HEADING to the Devon County Show over the next few days?

One of the highlights will be the Great Devon Parade.

National Thank You Day, scheduled for the first time on Sunday, July 4, is thus a timely and worthy occasion to celebrate those who have really stepped up to the plate over the past 15 months.

And those in Devon will be honoured additionally at the county’s biggest agricultural event with an extra special thank you at this year’s Devon County Show.

The Great Devon Parade will be held in the Main Ring on the final day of the three-day show, July 4, which also coincides with National Thank You Day. It will see some 32 organisations from all around the county, parading the show ring, in the presence of a number of dignitaries from the region.

The attendees will also be the recipients of an official salute, taken by the Show’s President for 2021, David Fursdon, The Lord Lieutenant of Devon.

Just some of the organisations to be represented in the Parade include Hospice Care, the Catholic Church Society, the Fire Service, and Young Farmer’s Club.

The Parade is the idea of a group from Devon County Show, all of whom have witnessed the extraordinary lengths so many have gone to in order to connect with their local community.

Show Manager Sam Mackenzie-Green said: ‘We’ve witnessed community kindness in some shape or form during the Pandemic, whether we’ve offered it ourselves or been the recipients.

‘The Parade will be a fitting tribute.’

‘It will be the first time in the show’s history that we’ll be ending the show without animals in the main ring,’ Sam added. ‘As animals can be notoriously unpredictable, it’s humans only in 2021 to ensure we can comply with social distancing regulations!

‘The Main Ring measures 110m x 70m and can easily accommodate the anticipated numbers.’

The Parade will take place at 3pm on Sunday, July 4, at Devon County Show 2021, Westpoint Exeter.

Book tickets

To book tickets for Devon County Show and attend the parade, visit www.devoncountyshow.co.uk. Adult tickets are £20 in advance and under 16s go free on Saturday and Sunday.

Come and meet us

Staff from the Mid-Devon Advertiser, Dawlish Gazette and the Teignmouth Post will be at the show to meet readers.

‘Come up and talk to us on Stand 160, in Avenue F,’ said editor Nick Knight. ‘It’s our first outing to the show and we’re all looking forward to it.’