Annual Events at Staffordshire County Showground

The Staffordshire County Showground, situated on the outskirts of Stafford, serves as one of the West Midlands' premier multi-purpose exhibition venues. Throughout the calendar year, the showground hosts an extensive range of major recurring events covering agriculture, classic motoring, antiques, canine competitions, and holiday festivals. This guide highlights the primary annual events that draw thousands of visitors to the venue every year.

The Staffordshire County Show

Held annually at the end of May or beginning of June, the Staffordshire County Show is the venue’s flagship event. This two-day agricultural showcase highlights the county's farming heritage with competitive livestock classes for cattle, sheep, pigs, and goats. The event also features showjumping, a country pursuits area, local food pavilions, artisan crafts, and central arena displays including monster trucks or aerial acrobatic displays.

The English Winter Fair

Organised by the Staffordshire Agricultural Society in late November, the English Winter Fair is a major highlight in the British livestock calendar. The two-day indoor agricultural event focuses on the primestock industry, showcasing live cattle, sheep, and pig classes, alongside national butcher and carcass competitions.

Carole Nash Classic Motorcycle Shows

The venue is widely recognised as a hub for vintage motorcycle enthusiasts, hosting two major international motorcycle events annually:

• The International Classic MotorCycle Show (April): Celebrates vintage and historic motorbikes, offering trade stands, club displays, private collections, and the high-profile Bonhams motorcycle auction.
• The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show (October): Focuses predominantly on machines from the 1960s, 70s, 80s, and 90s, highlighting motorcycle restoration, spare parts, and special guest appearances from racing legends.

The Classic Dirt Bike Show

Taking place in mid-February, the Classic Dirt Bike Show caters directly to off-road motorcycling enthusiasts. The weekend focuses on trials, motocross, and enduro history, exhibiting historic off-road machines, aftermarket part suppliers, and interviews with notable figures from the dirt-biking circuit.

Antiques and Collectors Fairs

Throughout the year, the showground’s Bingley Hall hosts regular antique and collectors fairs, most notably events organized by Bowman Antiques Fairs. Running across multiple weekends annually, these events bring together hundreds of dealers from across the UK offering vintage furniture, silver, porcelain, jewellery, and rare retro curiosities.

Championship Dog Shows

The showground acts as a regular venue for several national and regional canine events. Major annual championship shows include the Birmingham Dog Show Society Championship and dedicated specialty shows hosted by various breed clubs, featuring thousands of competing pedigree dogs aiming for Crufts qualification.

Toy, Train, and Hobby Fairs

Several times a year, collectors gather for toy, train, and model fairs. These events feature dealers selling rare diecast models, model railways, vintage action figures, and pop culture memorabilia, attracting collectors from across the region.