Every smallholder's favourite family event, The Smallholding and Countryside Festival, returns to the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells, this coming spring.

Taking place on 18th and 19th May, the weekend-long event is a celebration of rural life with smallholding pursuits at its heart, showcasing the real diversity of the Welsh countryside.

Together with an array of display ring attractions, competitions, children's activities, shopping tradestands, live music, and delicious food and drink, the Festival promises to be a fantastic day out for all!

Entries for livestock and equine competitions are now open and competitors can view the schedules and enter online at our website. With over 600 livestock classes and special awards for sheep, pigs, goats and cattle, many of which are for traditional, rare and native breeds, there is an opportunity for everyone to get involved.

Entries close on Wednesday 3rd April.

This year’s festival will host qualifiers for the British Show Horse Association (BSHA) Royal International Horse Show and Senior Showing and Dressage Ltd (SSADL), British Show Pony Society (BSPS) and British Show Horse Association (BSHA) London International Horse Show.

Once again the Premier Open Dog Show (Crufts 2025 Qualifier) will be a big attarction. Entries are now open for the 2025 Crufts Qualifier where rosettes, prize money and quality pet food are all up for grabs for the winning canines. Postal entries close Tuesday 9th April, and online entries close Tuesday 30th. Go to the FDS website to view the schedules and to enter.

All the usual attractions and areas will be at the event for you to enjoy. The Smallholders Centre will continue to be the main port of call for those wanting to learn more about the smallholder’s way of life, with talks and demos from the Glamorgan Smallholders networking and support group. It's also the ideal place to stock up on the essentials from the agricultural tradestands - whether you need a new bucket or perhaps a piece of machinery.

The Country Life Area will also feature Panic Family Circus, the Woodville Medieval Re-enactment Group, petting farm, donkey encounter, forestry competitions, and sporting and countryside activities, all accompanied by live music from the bandstand.

The display ring has a jam-packed bill, including Dangerous Steve’s thrilling quad and motorbike stunt show, Paws for Thought Dog Display Team, show jumping and working hunter competitions, scurry driving, and Meirion Owen and his sheepdogs.

The Meirionnydd Shearing Centre will host wool handling and blade shearing competitions throughout the weekend, demonstrations from the Gwent Guild of Spinners and Weavers, a vintage shearing display, and wool related tradestands. Wool handling and blade shearing competitions entries are due to open in late March.

It wouldn’t be a Royal Welsh event without showcasing the best food and drink produce that Wales has to offer! Sample the delicious goods in the renowned Food Hall or grab a tasty bite at one of our many food stalls in the Welsh Food Village, Gwledd | Feast.

The Royal Welsh Showground is easily accessible from all routes, is dog-friendly and has plenty of free onsite parking.

Tickets are available online. Early-bird adult tickets are £18 and children’s tickets are £5. You can also purchase a family ticket. Discounted tickets are available for RWAS members until 30th April.

Visit rwas.wales or to buy tickets.