For many around Shetland, their local show is a favourite part of the summer. Country shows take place around the islands between August and September, providing an excellent day out for locals and visitors.
In the late summer, communities around Shetland come alive with a series of events which bring locals and visitors together in a celebration of island life.
The five main shows—Voe, Walls, Cunningsburgh, Unst, and Yell—take place throughout August and September, offering a rotating showcase of Shetland’s rural, cultural, and social traditions.
What sets the Shetland shows apart is the profound sense of community. Organised by volunteers, each brings excitement to the respective communities.
As well as bringing people together, there’s a competitive element, with agricultural sections for sheep, cattle, goats, poultry and more. You’ll also find sections for arts and crafts, vegetables, flowers, baking and much more.
For Karen Doull, the local event is Voe Show and she has been involved in the event since she was a young girl.
“I started helping with the pet section when I was nine or 10, and I’ll be 40 this year so this year or next year will be my 30th year. Even then, I drafted in friends and cousins to help and I acquired the poultry section a few years down the line!
“When I was peerie the Voe Show was always something I would look forward to like birthdays and Christmas. It really was a highlight of the year.”
And it still is, and the passion for show day is passing down the generations, with Karen’s two children now getting involved.
When I was peerie the Voe Show was always something I would look forward to like birthdays and Christmas. It really was a highlight of the year
“My bairns are seven and nine, and they look forward to it the same as I did, they are coming and helping me.”
Voe marks the start of show season, and it takes a lot of people pulling together to make the event happen. There’s a committee that meets year round to ensure everything is in order, and the week of the show itself is a hive of activity.
“Folk turn up and get a job and help. It’s such a community thing, everybody pulling together just because they love it and want it to be a success.”
Similar efforts occur from Cunningsburgh in the South Mainland, to Unst, ‘the island above all others’.
One of those who helps arrange the Cunningsburgh Show is Hannah Ross. It’s such an important date in the calendar, she used to return home for show day even when she lived south.
“'I’ve been involved with the Cunningsburgh Show for most of my life, as both my parents had specific roles on the committee while I was growing up. I lived south for 18 years but usually made it back to help with setting up the show field, and had stints stewarding in various sections, including jam, photography and knitting , which is the area I'm most interested in.
“When I moved home last year, I joined the committee and have been looking after social media this summer as well as helping with various admin jobs. The committee are from all over the South Mainland and have a variety of backgrounds, skills and knowledge, and most importantly, a willingness to get stuck in.”
For me, it all feels worth it when I get a moment to walk around the show field with live music coming through the speakers, sheep baaing, rosettes flapping, and the smell of the barbecue
All the hard work pays off come show day, which Hannah says is always “really lightsome, if a bit high pressure for us behind the scenes”!
“For me, it all feels worth it when I get a moment to walk around the show field with live music coming through the speakers, sheep baaing, rosettes flapping, and the smell of the barbecue! It's a chance for people from all over Shetland to catch up with each other and admire the hard work that's gone into a lot of the exhibits.”
And while friendly rivalry is all part of the fun, there’s a serious point that the competition helps keep traditional crafts alive.
Part of the reason for the show society being set up originally was to showcase and preserve many elements of Shetland's heritage, from knitting to growing Shetland kale or breeding Shetland kye and sheep, and we hope that the show might serve as an encouragement for people to continue or take up those.”
That is partly why each of the shows is a big deal for locals, but also attracts folk from around Shetland, and tourists who happen to be visiting at the right time.
Karen explains that whether you’re a local travelling to a different part of Shetland, or a tourist holidaying in Shetland, there is something for everybody.
“The shows are good for all ages. On show days you see bairns and older folk, and families. There’s the folk who are involved, folk who’ve entered things, and those just there for a good day out.
“There’s plenty of things to do on the show field from trade stands and side shows, things for bairns, then there’s food stalls, music and beer tent. There’s something for everybody.”
The final word goes to Hannah. “Regardless of the weather, I think any of the shows are a perfect Shetland day out.”