The Exhibit Hall at the Cappamore Show is one of those rare spaces that holds a bit of everything… colour, craft, conversation, and community. Each year it draws hundreds of visitors, many of whom plan their trip home around the event, knowing they’ll be able to reconnect with old friends, relive family traditions, and admire the talent and creativity that pours in from every corner of the area.

This hall isn’t just an add-on to the show, it’s a centrepiece. With classes spanning baking, vegetables, flowers, photography, art, crafts, eggs, farm produce and much more, there’s something to interest every visitor and an opportunity for everyone to take part. Whether someone has been entering for decades or is walking in with their first jar of jam or handmade bookmark, the atmosphere is open and welcoming.

Getting involved is simple. Entries can be submitted online through Cappamoreshow.ie, a quick process that makes registration easy ahead of show day. For those preferring to do it in person, entries are accepted Tuesday to Thursday in the Community Sports Hall in Cappamore from 7.30pm to 9pm. Exhibitors then bring their entries to the show field on Friday evening where they’re checked in ahead of judging on Saturday morning.

That Friday evening has its own magic. There’s a real buzz around the field as people arrive with baskets of produce, carefully wrapped cakes, artwork, or arrangements they’ve worked hard on. It’s a hive of activity and a strong sign of what’s to come the following day.

Judging starts early on show day and winners not only receive prize money but, in some classes, also traditional trophies, rosettes or cups. These are items people genuinely treasure, and the pride in winning one especially in a competitive class can be immense.

The Exhibit Hall officially opens to the public at 12.30pm and remains a hub of energy well into the afternoon. As people flow through the aisles, there’s a sense of awe at the variety and standard of entries. But it’s not just about the exhibits themselves it’s about who’s there. Neighbours greet each other, children show their entries to grandparents, old friends catch up, and stories are exchanged by the display stands. For many who live away, it’s one of the few times in the year when they reconnect with the community.

The classes themselves are as diverse as the people entering. In the adult cookery section there’s everything from brown bread, tarts and cakes to jams, scones, and muffins. The vegetable and fruit categories include staples like carrots, onions, potatoes, rhubarb, and more curated trays. Flowers include dahlias, roses, hydrangeas, sweet peas, and arranged displays, while the agricultural roots of the show come through in silage, hay, and even grass sod classes including one celebrating biodiverse native species, showing a forward-thinking approach alongside tradition.

Crafts bring texture and skill into the room: patchwork, crochet garments, handmade toys, home décor, and intricate cards sit beside striking amateur photography entries. These photo classes cover everything from portraits and landscapes to action shots and humour and often prompt a laugh or a deep conversation.

For children, the Exhibit Hall is a chance to be seen and celebrated. There are junior classes for under 7s, under 12s, and under 15s in baking, art, handwriting, crafts, photography, and more. Painted stones, miniature gardens on tin lids, and Lego builds sit proudly beside queen cakes, rice crispy buns, and bookmarks. The younger sections are always well supported, and their stands are often the most crowded, with proud parents, siblings, and friends cheering them on.

And while the competition is serious in some quarters, the fun remains central. One crowd favourite is the free-entry draw where visitors guess the winner of one of the cakes in the adult cookery section. It brings in a steady stream of people, many of whom linger, chat, and marvel at the baking as they wait to see if they’ve guessed right.

The Exhibit Hall never fails to reflect the spirit of Cappamore — creative, welcoming, hardworking, and full of life. It’s more than a collection of classes. It’s a celebration of tradition, effort, and community pride. Whether you enter a pot of jam or a painting, it matters. It becomes part of the story.

We look forward to welcoming everyone to this year’s show on the 16th of August. Bring your best, bring your stories and don’t forget to stop by the Exhibit Hall. It’s where Cappamore really comes alive.

Ends.

This Article was brought to you by The Grassroots Journo with the input from some of the wonderful people behind the Cappamore Show.

It is surreal to see grassroots equestrians using our AI Journalism Tech to tell their story.

The future is here. The future is Grassroots.

This piece is part of a wider promotion for The Cappamore Show. We’ve heard some of the articles the team has planned on publishing across the next couple of weeks and we can’t wait to get them published. It is really cool to be able to give this kind of support and coverage to grassroots shows that have amazing people involved and interesting stories to tell.

You’ll hear from the great people that make the show possible and learn all about the special parts of this years Cappamore Show. We can’t wait. Keep your eyes peeled for the next piece.