Half a million visitors attended this year’s Royal Adelaide Show
SA’s biggest event has wound up for another year, with a few hitches but many milestones celebrated.
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Guides to this year’s Show, showbags and rides
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South Australia’s largest event, the Royal Adelaide Show, has gone out with a bang with milestones celebrated and planning already under way for next year.
Almost 500,000 showgoers, mostly families, attended the Show this year although final attendance figures will not be released until later this month.
Show general manager Michelle Hocking said the family value pack was a “popular option” for visitors, who were dazzled by the theatrical production Greatest Musical Moments and the motorsport event Nightshift.
While the Show had several wet mornings last week, the weather did not dampen the spirit of showgoers.
“Challenges always arise when running events. You can never plan for everything, but overall it’s been a great Show and we’ve had some great feedback,” Ms Hocking said.
“We’ve already started planning for next year’s Show, speaking with potential sponsors and locking in entertainment acts.”
This year was the 180th anniversary of the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of SA. Multiple records were broken in different competitions, including a Merino ram which fetched $100,000 at auction.
On a sombre note, Keelan Grains and Fodder Store’s iconic shed will be demolished after the Show.
The shed, in the southeast corner of the showground, has been associated with the business for decades despite ownership changing hands a few times after the family sold it in 1980s.
Owners Rachel May and husband Lyndon said the shed has been with the business for “almost forever”.
“There’s some writing on the inside of the shed with Vic Keelan and Michael Keelan’s number on it,” Ms May said.
“We will still be doing the Fodder shop next year … it just won’t be the same old shed. It will lose a bit of its charm. It’s sad, but it’s progress.”
A request has been made to preserve the iconic shed entrance at the society’s museum.
On Sunday about 2pm, two ticket booth workers were taken to hospital with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, which may be caused by a faulty airconditioning.
There was also a sickening brawl involving up to six people in the showbag pavilion last Thursday.
And a woman suffered a medical episode while on the “No Limit” aerial spinning ride.