Lustleigh Show

The Lustleigh Village Show describes itself as a great family day out at a traditional country show in the Dartmoor National Park, with a full day of attractions, crafts, produce, music and sideshows in a field with secure borders. It is held every August Bank Holiday Monday (Monday 31 August in 2026 and Monday 30 August in 2027), with the gates open from 10am to 5.30pm. Surplus money goes to local good causes.

The programme includes the Horticultural Show, which was the show's founding event, the Dog Show, the Lustleigh 10k Run, a main ring programme, a classic vehicles exhibition, the Makers Marquee of local artisans (new in 2026), ferret and terrier racing, a climbing wall, archery, children's entertainers, caterers, trade exhibitors and jazz from the Dart Valley Stompers.

Wikipedia dates the show to 1887, when it was first recorded as the Lustleigh Cottage Garden Show, held in a field next to the railway station and the cricket field. Sports competitions were added in 1889, in 1900 stormy weather collapsed the horticultural tent, and in 1901 it had more than 500 horticultural exhibits. Maypole dancing and tilting the bucket were part of it by 1912, a gymkhana was added in 1947 when the show moved to the fields at Kelly Farm, and a goat show ran from 1948 to 1995. In 1965 the show moved with the August Bank Holiday to the end of August.

The Lustleigh Horticultural Society ran the show until 1990, and a dedicated committee has run it since. The Red Arrows and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight have flown over it.