With the evenings drawing in and the leaves starting to turn, the autumnal feeling in the air signals that the Royal Welsh Winter Fair is just around the corner.

It won’t be long until the showground in Llanelwedd is once again bustling with exhibitors, prize-winning livestock and Christmas shoppers. Preparations are well underway for the annual event taking place on Monday and Tuesday, November 28-29.

As one of the finest prime stock shows in Europe, the Winter Fair draws crowds from far and wide to enjoy two-days packed full of competitions, festivities, food and drink, and shopping.

Regulars were delighted to see its return in 2021 after a two-year hiatus.

Livestock schedules are available on the RWAS website and competition entries are now open. Livestock entries close on October 19.

This year’s Winter Fair will be officially opened on Monday, November 28, at 10am. Following the official opening there will be presentations of the John Gittins Memorial Award 2022, the RWAS Oxford Farming Conference Bursary 2023 and the Nuffield Farming Scholarship 2022.

New to this year’s event is the Bacon, Burger and Sausage Competition which will be judged by Men Behaving Badly and Bob the Builder star Neil Morrisey, along with Steve Morgan of Morgan Family Butchers and multi-award-winning writer and director, Phillip John from Cardiff.

There will also be new cattle breed classes including the Aberdeen Angus and Shorthorn competitions and a Steer and Heifer Section for each breed.

As well as livestock competitions, the Winter Fair hosts a huge variety of different classes and competitions, including horses, the hound show, dressed poultry, butchery, meat hampers, cookery, produce and handicraft, horticulture and floral art… there’s something for everyone to get involved in.

Along with all of the above, the Winter Fair offers shoppers the perfect opportunity to pick up some unique and original Christmas gifts from the hundreds of tradestands across the showground during the two-day event.

Visitors will be able to enjoy watching the live music and carol singers performing throughout the showground, and even have a chance to meet Father Christmas!

The renowned Food Hall attracts producers from all over Wales and further afield and is packed full of culinary delights, demonstrations, perfect Christmas gifts and tempting tasters.

Honorary Winter Fair director, William Hanks said: ‘We are very much looking forward to welcoming visitors to the showground for one of the largest events in the agricultural calendar.

"The Winter Fair celebrates Welsh produce and showcases some of the best prime stock in the UK. It also gets everyone in the festive spirit, with the vast array of tradestands, food and drink and entertainment on offer.’

Tickets are £20 for adults, and £5 for children with discounted tickets for RWAS members. Members' tickets must be purchased before November 14 in order to redeem the discount. There will be a reduced £5 entry for adults and free entry for children after 5pm on Monday to be purchased at the gate only.

For more information and tickets, head to rwas.wales/winter-fair/