Maidenhead Town Show 2024 gears up to be 'bigger and better' than before

Maidenhead Town Show is gearing up to be ‘bigger and better’ than ever this year and is putting out the feelers for anyone who can help achieve this vision.

The annual show aims to ‘enliven the town centre’ while bringing a traditional village fair feeling to central Maidenhead.

The event is run by volunteers with the support of Craft Coop. As with last year, the 2024 event is held in memory of Deborah Jones, its late founder.

Last October, at the 10th Maidenhead Town Show, they raised nearly £2,000 for children-based charities Family Friends RBWM and GOSH.

The show had 31 craft competition categories and more than 30 craft stalls, among other highlights.

Meanwhile, the Nicholsons Centre saw more than 13,590 visitors, its third highest footfall day for 2023.

This year, the town show is set for Sunday, October 13 and will include the usual celebration of making, baking, barking, crafting, dancing, singing and ‘general merriment.’

Proceeds from the town show go to Thames Valley Adventure Playground.

The hope is that this town show will have more workshops and activities, more talks, more activities and more music.

“It’s the same thing, just bigger, more noisy, more fun,” said Heidi Berry, director of Craft Coop CIC.

“This year we can take over the High Street – Robyn Bunyan [Maidenhead’s town manager with RBWM] is our co-chair on the organising committee – and she has already secured a small fun fair.

“We’d like to add a petting farm – if we can raise sufficient sponsorship – and we’ll consider all other suggestions, no matter how crazy.”

Organisers also want to make the event ‘more inclusive and diverse’.

They hope to encourage more schoolchildren to take part in competitions and have reached out to community and autism groups.

Maidonians will be pleased to hear that the ever-popular dog show will be making a return – and no doubt hoping for better weather than last time, when it rained midway through.

“It’s always barkingly good fun,” said Heidi.

Currently, Craft Coop is in the early stages of trying to get as many local businesses behind it as possible in terms of sponsorship, raffle prizes, or perhaps even the gift of their time.

Though Maidenhead’s rotary and the GoodGym will be helping, Heidi said the show could always use ‘more hands-on deck’ for marshalling and general help on the day.

 If interested in volunteering, contact maidenhead_town_show@craftcoop.co.uk