This Bank Holiday Sunday, August 24, Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show invites families to trade screen time for ‘serene time’, experiencing not only the celebrated traditions older than the modern Olympics but also the debut of the exhilarating Grasmere Hike and Fly paragliding race.
Competitors and visitors from across the UK, Iceland, France and beyond will gather on the Showfield in Grasmere, eagerly awaiting the Bellman’s official opening declaration at 10am, a cherished ritual, although gates open one hour earlier.
‘Will there be record-breakers?’ is the question on everyone’s lips as the 50th anniversary of the Under-17s fell race record from 1975, when Blue Peter’s John Noakes competed in Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling and fell racing, is commemorated.
Part of the event’s charm is its inclusivity. Just like Noakes, anyone can join in, whether to burn energy, challenge themselves or win medals. Noakes also raced in the prestigious Senior Guides event, the day’s final fell race. Its record, set in 1978, has long awaited a challenger, with £500 on offer for anyone who breaks it.
Spectating on the fell offers families, especially city-dwellers, serene moments amid breathtaking scenery. The Grasmere Showfield provides a rare mix of relaxation and excitement, blending contemporary thrills with historic tradition.
It is not just human athletes on show. Trail hounds compete too, following a 10-mile aniseed-scented course with determination.
This year, serenity and spectacle will combine as the new Grasmere Hike and Fly paragliding race takes to the skies. Colourful parachutes will drift overhead as competitors launch, navigate designated Lakeland landing points and return to the Showfield, adding a fresh layer of drama.
Some of the nation’s top paragliders will vie for the honour of being the first winner. From the dash out of the Pavilion to the race to the finish line, spectators can follow every move on screens as athletes hike and fly between checkpoints.
Meanwhile, around the Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling ring, fans can spend hours absorbed in the bouts. With participants from Brittany, Iceland and Scotland, this traditional back-hold wrestling can become a new favourite, even for those witnessing it for the first time. Research commissioned by Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show reveals only 5% of Brits have ever seen these wrestling contests.
Getting children off screens and onto a collection of unusual bicycles, including an unrideable one, is a win for parents. Visitors can also marvel at traditional fairground artist Sam the Scam or enjoy the stilt-walking Fat Cat Brass Band.
Adults stressed by office life can try their hand at plate spinning with Circus Avago while kids and grown-ups alike can master circus skills or relive schooldays with a tug-of-war.
The show will feature a large array of craft stalls for lovers of handmade goods, the Fell Gather Roadshow with sheep and the Lakeland Dialect Society offering lessons in Cumbrian phrases.
Add a fun dog show, classic cars, fairground attractions and tempting festival food, and Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show delivers the perfect mix that captivates every visitor.
Advance tickets, cheaper than on-the-day, are on sale until 7pm on August 22 at www.grasmeresports.com. Prices are £12 for adults, £5 for children aged 5 to 15, and £28 for a family ticket, two adults and two children. Gates close at 5pm.
