A bit of happy dancing is going on in our house this week and not only on the part of the kids. The reason – it is Melbourne Show Week. Visiting the Melbourne Show was one of my most beloved childhood traditions and whenever I get the chance I visit agricultural shows all around Australia. These include the Darwin Show, Sydney Royal Easter Show, Cairns Show, Mossman Show, Camden Show, and of course the Melbourne Show. I have put together a collection of what I love about Agricultural Shows to whet your appetite for a visit to either the Melbourne Show these school holidays, or another Show somewhere in your future…
Wood-Chopping.
Wood-chopping at the Mossman Show
So you think that watching axemen compete in a wood chopping competition doesn’t sound exciting? Let me share a little story to convince you otherwise:
It was a brilliant sunny day in far north Queensland and we had taken the kids to the Mossman Show. The country gents assembled for the wood chopping competition – wood-chopping is a hot and sweaty, if not a sexy sport (due to the number of competitor’s bellys tauntly contained in blue singlets that over-flow their belts). The bell rang, they were off. The race was quickly won by a country giant, but it wasn’t over. One old farmer weathered from years on the land was struggling. He stopped frequently, wiping the sweat from his brow. The other competitors finished. He kept chopping. He kept stopping. I kept silently praying he would be able to finish the task without having a heart attack. This went on for a full 15 minutes – possibly the tensest 15 minutes in the lives of myself and the other two hundred people watching. When he finally finished the crowd erupted, as two hundred north Queenslanders lept to their feet, hooting, cheering and clapping. The applause lasted almost as long as the actual wood-chopping itself had. The wood-chopping event at the Mossman show remains the only sporting ever to have made me cry.
Crazy chickens
I learnt from my dad who grew up in a family of bird fanciers that chickens can be pretty scary for a young kid. I am not talking your average laying hen, I am talking the freaky, crazy chickens that bird fanciers exhibit at agricultural shows. Please don’t think me an unkind parent but I love wandering through the crazy chicken exhibit with my kids if only to discover which one will become un-nerved first and insist we leave.
Cake Decorating
I love this Australia cake at the Royal Melbourne Show. Can you see the Opera house, outback and Great Barrier Reef
I have previously shared about my grandma who was a champion cake baker (sponge and fruit cakes) and would eavesdrop outside the cake tent at the Geelong Show to the judges talking so she could figure out how to perfect her recipe for the following year. Perhaps in a nod to her, or perhaps just because the cakes on display are awesome examples of edible art I always make a beeline to the cake decorating tent.
Had to include sponge cakes – just like my grandma would have baked.
Fireworks
There is nothing like the collective “Ohhs” and “Ahhs” of a crowd watching a spectacular fireworks show to remind us that we are part of a larger community. Most shows have early fireworks displays for families with kids and I remember how staying up ever so late for these as a little one made me feel like a grown up.
The food
Let’s just forget for the moment that seven months ago I had gestational diabetes and am doing my best to follow a diet that minimizes my risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in the future. At the Show all bets are off. Fortunately for me, as well as the traditional carnival food (who ever invented fairy floss was a genius by the way) most Shows showcase fabulous international cuisine. At this years Royal Melbourne Show the cuisines of Turkey, Vietnam, Thailand, Austria, Holland, Spain, Japan and Greece are just some of those waiting to be experienced. For those who plan to stick to their diets at the Show, corn on the cob is one of my Show favourites.
The entertainment
I know that that sensible thing to do is read the program and decide what entertainment I wish to watch in the Arena. I prefer to take a punt, amble on in at a random if convenient time of the day and see what’s showing. If I catch a bit of stunt bike riding all the better, just because I would never chose to watch anything like that and I like the randomness of it all.
The animal nursery
This year is the 50th anniversary of the Animal Nursery at the Royal Melbourne Show
Growing up my father would insist on finding the fattest pig suckling the most piglets in the animal nursery. He made us touch the pig’s wet nose before we were allowed to go on any rides. I fully intend on continuing this tradition with my own kids and would love to start a Show trend among parents. Please do let me know if you decide to take it up.
Tips to help you enjoy your Show experience.
- Royal Auto club members receive discounts to most major Australian agricultural Shows including The Royal Melbourne Show. The RACV discount is available at the Royal Melbourne show after 1pm.
- Do you, like me love the Show but hate crowds? If you can visit the Show on a weekday. Plan to be at the Show as late as is possible given the ages of your own kids. The crowds thin out later in the day.
- Set a ride, game and showbag limit with your kids before you arrive, and stick to it.
- Kids will gravitate towards the rides and games which are pricey. Engage them before you attend the Show by exploring the Show’s website and planning which activities that are included with entry you each want to visit before you go on any rides or play any games.
- Want to limit your kid’s intake of carnival food? Take a few healthy snacks/treats of your choice for them in your bag.
- You can spend hours in the showbag hall while kids choose their show bags. Have them choose which ones they want before-hand by looking online.
Bubs on the Move provides tips and advice for parents traveling with small children including attraction and accommodation reviews. You can join us on Facebook or Twitter to receive updates to your news feed.
Addendum: If my husband does ever read this post, which I know is highly unlikely, just a reminder that I haven’t forgotten that you said you would take me to the Iowa State Fair (the biggest agricultural show in the world) for our tenth wedding anniversary. That anniversary came and went with me seven months pregnant, perhaps we could go for our eleventh anniversary? If any of his friends read this you may want to give him a nudge.
