TANK RIDES

After a break of some time, we welcome back a very popular attraction in the form of Tank Rides. 

SWB Experience will be providing Scorpian tank rides through the day which will be conducted on a course designed full of twists & turns. Make sure you don't miss this incredible experience. Prices are down to the owners discretion.

Once again we are pleased to welcome a number of Husky Dogs in which you will be able to go and see aswell as watching them in their own ring to perform a sledging display which will be ongoing on and off during the day.

Its being planned a Dog Show is to take place whereby you can enter your own dog - more details in the New Year.

They will be located close to the centre of the showground.

As previously we will be hosting a number of Classic vehicles on show which will also include a few Vintage Commercial Lorries and Buses.

The Classic vehicle area you will be able to walk through lines of vehicles and speak to some of the owners on how they restored their particular vehicle. Lorries & Buses will be located on concrete and after the success of the trial 'Classic Car Parade' at the 2024 show, we will be running more 'Parades' down the runway and past the crowds for 2025.

Our first musical performer is the return of The Radio Days Big Band. The Big Band are a sixteen piece swing dance orchestra based in Abingdon playing swing and dance band music from the 1930s through to the 1960s. 

The music of Glenn Miller, the Dorsey Brothers, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Frank Sinatra and Bobby Darin are just some of the many legendary artists that feature in our repertoire. 

Be sure to find them in the music tent playing at a specific time.    

We welcome Karen & Duncan Wymbs who will being playing traditional folk type music during the day.

They both are locally located and often play to audiences around the county.

New to us are a Wantage based band 'Horizon'.  They perform 60s pop songs with Chris Rae on acoustic guitar & vocals and Howard Hill on bass, electric guitar, mandolin and ukulele. 

Songs from The Beatles, The Kinks, Buddy Holly, Lindisfarne, The Monkees and many others are covered.

Chris is a talented singer-songwriter in his own right and are included in some of their performances.

Within the showground you will find a small number of ex Military Vehicles.  Some are private individuals who purchased a vehicle with the intention to restore it over a number of years, and some are from the Military Vehicle Trust (MVT) organisation.

They could range from the US Army Willys Jeep through to a Dodge M37, or a Plymouth Deluxe US Army Staff car. The owners will be delighted to talk about their vehicle. Ex Military types will be located on concrete on the cross runway.

Another regular attraction is the popular Crafts section containing a great selection of home made gifts such as jewellery, glass ware, paintings, ornaments, clothing, homemade jams to name a few.

A new format is currently being looked into for Crafts - stay tuned to the application page for further details.

From the year 2000 - 2023 we have hosted a number of both helicopters and aircraft from private owners and the military including international.

However times have changed and as the airfield is regulated under the Military Aviation Authority (MAA), there are still restrictions in place which prevents civilian aircraft & helicopter types landing onsite (at the time of writing).

Military types specific to training at Abingdon have been requested for static display and limited civil types being transported in by road. More information as and when we get it.

Making their debut with us last year we are excited to announce the return of Trooper Events.

Well known characters such as Chewbacka and a Star Wars Stormtrooper will be roaming around the showground and ready to pose with you for photograghs so be sure to keep your eyes open as you walk around the site.

Varying trade and exhibit stands are set to attend. To give you an idea, trade stands will selling models, aviation books, artwork, photography prints, wooden carved models, aviation metal diecast models,outdoor garden ornaments & furniture, homemade sweets, army surplus equipment, aviation T'shirts to name a few.

Exhibits include companies showing their products, and also the likes of a third scale Spitfire model, Re-enactors and Cadet units publicity stands.

Amusements of various kinds will be in evidence and will provide fun for children which includes Mini Go Karts & Bouncy Castles.

Also, we welcome Mr Freeman who will be providing a Flight Simulator which you can sit inside and feel like you are in a Typhoon jet fighter (or another aircraft depending on what will be kindly brought to the show).

All pricing is down to the owners discretion. 

A favourite at more recent shows have been ex military aircraft cockpits from private owners or organisations that have restored a specific type to mount onto a trailer to take to shows up and down the country whereby for a donation you can sit in them to get the feel of a real aircraft.

The Buccaneer Aviation Group with their BAe Buccaneer, a Sepecat Jaguar owned by Chris Bennett and a Grob Vigilant motorglider will be attending.

We hope once again to put together a small area whereby the focal point will be on World War Two with a Hawker Hurricane replica flanked by some period military vehicles and a small number of re-enactors in period costume.

After a few years absence there are plans to host a small number of quarter scale and possibly half scale miniature Steam Engines.

These machines have been lovingly restored over a number of years and we are grateful to the owners who have pledged their support to bring along their engines.

The popular Ferret racing which returns after a number of years will be in attendance provided by the Hants & Berks Ferret Racing club. 

All ferrets are well handled and friendly and in between races, the team are happy for spectators to come and meet them and ask any questions that may arise.

They have all the equipment to put on a dashing show, obstacles, pipes, PA system and a willing team of volunteers with the ferrets to make the show an exciting spectacle. 

New for 2025 will be something we are sure will be very popular is both Archery & Axe throwing. Provided by Ewelme Sporting Ltd, both these attractions will be safely ran in a safe environment.

After a number of years we welcome back the Abingdon Works Centre MG cars who will be in attendance in numbers.

We also hope to gather a selection of there classics to run down the runway and back along the crowdline. Make sure you don't miss them.