Bumper program awaits with Albion Park Show's revived traditions, new activities and crowd favourites

Albion Park Show is looking to encourage more community engagement by reintroducing some of the traditional activities once a feature of agricultural shows.

Running from 17-19 January at the Albion Park Showground, this year’s event will include classic attractions like cattle displays and woodchopping alongside exciting new activities such as a $2000 footrace, a tug of war, and the ever-popular demolition derby.

Albion Park Show Society president Michael Arthur said one of the trademarks of the event was its keeping with many of the traditions associated with agricultural shows.

“I know a lot of shows are getting away from cattle, but we try to keep the cattle going and our woodchopping,” Michael said.

“We’re trying out a few different things to get a bit more community engagement this year, so we’re trialling a relay race with $2000 prize money and we’re also trialling a tug of war.

“We’re trying to go back to some old traditions that shows used to have many years ago.”

Michael said the Albion Park Dash For Cash would involve a series of match footraces held over 40 metres and the tug of war would feature clubs, groups and mates competing, with winners and placegetters receiving cash prizes for themselves and the club or charity of their choice.

With the show established in 1887 and Michael having been on the committee for more than 30 years, he said he had seen some traditions lost, while new ones had formed.

“My uncles, my father and my grandfather were part of it and my great-grandfather was president back in 1927, I think,” he said.

“You do see a few things change, but you’ve got to keep up with the times.

“You’ve got to keep up the entertainment for the new generation, so it’s a learning experience every year because there’s always something different.”

Michael said one of the signature attractions was its demolition derby, which had been a crowd-pleaser for almost 20 years.

“We normally get a pretty good attendance – anywhere from 15 to 25 cars – and it’s always a good highlight,” he said.

“It gets a crowd down there. They love it.”

He said most of the drivers were from the Illawarra, with others often coming from Sydney and the Southern Highlands.

The show will also feature the popular fireworks display to cap off the festivities.

For Michael, one of his highlights is the pavilion, featuring a wide variety of categories, from art and photography through to flowers and handicrafts, exhibited for judging.

“We try to cater for everyone because not everyone can grow vegetables or knit,” he said.

“We also try and entice the young ones. I’ve been donating a $20 prize to something I call the Chief Steward Award for something that catches my eye.

“It’s not necessarily the winner, but something where I’ve seen that kid has really tried, and I do it for the juniors only.”

While the main show day is Saturday, 18 January, and can attract on average 3000 people through the gate, two additional days are dedicated to horses.

The Friday is focused on novice showjumping to give riders the ability to gain experience without the pressure of being judged, while the Sunday is a six-ring horse event.

There will be no gate fees on those days, with spectators welcome.

Other main show-day attractions will include Show Mow Racing. which involves lawnmowers racing around the main ring, Gilmore Comedy Pig and Duck Races, Knights of Albion doing an Albion Park Showdown tournament, and the Tough Trucks show.

Michael said one change to the show this year would be reducing parking in the showgrounds and introducing additional parking off site.

“We’ve been given permission by the council to use another oval up near Albion Park pool for parking, which is only a small walk,” he said.

“We’re trying to keep the traffic out of the showground to provide a bit more safety.”

Michael said signs directing traffic would be set up.

The Albion Park Show will run at the Albion Park Showground from 17-19 January.