THE Great Yorkshire Show takes place this week, and is once again set to be one of the key events in the naitonal farming calendar.

If you're heading to the Harrogate showground, here's five must-see attractions for each of the three days.

TUESDAY

  • Watch a daredevil parachute display from the RAF Falcons from 12.35pm to 12.55pm in the Main RingThe Northern Echo:
  • Learn some culinary tips from celebrity chef Rosemary Shrager who is just one of the experts giving demonstrations in the Cookery Theatre throughout the three days.
  • Be dazzled by the talents of stunt horses from Yorkshire-based Atkinsons Action Horses - the team behind the equine stars in the two hugely successful TV series, Poldark and Victoria - who will be giving displays in the main ring each day
  • Check out the Food and Dairy show running all day in Hall 1
  • Admire the vintage machines parked up on the President’s Lawn, including a rare tractor produced in 1917.​

FULL PREVIEW: Attractions galore at Great Yorkshire Show

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WEDNESDAY

  • Join the trendsetters and see new Yorkshire Agricultural Society tweed designs on stage at the Great Yorkshire Show Catwalk, with fashion shows daily at 11am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm and 4pm.
  • International shearers will go head-to-head in a thrilling England v New Zealand Sheep Shearing “Test Match”.
  • Visitors can take a virtual pig tour every day at 11am and 2pm with sisters Vicky Scott and Kate Moore, who run a family pig farm in East Yorkshire.
  • The Grand Cattle Parade and Final Judging of the Blythewood Pairs takes place in the Main Ring, from 2pm to 3pmThe Northern Echo:
  • Watch tradition and technology collide in the Forestry Area with harvester vs chainsaw and Cumbrian Axemen demonstrations throughout the day

THURSDAY

  • The Great British Poleclimbing Championships will reach their climax in the Forestry Arena
  • Pick up some top tips from BBC gardening expert Carol Klein who is giving talks in the Garden Show throughout the dayThe Northern Echo:
  • Have a go at cheerleading with open workshops in the Discovery area
  • Take in gun dog, hound dog and falconry displays in the Country Pursuits area
  • The Band of the Royal Armoured Corps will play the Grand Finale in the Main Ring from 6.15pm

Planning your trip

DRIVERS are advised to plan ahead as more than 130,000 people are expected to head for the showground from Tuesday to Thursday.

Andrew Charnick, emergency planning officer for Highways England in Yorkshire, said the authority would do all it could to alleviate congestion on the major routes to the event - particularly the A1 and A59 - but it would be busier than normal in the area.

He said: “We work very closely with partners including the police to ensure people travelling to events can get around as smoothly as possible.

"We are advising road users to plan their journeys into Harrogate next week – that might mean a simple check for congestion before leaving the house, delaying their journeys or even opting for a different mode of transport on the day.

“We have a lot of experience of handling events like this and have tried and tested systems in place.

The Northern Echo: Traffic is expected to be very heavy during the Great Yorkshire Show times (file photo) Picture: STEWART ATTWOOD

"We work with our emergency service colleagues to ensure those heading for the event get there with minimum fuss and delays.

“Motorists not planning to attend the show should plan ahead and leave extra time, and check our twitter feeds and website for the latest information to ease their journeys over that weekend.”

Drivers can check travel conditions before setting out on journeys at trafficengland.com

Information is also available from Twitter via https://twitter.com/highwaysyorks and at highways.gov.uk/traffic-information