Derbyshire County Show 2024 cancelled – as organisers explain reasons behind the decision

The Derbyshire County Show 2024 was set to take place at the show ground in Elvaston on Sunday, June 23.

But today (June 19) organisers have announced that they have been forced to cancel the show.

A statement published online by the Derbyshire County Show reads: “We are devastated to announce that due to the recent wet weather, plus a deluge on the Showground last night, given the ground conditions the committee has had to make the difficult decision to cancel the 142nd County Show.

“We simply aren’t able to safely put on the full show that you have come to know and love, so sadly we have had to cancel. We hope you can understand the reason for this decision and that you will continue to support us going forward.

“We will be in touch with all exhibitors, traders, sponsors in due course to deal with refunds, but please bear wih us! All tickets and membership already purchased will automatically be credited to the original payment method within the next 7 days.”

Up to 10,000 people were expected to attend the annual event on Sunday.

Derbyshire County Show was founded in 1860 when a group of landowners and farmers led by Dr. John Hitchman, the first medical superintendent of the county asylum, agreed to form the Derbyshire Agricultural Show.

There have been 139 shows since that time with breaks due to wartime restrictions, an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 1924 and 2001 and due to Covid-19 in 2020 and 2021.