A FUN-PACKED family weekend showcasing the best of the autumn season is just around the corner as the Malvern Autumn Show comes to the Three Counties Showground.

The show, on September 24 and 25, is regarded as the ultimate harvest festival, with fun activities on the farm and a feast of food and outdoor attractions.

Topping the bill this year is top chef Tom Kerridge and BBC Strictly Come Dancing star Anton Du Beke, while BBC Gardeners’ World stalwart Carol Klein and Otter Farm’s Mark Diacono will also be in attendance.

There will be a new dedicated Family Fun Area overflowing with activities for children including garden games, circus skills and ‘make-and-take’ craft activities. With kids fully occupied, grown-ups can unwind in this area too with a chill out bean bag space.

The Autumn Theatre will be a hive of inspiration with sessions from world class experts including BBC Gardeners’ World presenter Carol Klein and Strictly Come Dancing star Anton du Beke. Talks, demos and workshops in this area of the show are certain to spark a passion for all things spade and stage.

The World of Animals will welcome creatures great and small which youngsters can see up close including dogs, sheep, ponies and pigs.

Mighty marrows, colossal carrots and titanic turnips and much more will make a big impression on visitors to the UK Giant Vegetable Championship.

Classic Old Tyme fairground rides – including a carousel, helter skelter and Ferris wheel - dating from around the 1900s will provide all the fun of the fair.

Anton Du Beke will be in the Vintage Village will offer his top tips on how to become a dance flirt of the 40s and 50s, while the Forgotten Skills Marquee will teach some of those old fashion techniques from a bygone era.

Duck herding, dog agility and much more will provide a real spectacle in the Activity Arena, while children can learn about the harvest season with interactive workshops, displays and hands-on craft activities to celebrate the autumn in the Discover Harvest area.

The Cookery Theatre, hosted by Otter Farm’s Mark Diaconco welcomes Tom Kerridge and Worcestershire’s reigning Masterchef: The Professional chef Mark Stinchcombe, the head chef at Eckington Manor. There will also be child-friendly workshops on cookery and gardening.

Ken Nottage, chief executive officer of Three Counties, said: “Malvern Autumn Show is a wonderful day out for all the family and our 2016 line up promises to showcase all the amazing things autumn has to offer.

“Across the weekend, the showground will be awash with activities for little ones and grown-ups to immerse themselves in – from our fantastic headliners, Tom and Anton, to the Giant Vegetable Championships and much much more.

“There really is something for everyone and we cannot wait to throw open the gates and welcome our many visitors to another marvellous year of Malvern Autumn Show.”

The show historically attracts around 65,000 over the weekend with its array of activities, exhibits, demonstrations and shows. More information is available by visiting http://www.threecounties.co.uk/malvernautumn/ or by calling 01684 584924.