Thornton-le-Dale Show history and the Society

Published show numbers give a rough timeline, though they do not all agree with each other. No founding year has been published by the Society or any source we found, so we do not give one.

• About 2012: the 93rd show (Yorkshire Post)
• 2018: the show's 99th year (Yorkshire Evening Post)
• A 100th show, marked with a commemorative book (Whitby Gazette headline)
• 2021: cancelled over Covid concerns (YorkMix)
• 2026: the 105th annual show (the Society)

According to the Yorkshire Post in 2026, early shows were held on the old showfield in front of the former Hall Hotel. The same report put attendance at around 10,000 to 12,000, and noted that the show is still run by local volunteers.

The Society runs the show as a not-for-profit event to stimulate interest in agriculture, horticulture, crafts and local traditions, and it relies on volunteers from across the area. Its rules describe its aims as holding an annual show and promoting agriculture, horticulture, livestock breeding, equestrianism and community recreation. No charity number is published.

When the show makes enough surplus, the Society gives it back to the community. In 2002 it gave £10,000 so the Thornton le Dale Sports Pavilion Association could apply for match funding to build the pavilion. Since then it has spent a further £12,000 on drainage and levelling of the show field, which also benefits the pavilion and the football and cricket clubs. In 2026 it gave £10,000 to the Raise The Roof campaign to renovate the Alms Houses on the High Street.

The Society provides ongoing support to Breast Cancer Now, Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Macmillan Cancer Care. Other causes it lists include:

• Alzheimer's Society, British Red Cross and the Rare Breed Society
• Lady Lumley's School and the Rob Stephenson Trust
• Ryedale Lions, for work on the gates
• The 1976 Jubilee Fund, The Scanner Appeal and summer band concerts
• Thornton le Dale Scouts, Thornton Dale Football Club and Thornton le Dale Cricket Club
• A cricket scholarship student and a performing arts scholarship student
• Thornton le Dale Millennium Committee and Thornton le Dale Village Hall
• Pickering Medical Practice and the Village Forum
• Wilton Millennium Committee and the Wilton Village Hall renovation

Membership subscriptions are due in advance on 1 January each year, and the Society reviews the level annually. A paper form is available on the Members page of the Society's site; at the time of writing it is still the 2026 form.

• Vice President

  Price per year

  £32.00

  Includes

  Two Vice President badges and free admission for two to the show

• Member

  Price per year

  £14.50

  Includes

  One Member badge and one free admission to the show

• Telephone: 07534 657282
• Email: thorntonledaleshow@gmail.com
• Post: Thornton-le-Dale Show, Wray House Farm, Marishes, Malton YO17 7UJ
• Website: thorntonledaleshow.org