The Newcastle Show is just around the corner, with event organisers drumming up some excitement by launching their 2021 showbag range at Bar Beach on February 22.
Organised by the Newcastle AH & I Association, the annual three-day event at the Newcastle Showground will showcase the region’s makers and creators in agriculture, horticulture, and industry on March 5 to 7.
General Manager Kathryn Thomson said they wanted to get the community excited about the show, with the Nippers from Cooks Hill Surf Club the first ones to preview the new showbags.
“We wanted to introduce a quintessential Newcastle coastal beach theme which had traditionally not been included,” Thomson said.
“It just made sense to bring it to a nipper’s event, and kids are the ones who get most excited about the showbags.
“The nippers did their normal beach activities with their obstacle races, beach flags and tug of war, but for fun, we had the showbags looped on the rope, and then there was a race for the showbags in the final— it was a great morning.”
This year’s show will feature 53 different performances, activities, and events, with the finals of Australia’s biggest eating competition to be held.
“The competition has been underway on socials over the last couple of weeks with various businesses around town taking part like Rascals, Doughheads, Newy Fried Chicken, and Mayfield Kebabs,” Thomson said.
“They have been holding their heats, and the finals will be held during the show—the response has been crazy; when it was introduced last year, the crowds were enormous, so it’s going to be really fun!”
Feedback Organic Recovery farming workshops will be running, and one of the shows major sponsors Greater Bank will be giving away 6000 plants over the three-day show.
The usual ring entertainment will be back again, including motorbike stunt shows, the demolition derby, horse events, and cattle competitions.
For the first year ever, the traditional ‘Show Girl’ competition will be open to male and female competitors and changed to the ‘Rural Achiever’ to help establish more inclusivity.
A freestyle Parkour competition will also be featured with one of Red Bull’s most prominent athletes, Dominic Di Tommaso competing at the event.
Thomson said the show was nearly 120 years old, with the first-ever Newcastle Show hosted in May 1902.
“It’s a fantastic platform for the community to come together and celebrate all the makers, creators, and contributors,” she said.
“This is a pretty significant moment in providing an opportunity for industries that have been so heavily affected by Covid-19.
“We will have QR tracing and adhere to the 2 square metre rule, which given the space we have, that’s close to 40,000 people—we have created areas where there is more flow and space to socially distance.
“Leading up to this event, the response has been super positive, and I think the appetite is definitely there for people to be returning to events, participating, and connecting with their community.”
For more information on events, showbags or tickets, visit newcastleshow.com.au
Hayley McMahon
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