The ActewAGL Royal Canberra Show is back for 2020, with the promise of the usual favourites and a few new exciting additions to the program.
The Show will run from Friday 28 February to Sunday 1 March, with the theme ‘something for everyone’ celebrating the Show’s agricultural roots while also embracing its city location and family patronage.
Royal National Capital Agricultural Society (RNCAS) general manager Michael Kennedy says this year’s exciting new additions include Texas Longhorn cattle, ‘ask a farmer’ sessions and a high stakes stunt showdown.
“The Texas Longhorn cattle will be a very exciting display at the Show; visitors will be able to come and take a selfie with these impressive animals,” he says. “[They] are a magnificent animal.”
The Cowboy Cattle Company’s Cory Miles says this will be the first time the cattle have made an appearance at the show. He will be bringing along two Longhorns, each with variation in colour and horn sets.
“[The cattle are] generally very much a head-turner. People take one look and then do a double-take. That’s generally the reaction,” he says.
“There’s a milking demonstration, we’re very big on that. [A lot of] kids will never get to see that … There’s the sheep, there’s the cattle, and I encourage people to just sit and watch for a little while, listen to the cattle judges – it’s something you won’t see anywhere else, it’s unique to a show, and it’s a thing the shows do really well.”
Mr Kennedy encourages children and families to have a chat with the farmers and exhibitors and learn about the animals and livestock on show.
For the less bovine-inclined, another crowd favourite will be back this year: wood chopping! Mr Kennedy says the Show will fetaure a two-day chop, held on both Saturday and Sunday.
Thrill seekers will be well looked after too, with a ‘high stakes showdown’ between the Urban All Stars and the Outback Outlaws for the ‘Golden Helmet’, featuring freestyle motocross stunts and V8 utes. This is the biggest team ShowTimeFX has ever brought to the Show, with two Canberra locals, Gary Reid and Jack McNeice, set to perform.
“Canberra will always be home and it is always a thrill for our team to return to the Canberra Show each year,” says Mr Reid, director of ShowTime FMX. “This year is even more special as I get to perform side by side with the team. The Canberra Show is where ShowTime FMX was founded and it will always be the birthplace of our team.”
As well as the new segments, all the tried and tested family favourites will be back, including sideshow alley, the farmyard nursery, pig racing, fireworks and myriad food and drink options.
Mr Kennedy said last year’s lowered ticket prices would be maintained for this year’s event, with pre-purchased tickets including public transport to and from the Show.
“We targeted families [last year], the younger families, and it worked very well. We had a really good uptake and we’d expect to get the same again this year. They had good fun; it’s a good time for people to relax and come and have some good family fun.
“The theme this year is ‘something for everyone’, and that’s what we’ve worked hard to do.”
The RNCAS has also announced the Show will support a range of organisations including Need for Feed Disaster Relief and BlazeAid, after the devastating effects of the drought and the recent bushfires and storms. RNCAS president Rick Jones said the fires, smokes and storms have had a “huge impact” on the community, locally, regionally and nationally.
“Our exhibitors, visitors, competitors, their animals and our staff have all been impacted in various ways.
“The ActewAGL Royal Canberra Show is not only an opportunity during these challenging and stressful times for families and community members to have fun and enjoy new experiences but is also an important yearly event for our exhibitors and our farmers and rural community members,” Mr Jones says.
2020 ActewAGL Royal Canberra Show
When: Friday 28 February and Saturday 29 February 8.30am-10pm; Sunday 1 March 8.30am-6.30pm
Where: Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC), corner of Flemington Road and Northbourne Avenue, Mitchell
Tickets: Adult $20; Child (6-16), student and concession $12; Family (2 adults and 2 children) $50; Children under 6 free. All pre-purchased tickets include public transport to and from the Show.
For more: canberrashow.org.au
