Cairns Show: Animals, showbags, entertainment and fireworks on people’s day
Tens of thousands are set to pour through the showground gates for people’s day of the Cairns Show with a big schedule ahead. FIND OUT WHAT’S ON
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A RISING tide of Covid-19 cases isn’t expected to lessen the Far North’s enthusiasm for the Cairns Show on Friday, with tens of thousands set to pour through the gates for people’s day.
Cairns show president Ian Allen said turnout for the first two days was exceptional.
“We are expecting a big one tomorrow with the public holiday, the official opening is on at 1pm and then the animal grand parade,” he said.
“I think we will get up to 78,000 over the three days.”
Mr Allen said the show has still been successful even with the increase in cases.
“We’ve got sanitiser stations where people can sanitise their hands,” he said.
“There is the odd person wearing a mask. If they feel more comfortable wearing a mask they should.”
While the show has been a success for many families, police were kept busy on the first day of the show.
Cairns Property Crime Squad charged four out of six people on 84 property related charges as part of Operation Dryandra at Cairns Show.
“The Queensland Police Service is again proud to be part of the Cairns Show with officers conducting regular patrols,” a police spokesman said.
The third day of the Cairns show is expected to bring a range of highlights including, new animals on offer.
Melville’s Farm animal assistant Mary Batterham said the duck racing from 12pm, 2pm, 4pm and 6pm have had lots crowds.
“We have a lot more animals than we usually have,” she said.
“We have another alpaca, two more donkeys, we have the turkeys, we don’t usually have turkeys.
“We have a lot of babies this time. One is about three days old and it’s ginormous for a miniature goat.”
Ms Batterham said the animals this year have different nursery rhyme stories with
Three Little Pigs and Three Billy Goats themes.
“Most of these animals a lot of people don’t see so we try and give them as many details as possible,” she said.
“They see the different varieties of chickens, we explain to the children where eggs come from.”
Families so far have gotten in on the fun.
Nina Burrows from Cairns said it was great to spend some one-on-one time with kids.
“The kids love sideshow alley, unlike the southern kids this is their chance to go on the rides,” she said.
“The animals that are here have been a highlight for the kids. You get to see them right up and close and touch them.
“It was interesting for kids to see the cows, where we get out milk from and see the big udders.”
While some kids have had a huge focus on the rides.
Karissa Baillie, from Edmonton, said her son Preston Klohs has cracked the code when it comes to the rides this year.
“He’s worked out he’s tall enough this year to go on all the rides,” she said.
“So he has pretty much been on all the kids rides and the haunted house.
“The haunted house was a real favourite of his.
The vibe has been also the most talked about from interstate stallholders.
Circus Clowns stall assistant Vicky Jobber from Adelaide said she has been to a lot of shows before and it was a different atmosphere in the Far North to what she was used to.
“It’s very clean, there is no rubbish anywhere,” she said.
“Everyone out and about is polite and happy to be here, it’s a very nice environment.”
There are also expected to be plenty of showbags available on the day.
Showbag Warehouse owner Gordon Richards said there have been lots of happy kids and he was ready for the demand on people’s day.
“We have plenty of stock on hand,” he said.
“We cater for the three days, people come to the show for rides and showbags. The showbags are very high on their list.”
FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS
Gates open at 9am, closing after fireworks
Grand Animal Parade:
When: 12.30pm
Where: Main Arena
Official Opening:
When: 1pm
Where: Main Arena
Aussie Chainsaw Race:
Where: Main Arena
When: 2.15pm, 5.45pm and 7.45pm
Airtime FMX:
Where: Main Arena
When: 2.35pm, 6.25pm and 8.05pm
Fireworks Finale
Where: Main Arena
When: 9pm
Ticket prices:
Adult: $25
Concession: $20
Child (5-13) $15
Child (0-4): Free
Originally published as Cairns Show: Animals, showbags, entertainment and fireworks on people’s day
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