot, a much-loved pipe band contest (small by Scottish standards, we concede!), a top-class sheep dog trial, a top-class gundog team test, a busy fishing area, a large fine food village, one of the most signicant gatherings of Vintage Cars in the Midlands, a countryman's area, and many more Have-A-Go sections and exhibits.
The demographic of our exhibitors is very wide, with people of all socio-economic groups and all ages. They come from the countryside and from the bigger connurbations of the Midlands, Sheffield being our biggest and nearest City, but we are frequently surprised at visitors from as far away as Cornwall, Kent or the North of Scotland.
Our aim is to make the Country Fair a great family day out, with good fun for all ages combined with a strong country theme. There is much to explore, discover, try - as well as some great shopping.
Applying
Chatsworth Country Fair is popular with Traders, and we are careful to maintain a high standard and a good variety. All Traders applying for the first time are asked to write to the Country Fair Office with full details of their business, enclosing as much information as possible, including literature, catalogues, leaflets, details of their website, other shows attended, trading history etc. We also like to see a photograph of your stand at a previous show.
Of course you may also do this by email but please give us as much information as you can.
The postal address is Chatsworth Country Fair, Bunkers Hill, Walsingham, Norfolk NR22 6AZ.
We are keen to maintain a high standard, a broad variety of stands, and not to have too many of any one business sector. (We find, for example, that we are oversubscribed with applications from the dog-bed, jewellery, bags, some styles of oudoor clothing, and garden furniture sectors, amongst others!)
Please note that the sale of food or drink for consumption on the showground is not allowed.
The Fine Food Village
Now in its fifth year, and very popular with visitors, the range of exhibitors aims to bring interesting and diverse foods and drinks to an increasingly discerning public. Our criteria for this area are rather different, and we ask you to ring us to discuss it if you want to apply.
Other areas
FESTIVAL OF FOODS. This is a generalist marquee, run by the Festival of Foods that exhibits at many venues throughout the year. See their website, or telephone them on 01455 287076.
CRAFT EXHIBITORS. There are four main generalist marquees for craft exhibitors: the Rural Crafts Association (see their website, or telephone them on 01428 682292); Heart of England (see their website, or telephone them on 01905 21702); Eden Crafts (see their website, or telephone 0208 7884434); and The Shopping Marquee (see their website, or telephone them on 01482 790092).