This year’s Show is bigger and better than ever before, jam packed with entertainment for all the family. With demonstrations, exhibitions, the vintage fun fair and with live music in the early evening it provides the perfect recipe for a great day out!

The Suffolk Show takes place this year on Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th May 2008 – half term week and will be led by newly appointed Show Director, Peter Over. There are 670 livestock and equine classes competing for over £70,000 in prize money. For those that enjoy a little retail therapy there are over 700 tradestands to visit, such as fashion retailers, gardening, craftsmen and much much more.

Not to be missed is the Equimax Metropolitan Police Activity Ride (pictured) in the Grand Ring! This is the first time this amazing equine display has ever been seen at the Suffolk Show. It features over 80 jumps, fast cross-overs and horses jumping through fire and a paper wall! Also in the Ring will be the Grand Parade of livestock, the Heavy Horse classes, and the spectacular Coaching Marathon – which features the best four horse team stage-coaches in the Country.

The President’s Ring also has two full days of entertainment, including the X-treme Trials Motor-cycle Display Team, who “wowed” the crowds at last years show with their daring feats and freestyle tricks. New for 2008, and unlike anything you’ve seen at the Suffolk Show before, we’re proud to present ‘Jive Pony’, which has been delighting crowds throughout the UK with their unique brand of horsemanship, featuring spectacular dancing horses and amazing horseback acrobatics.

Over the two days, many of the UK’s top show jumpers will be competing in five major show-jumping competitions including the Fred Olsen Cruise Lines Grand Prix, all held in the Grand Ring. As always, this year’s show promises excellent livestock competitions and equine riding classes including Arabs, Lusitanos, Mountain & Moorlands, Hunters, Side-saddle and Thoroughbred ridden show horses to name a few. Heavy Horses are once again very well represented in competitive classes, including Shires, Percherons and the Suffolk Horse.

On Thursday 29th we have yet another first for the Show, the Inter Hunt Relay, where 8 local hunt teams will be competing in this fast and furious race featuring many jumps, gates and obstacles.

The Countryside Activity Ring Area will also be a major feature for adults and children alike, featuring a thrilling Birds of Prey display and dipping for creatures at the wildlife pond. Children can also go on the hunt by following the footprint trail leading around all the Countryside displays – and there’s a reward at the end! There’s a fun-packed schedule of activities including Adams Axemen, who will be wielding their axes, the David Seamark Sheepdog Demonstration and the Pakefield ferrets. For dog lovers this year the Ring will feature a special display of the “Best of Breeds” from the Dog Show classes held over the two show days. A wide variety of unique and traditional Suffolk country crafts can also be found in this area.

There will of course be all the family favourites including the Children’s Farmyard, SGR FM Interactive Sports Village, Helter Skelter and Big Wheel. Traditional rural demonstrations include horse shoeing, thatching and sheep shearing and the Suffolk Horse Working Demonstration, staged by the Suffolk Horse Society. All budding horticulturalists must not miss visiting the highly popular Model Gardens and Flower Show featuring up to 30 exhibitors many of whom exhibit at Chelsea. The 15ft high Flower Tower will be planted with a World first variegated Ipatiens (busy lizzie), which will be launched at the Show by Thompson & Morgan.

Suffolk Skills features many of the traditional skills that are being taught in Colleges across the County; painting, hair & beauty therapy, automotive skills and carpentry to name a few. There will also be an extra Award this year; the “Ashley Surtees Memorial Award”, to commemorate the untimely passing of this very talented student who competed in the PAVE Award at last years Show.

The theme for this year’s Farminanglia area is “Suffolk’s Hidden Treasure” in conjunction with International Year of the Potato. Children will be able to dig up potatoe’s and learn all about this diverse vegetable. Rachel Green returns with her Cookery Theatre, with plenty of recipes to inspire the gourmet chef in all of us. The Farminanglia area is also the home of the Children’s Farm, where young visitors can interact with the many different animals including lambs, goats, and even a chance to see chicks and ducklings hatch!

The Food Hall, one of the Show’s most popular features, has been revamped for 2008, following a new partnership between the Suffolk Show and Adnams Brewery. Now renamed the ‘Food & Drink Experience’ it offers outstanding culinary creations, tasty treats, exquisite desserts, and wholesome country fare. There will also be mouth-watering demonstrations at the Cookery Theatre to tempt and inspire the gourmet in all of us. For wine enthusiasts, there will be a wide variety of delicious wines to taste and enjoy. You certainly can’t afford to miss the Food & Drink Experience!

Other features that are a must to visit include The SGR Interactive Sports Village, where Suffolk Sport will be promoting sport, active recreation and healthy lifestyles with fun-packed demonstrations, displays and sport-related activities for all ages. Other sports represented in the area include sailing, tennis, cricket, golf and of course Ipswich Town Football Club who will returning with some of their players. The X-treme Trials Motor-cycle Display Team will be based here and perform their fearless display twice a day.

The Trinity Park Events’ successful multi-million pound conference and events centre will once again be transformed into the Luxurious Lifestyle Pavillion an elegant showcase of Suffolk’s finest interior design and furnishing businesses.

On the first evening of the Show, Take On That, a superb ‘Take That’ tribute band, will be performing from 6.30 pm in the President’s Lawn area. Other musical entertainment during the Show will be provided by the Ipswich Over 50’s Brass Band, the Ipswich Hospital Band and the Ipswich Caribbean Steel Band!

“As organisers of the Suffolk Show we truly believe the content and diversity of this year’s show will be one that has the potential to be one of our best” stated Christopher Bushby, Executive Director. “The team have been working to ensure that the Show experience is second to none. We look forward to welcoming you all to this year’s Show.”

As well as offering a discount, Pre-Show tickets allow fast track entry onto the Showground on Show days. Pre-Show discounted tickets are available now from Trinity Park office, the dedicated ticket line – 01473 707117 or online at www.suffolkshow.co.uk and will be on sale until Thursday 22 May. Ticket prices this year are: Adults £16.00 on the day (£14.00 pre-Show) children £6.00 (£5.00 pre-Show) and Senior citizens’ £12 (£11.00 pre-Show). Car parking on the day is £5 (£4 pre-Show). The family ticket offers excellent value at £35 for two adults, two children plus car parking. Family tickets are also available on the day at £40 but exclude the Car park ticket. Members’ tickets cost £37 each and allow admission to the Showground on both days, free entrance to the Flower Show, together with forward car parking and access to the Ringside Club facilities.