Masham Sheep Fair to make its annual return this weekend

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Masham Sheep Fair will make its annual return this weekend.

The event, which takes place around the town’s Market Square, marks Masham’s rich history of sheep sales, where up to 70,000 sheep were sold each year.

The first sheep fair, which was also a nod to the town’s history, was a one-off fundraising event held in 1985 by Susan Cunliffe-Lister and a group of volunteers.

They raised £7,950 for charity and, from then on, decided to host the event annually.

The sheep fair has since raised a total of £158,700 for various Yorkshire charities.

This year, people can look forward to sheep showing, sheep racing, a craft market and sheepdog demonstrations.

There will also be art exhibitions, tours of Theakstons Brewery and Black Sheep Brewery and children’s fair. 

The sheep fair will be held on Saturday and Sunday (September 27 and 28).

Both days will kick off at 10am, when the town hall and school exhibitions open.

Judging for the show will begin at 10.45am, alongside the flower festival at St Mary’s Church. 

The sheep show will be held on a trailer in front of the town hall, and sheep racing will take place in the field beyond the churchyard at midday.

Saturday’s event will come to a close after the 3.30pm sheep show, whilst Sunday’s event will culminate with a 6.30pm service at the Methodist Chapel.

Founder Susan Cunliffe-Lister told the Stray Ferret that preparations were going well.

The event is free to attend but programmes cost £2, which will be donated to local charities.