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[chickenanne]

Our local flower show is struggling a bit, and am after ideas to get more entrants..... so, who else could I turn to but Omleteers?

The show is mid-August, and where I am (Scotland) that means the schools ahve been back a week or so before the show day (which is a Saturday). There are closed categories (for locals only) and open categories (for anyone to enter). Cost per entry is 10pence (! I know, very cheap but has to fund the printing of programs and hire of the hall, and the like!).

 

Aside from all this, it would be great if you could think of the following and let me know your advice!

 

What would make you want to enter your local show?

If you do have one but don't enter, why not?

What fruit /flower/veg categories would tempt you to enter: what do you grow? what would you like to grow? What would you like to see if you were going round a village show?

What could be done to a local show to make you personally want to enter?

 

Thanks!

[C&T]

Thinking of categories/events at our local show (not sure if would help) but here goes:

 

- Lots of different cookery categories, including ones for children (split into age groups) and men only ones

- Also with the cookery, classes where you are given the recipe, which you have to follow to the letter, and who ever makes the best one wins

- Local school does a big craft display, along with other groups in the village (church groups/uniformed groups etc), as well as encourge the children to make things for all the other childrens craft categories - great to encourage lots of entrants! Schools do it in the art lessons etc

- Photography as well as other craft techniques (embroidery, knitting etc) are all very popular with the adults

- there is a theme each year, which is followed right through all the floristry, cookery and craft categories.

- Displaying Fruit and Veg is very popular - all the usual stuff - tomatoes, lettuce, cabbages, carrots, potatoes etc etc etc

- Lots of stalls, hosted by local charities selling bits and pieces, or running raffles or silly games, like hoopla etc. i.e. local scout and guide groups, NSPCC, hospice etc.

- Show always starts with a parade through the village, led by that years Flower Princess in a vintage car, with marching band and Scout's and Guide's in full uniform.

 

The event is a big event in the village and surrounding area. There is a big arena, where the local school will put on a display in the afternoon, along with the marching band or the local gym club etc. Even had fly overs and people parachuting into the arena before now!

 

Not sure if this helps... But involving all the local groups, and getting children interested and participating, seems to be the key to getting the adults there.

 

Good luck!

[chickenanne]

Thanks for the tips!

 

I see exactly what you're saying about making it a proper Event. But the village already has a local gala day, which has a parade/stalls/etc etc and am not sure that including too much in the flower show would go down well due to that. I don't think moving the date of either would be greeted enthusiastically by the people who do get involved and are active in making these events happen. I know I sound like am making problems !

 

It does have photo competition (which has a decent number of entrants), and some craft competiions, but the latter never gets many entrants, which is a shame. Am not sure if this is more to do with fewer people doing craft-type-stuff, or how old fashioned the categories are (crochet teacosy and the like - the same categories every year). Will try suggesting a re-vamp of those categories: there has to be a limit as to how many crochet tea-cosies entrants want to make after all!

 

It also has cooking sections -oops, sorry "domestic industrial" - but maybe need to have more "macho" stuff like savouries (its jam and cakes, so maybe amalgamate the innumerable jam categories and include something like chutneys /pickles / potted meat or whatever would get more entries). What d'you reckon?

 

I really like the idea of a theme, that must help things seem fresh each year.

 

Any other help and advice would be great.

[C&T]

You don't want to trample on toes that's for sure!!

 

But involving the local youth groups (if you have any) could be good. And get their leaders help you choose the classes. i.e. they can suggest things that they have got time to make in their meetings (be if craft or cooking), and therefore upping your level of entrants and interest.

 

"Macho" cooking sounds good!

 

It's so hard planning these things - and even if an event get's zero interest, there will still be resistance to any type of change - "But we've always done it like this" seems a regular cry from the masses, who don't actually help run the event or take part... But perhaps that is just in Surrey!

 

Good luck!

[chickenanne]

I can already hear the cries opf "but this is how we've always done it" echoing round!