About Us >> About Wallasey >> Wallasey Institutions >> Wirral Show
Wirral Show
WHAT IS THE WIRRAL SHOW?The Wirral Show is an annual free entry fair, located in New Brighton. Each year several hundred thousand people visit the show, enjoying fairground rides, games, produce tents and dozens of shows from stunt entertainment to a fly-by from some spectacular aeroplanes. It is taken for granted by most Wallaseyans, and the true scale of the event was only really noticed by Dipso Dom when he heard Chris Evans on the radio, listing it in the "what's on this weekend" section of his show, noting it as being the biggest free entry fair in the country. We may well mock the ridiculous prices of the show, and just how dodgy all the rides appear to be, but when viewed objectively it is an incredible feat put together by a handful of Wallaseyan charitable groups.
THE EARLY DAYS OF THE WIRRAL SHOW™
Prior to the outbreak of War in 1939, Wallasey had always prided itself in producing the "Wallasey Village Carnival". This was a spectacle of horse drawn floats covered with flowers and people. The floats being interspersed with bands and dancers of varying standards! Decorated bicycles, handcarts and even dressed up dogs had their part to play. The major float carried the Carnival Princess and her court, whilst the whole event was led with great aplomb by the Wallasey Village Silver Band (which used the Lighthouse Pub in Wallasey Village as its unofficial headquarters). The whole event was so big for a small town, school children had the day off to help celebrate. Clowns, morris dancers, singers, soldiers, scouts, fire engines, police as well as the entire population of Wallasey Village turned out for this grand day in the calender. Inexplicably, this grand tradition lapsed for some years.
In 1977, the Rotary Club of Wallasey were considering an event to mark the 25th anniversary of HM The Queen's ascension to the throne. It was put to the Rotary Club the suggestion of celebrating the event by reviving the lapsed Wallasey Carnival. It proved to be a successful event and the historic day of September 1st 1977 became known as the Great Wallasey Carnival of 1977, with over 80,000 people lining the one mile route from Central Park to New Brighton Promenade.
THE LATER YEARS OF THE WIRRAL SHOW™
In later years the organisation of the Wirral Show™ has become a joint venture between The Rotary Club of Wallasey, The Round table Club of Wallasey and the Lions Club of Wallasey. All proceeds are shared equally to the charity accounts of the three clubs, providing much needed funds for localcharities and good causes. The Wirral Show™ has provided a summer spectacular every year since 1977 and has attracted visitors from all over the U.K. and overseas. It is no surprise it has become the most popular "Must Attend" FREE to enter event of the year for over 250.000 people.
Visit the website: www.wirralshow.com