Clear your calendar because the Melbourne Royal Show is back, baby! From September 24 to October 4, Melbourne Showgrounds transforms into a glorious playground of farmyard animals, thrilling rides, packed showbags, yum eats and enough entertainment to keep you busy right until the nightly fireworks.
The animals are the undisputed stars of the Show – it’s your chance to see prized cows, sheep, poultry, dogs and even some alpacas. Watch horses prance, canter and leap, cheer on working dogs and head to the rural pavilion for some farmyard fun. The Animal Nursery is your chance to get up close to adorable lambs and fluffy chicks. New this year, Livestock Lane takes you behind the scenes, offering a peek into the horse stables and working areas of the Livestock Pavilion.
Then there are the blue ribbon competitions. Marvel at the best of the best across everything from art, craft, cookery and woodchopping to dogs, horses, alpacas and cattle. This year marks 70 years of the Golden Axe, the most prestigious award in the Melbourne Royal Woodchop Championships, while the KG Luke Equestrian Turnout celebrates 90 years as a highlight of the Melbourne Royal Horses in Action Competition.
Next, the all-important showbags – choose from 400 varieties. Whether you’re after chocolate, lollies, snacks, novelty goodies, lifestyle treats or your favourite licensed characters, there’s a bag with your name on it. What are going to be the top picks this year? The Cinnamoroll, Capybara,
Don't want to spend much? All good – there are more than 40 showbags under $10, including the Cadbury Caramello Super and Freddo as well as Zappo, Nerds and Trolli bags.
Think you’re a daredevil? Get in line to ride The Warrior and The Beast. For something more family-friendly, try Pirate’s Revenge and Twister. Little ones will love the Paw Patrol Playland with interactive play zones and the chance to meet Marshall, Chase, Skye and Rubble.
Hungry for more? The Best Bites area has outrageous eats created especially for the Melbourne Royal Show. Try Dragon Express Flying Noodles, which appear to defy gravity, sink your teeth into Fettayleh’s Best in Show Dog – a loaded jumbo hot dog – or go straight for the sweet stuff like Gianni’s churros. And don’t worry, classics like dagwood dogs and fairy floss are still on the menu. As is the Country Women’s Association (CWA) Café for their famous scones: is it jam then cream or cream then jam?
And when the sun goes down, the fun is only getting started. Stick around for the jam-packed after-dark program, complete with The Drover’s Tale that celebrates Australia’s pioneering spirit and a fireworks display that’s a fitting finale to a fabulous day out.
Tickets to the Melbourne Royal Show are on sale now, with early-bird prices available until September 21. There’s also a discount if you arrive after 5pm – does that mean you can get an extra showbag?
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