Village celebration draws families, competitors and volunteers
The Kirkby Fleetham Feast was back in full on Saturday 8 August, with villagers and visitors flocking to the North Yorkshire green for a day of traditional games, live entertainment and a packed show tent. Organisers said the turnout was among the biggest in recent years, signalling a hearty appetite for the kind of hands-on, community events that have become rarer on the summer calendar.
The arena hosted a mixture of activities old and new. Outdoor attractions ranged from the raucous — an egg-throwing contest and a tug-of-war — to the whimsical, such as a space-hopper obstacle course. Inside the show tent, judges had their work cut out evaluating entries across flowers, baking, handicrafts, bygones and children’s categories.
- Traditional games included egg throwing, space-hopper races and tug-of-war.
- Entertainment featured dance performances including Richmond School of Dance and line-dancing sessions.
- Show tent displayed high-quality entries in horticulture, baking, crafts and children’s classes.
Performances by the Bedale Hunt and local dance groups created a convivial atmosphere, while the family class challenge — to design a decorated lion — proved a particular crowd-pleaser, producing entries with names such as “Lion's Pride”, “The Mane Event” and “Lion-el Messi”. The imaginative turn from families underlined how the feast blends competitive showmanship with plenty of humour.
“A wonderful day was had by all, and the organisers would like to thank everyone who entered the show, took part in the games and entertainment, volunteered their time, supported the event and came along to enjoy the day.”
The organisers’ note of thanks highlighted the scale of volunteer effort that keeps the feast running — a reminder that many such rural gatherings depend on local goodwill as much as on ticket sales. Trophies and awards were handed out at the close, marking achievement in a variety of categories and capping a day of friendly rivalry.
Trophies and local winners
Among the awards named by organisers, a handful were confirmed to have gone to local exhibitors. The named winners included Nicki Walsh and Winter Hardisty, each taking home notable cups.
| Prize | Winner |
|---|---|
| Beaverwood Cup (best local vegetable exhibit) | Nicki Walsh |
| Alby Dale Cup (best exhibit in local section) | Winter Hardisty |
The source coverage listed the Cottagers Cup among the named awards, though the published rundown was truncated before the winner’s name could be confirmed. Organisers have thanked all contributors and attendees for making the day a success.
For Kirkby readers and others across the North West with an interest in county shows and village traditions, events like the Kirkby Fleetham Feast are a useful reminder of the scale of community effort that underpins rural life. They provide a chance to celebrate local skills — from horticulture to handicrafts — and to pass on informal cultural practices to a new generation in a setting that remains strongly social rather than commercial.
As county fairs and village feasts reckon with changing leisure habits and tighter budgets, the visible return to strong attendance this summer will be encouraging for organisers and volunteers. It also suggests a continuing market for family-friendly, low-cost events that offer hands-on participation and visible reward — trophies, applause and a day outdoors.
Organisers say they will be reviewing the event and compiling a full list of winners for publication in local newsletters and social channels. For now, the consensus in the village was simple and positive: a good day had been had by many, and the community had shown the sort of spirit that keeps these traditions alive.
