Only one month till Showtime…
Only one month till Showtime…
The countdown is on with just under one month to go till Christchurch comes to life with the sights, smells and celebration of the Royal New Zealand Show.
It's three full days of livestock, entertainment and attractions. All the very best of rural life combined with competitions from gourmet oils to wines, top Kiwi chefs, live music and excellent food and wine... it could only be the Royal New Zealand Show.
The Canterbury A&P Association hosts the 79th Royal New Zealand Show from Wednesday 11 to Friday 13 November with a very full programme.
Over 120,000 people are expected to visit Canterbury Agricultural Park this year to enjoy the Show atmosphere loved by Cantabrians for 147 years.
Livestock numbers have maintained their momentum from previous years with over 6500 entries across horse & pony, beef & dairy cattle, sheep, alpaca, llama, poultry, pigs, dog trials, goat and vintage machinery (entries are still open in wool/fibre, shearing/woolhandling, wine, oil and woodchopping). Dairy cattle, beef cattle, horse, goat and llama entries have all increased this year.
Trade exhibitor numbers are on the increase with over 600 expected, slightly ahead of 2008. Exhibitors will present new ideas, products and services catering for the rural buyer as well as the huge number of city visitors who pass through the gates each year to experience country coming to town.
Programme highlights include:
Live Music
The
More FM Main Stage on the Village Green is live music
central during the Show. The New Zealand Army Band will be
performing live on all three days of the Show. One of the
most diverse musical entertainment establishments in the
country, the New Zealand Army Band is a traditional brass
band that has incorporated into its ranks a complete rhythm
section enabling the band to broaden their repertoire to
perform modern music.
That’s Topps!
New Zealand’s
most loved musical and comic duo, The Topp Twins will be
performing on the More FM Main Stage on the Village Green,
Thursday and Friday of the Show. Twin sisters with their own
primetime TV series and movie, they are truly original
entertainers and one of the few kiwi acts which can
undoubtedly be called a cultural institution. Their
documentary Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls won an audience
choice award at the 2009 Toronto Film Festival.
Garden NZ
Pavilion
Following on from its successful launch at last
year’s Show, the Garden NZ Pavilion will showcase
Christchurch’s Garden City image in spring. Highlighting
everything in gardening from horticultural displays,
exhibits, demonstrations, products and services. Garden NZ
will also feature a themed feature garden by Prospect
Landscape & Urbanism titled ‘Garden Plains’.
Food,
glorious food
The Food & Wine NZ Pavilion is a food
lover’s delight with close to 50 specialty exhibitors
displaying the very best of local produce, gourmet foods and
wines. Top Kiwi chef Annabelle White and leading Canterbury
chefs will be on stage at the Fisher & Pakyel Demonstration
Kitchen, tantalising the taste buds with a number of dishes.
The Food & Wine NZ Pavilion is also the place to view the
winning entries in the International Aromatic Wine
Competition and New Zealand Gourmet Oil Competition.
Feature Competitions
The battle of the lambs heats up
with the winner of the Mint Lamb Competition announced at
the President’s Cocktail Party on Thursday evening of the
Show. Finalists from throughout the country who rated in the
top two of each class for overall yield will be taste tested
on the plate to decide which farmer really does produce the
country's finest lamb. The Dakins Ambassador of the Year
will be announced during the Show on Thursday in the
StableMateTM Arena. The award recognises loyalty to the A&P
movement and support extended to the Canterbury A&P
Association. Last year's winner Jeanette Brown went on to
visit the Sydney Royal Easter Show as part of her prize
package.
Fun for Everyone
It's a Show favourite and
back bigger and better than ever. The City Farmyard is an
interactive display that gives children and parents the
opportunity to see, touch, hear and learn about farm
animals. There will be chicks, lambs, puppies, ducks, goats
and calves ready for cuddles and feeding. New to this year
is the interactive calf birthing display. Plus don’t
forget a visit to the Sheep Maternity Ward to witness lambs
being born. Also for the young ones, the Tip Top Family Lawn
is kiddie heaven with entertainment geared specifically at a
younger audience.
Voltage – teens only
New for 2009
is Voltage, an exciting and interactive zone exclusively for
12-17 year olds. The area allows teens to gain hands on
experience in a range of different activities under the
guidance of professionals while relaxing and having fun with
friends.
Shearing
The shearing competition starts on
Thursday with both machine and blade heats with the finals
held on Friday. Included in the action is the woolhandling
competition. Plus on Wednesday there will be children’s
shearing.
Woodchopping
The Woodchopping Arena will
be full of adrenaline pumping, heart stopping action with a
non stop programme over the three days. World Champs from
throughout New Zealand will be
competing.
ENDS