Kent County Show 11-13 July
PUBLISHED: 17:31 28 June 2014
Kent County Show
Manu Palomeque
Following 2013’s sunshine and record visitor numbers, the Kent County Show is celebrating 50 years at the Detling site with a special visit by its royal patron, HRH The Duke of Kent
The Kent County Show is not only celebrating 50 years at the Detling showground in 2014, but is also welcoming its Patron, HRH The Duke of Kent, KG on the first day. On Friday 11 July he will officially open the new Maidstone Exhibition Hall, a purpose-built single-span permanent exhibition and conference space with capacity for up to 4,900 people.
The three-day event brings together the best of Kent with animals and food, fun and excitement and a real sense of all The Garden of England has to offer.
Open from 8am to 6pm, the Show is a great day out for the whole family, with plenty of entertainment as well as local and international food at six large food courts. Don’t miss Produced in Kent’s 40-plus stalls in one impressive area, a showcase for their members and the best of Kent.
There will be more than 400 exhibitors and trade stands and an impressive 300-plus competitions, activities and displays. New this year is website featuring gallery pictures of events, demonstrations, activities and competitions so visitors can get a visual feel of the show before visiting.
Lucy Hegarty, show manager said: “The new website will work alongside our Kent County Show iphone app which can be downloaded free from the App Store. Visitors can either use the ‘Plan Your Day’ system on our website or the iphone app.
“We have more than 100 individual events taking place each day, so the features offered on our website and app will help visitors plan their perfect day. Once an itinerary is created, it can be printed or emailed.”
The website also includes a competition to win family tickets for the 2014 Show.
The Kent Spitfire
In addition to the Show’s own anniversary, The Spirit of Kent, better known as The Kent Spitfire, will fly over the showground on all three days to mark the 70th anniversary of the D-Day Landings and to commemorate the 100th anniversary
of the start of the First World War.
The aircraft, an MK9 TA805 with the No. 234 Squadron colours, flies in memory of No. 131 (County of Kent) Fighter Squadron.
The Kent Showground famously sits next to the site of the former RAF Detling Airfield, a base that played an important part in D-Day, 6 June 1944.
Minutes from mainland Europe, Detling was ideal for large fighter units to assemble and attack enemy positions.
The airfield was home to three squadrons, 132, 184 and 602, led by Wing Commander RD Rule. The squadrons, made up of Spitfires, Hurricanes and Mustands, had two main duties: to escort bombers to their targets and attacking German V1 (flying bomb) sites, which continued until the site was decommissioned in December 1944.
Ticket prices
Family tickets are £37 pre-paid (2 x adult and 2 x child) and £45 on the gate.
Adult tickets are £20 on the gate, £18 in advance, a child ticket is £6 on the gate and £5 pre-paid (child ticket is valid from five to 15 years). A senior ticket is £13 on the gate and £11.50 in advance. Student tickets are £13 on the gate, £11 in advance.
Parking is free, children under five are free, dogs on a lead are welcome (but not in the food or livestock areas please). n
