EYE SHOW HISTORY – FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS
The town of Eye, Suffolk held its first Eye Show in 1915, back then it was purely a horticultural event for the local community to exhibit prize flowers and vegetables. It wasn't until 1963 when the local Seeley family became involved, that general entertainment was introduced to encourage the whole family to attend.
Since then Eye Show & Country Fair has grown enormously to become a major event in East Anglia's summer entertainment programme. Today, the main arena events feature the best of the UK and Europe's military and civilian outdoor entertainers. With crowds regularly topping 30,000 over the two days, the Show has become the biggest August event in the region.
In 2006 the show moved from a farmland site
near Eye Town where it had been staged for
over 40 years, to a larger site at nearby Goodrich
Park in Palgrave, on the Norfolk/Suffolk border.
Goodrich Park is an established 55 acre parkland
providing a beautiful setting for the spectacular
two-day show.
The Eye Show & Country Fair is a registered charity run entirely by volunteers from local clubs and organisations led by Show Director Tim Seeley and his father Tony.
Many local charities and organisations benefit from the show's profits by an average of £5000 each year. Other charities regularly raise over £15,000 for themselves from their fundraising stands at the Show, that are provided free of charge. Over the past 10 years charities have benefited from over £200,000.