A VILLAGE show near York is set to 'bring the community together' as one of the events taking place this Bank Holiday weekend.

Verna Campbell, chairman of Fulford Show, said the event on Monday had a long history, as it was flourishing in the middle of the 19th century, when it featured pigeons, rabbits and horses and even a competition for “a lady’s hack ridden by a lady".

She said: "We will not be having such a competition this time but there will be cups to reward the best flowers or flower arrangements, fruit and vegetables, cookery and handicrafts; even a cup for the best handwriting by a child."

Further along School Lane will be field events with stalls, food, music by the New Notes and the Daxunds, a climbing wall and a giant inflatable.

Fishergate, Fulford and Heslington Local History Society will host an exhibition in the Scout Hut during the show, with visitors able to look through the groups archive on local buildings, families and businesses.

Other Bank Holiday events include fighting and falconry at the medieval fair at the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall in York on Monday, from 10am to 4pm, with historic crafts and demonstrations as the finale event of the JORVIK Medieval Festival.

The grounds of the 650-year-old building will be taken over by characters from the period.

Visitors will be able to enjoy a taste of medieval life, from chivalrous knights sword-fighting sessions, to archers demonstrating and teaching essential skills with a bow.

Thornton-le-Dale's Scarecrow Festival is also set to return over the weekend after last year's success. The artistic straw creations can be found around the village's Scarecrow Trail until Monday.

There will be lots of opportunities for children to get hands-on with crafts and activities, no more so than at The Knavesmire's It's a Knockout for St Leonard's Hospice on Sunday.

Thirty-six teams representing local businesses, organisations, community groups and families will be facing silly fun and foamy games. There will also be trampolines, an inflatable Noah’s Ark, children’s ride and inflatable slide as well as tombola, a golf challenge, Lob a Loo Roll and wellie whanging .

New Earswick Sports Club will hold its annual family fun day on Saturday with all the fun of the fair, including egg and spoon races, sack races, a coconut shy, face painting and bouncy castle from 1pm.

Just down the road from York, Leeds Festival is taking place at Bramham Park with global stars Mumford and Sons and Metallica headlining on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

Farndale Agricultural, Horticultural and Industrial Society is rounding off the bank holiday on Monday with an annual exhibition of cattle, sheep, poultry pigeons and rabbits.

The 108th Farndale Show also includes farm and dairy produce, flowers, vegetables, children’s classes, industrial classes, art, hound and terrier show, and ponies.

The showfield behind the village hall opens at 8am.