Demelza to host free mystery trail at Kent County Show

The 2026 show, the 95^th, is taking place on the 3, 4 and 5 July and Demelza will have a large marquee there for the first time in several years.

The popular event is an annual showcase of farming, agriculture and rural life in Kent as well as a chance for some of the county’s best-loved charities to raise awareness of their services.

Thanks to a summer match funding campaign, everyone who donates to Demelza at the show will see their support doubled – so for every £2 you give, Demelza will get £4, helping twice as many families.

Visitors will have the chance to learn more about the charity and hear about the extraordinary support it provides to children with serious or life-limiting conditions and their families.

Demelza is hosting a free mystery trail where families can follow a map to find 14 letters hidden all around the showground. Once they’ve worked out what the letters spell, participants can head to the Demelza marquee and collect their free prize.

From the welcome at the show entrance where show-goers can collect their free map and follow the trail, visitors can then journey through the Demelza marquee to collect their free prize, enter the Lego man prize draw, purchase some pre-loved items from our pop-up retail store, browse the second-hand books for sale, sign up to volunteer, have a go on the toy tombola, get a glitter tattoo and stop at the craft stall to decorate a bag.

And once you’ve done all of that, you might want to support our summer match funding campaign and double your donation in our collection bucket – all while learning about Demelza, what we do and the difference we make.

Demelza’s Deputy Director of Fundraising, Marketing and Communications, Laura Smyth, said: “We’re so excited to be back at the Kent County Show this year and to have such an incredible space to showcase so much of what Demelza does.

“It’s one of Kent’s biggest and best events and we hope to welcome lots of people to our marquee over the three days.

“One of the most exciting things about being at this year’s Kent County Show is we have just launched our summer match funding appeal, so every donation made there will be doubled – meaning your support goes further and reaches even more families.

“We would like to thank KHIPU, which has sponsored our marquee this year. We couldn’t have attended without this support and we are very grateful. Huge thanks also to The Freddie Green and Family Charitable Foundation for their incredibly generous match funding offer.”  

You can find Demelza’s marquee at Edward Hardy Avenue trade stand B151. Free mystery trail maps are available at the marquee and at the main show entrance.