Thousands descend on first day of Cairns Show
Once feared to be on the way out the Cairns show has come back stronger than ever with visitors now dubbing it ‘better than the royal show.’
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Dagwood dogs, dodgem cars and thrilling rides attracted thousands to the opening day of the annual fair with early gauges showing numbers higher than last year.
Cairns show president Ian Allen hoped sunny weather could see the event tip 70,000 visitors by Friday.
“People have already came up to me and said the crowd felt bigger for the first day than last year,” he said.
“Since Covid, it’s been increasing every year since. Last year we had 68,300 through the three days of the show... so I’d be very happy if we could get up around the 70,000 mark for the 120 year.”
“During Covid we were very worried because we couldn’t hold the show but we worked through with the state government and ended up putting on a mini show.... we wanted to keep it going, because once something stops you end up losing it forever.”
Visitors can expect plenty of crowd favourites like showbags, wood chops and animals across the three days but a brand new $2.5 million ‘Zero gravity’ thriller was expected to be this years major draw card.
For local pyromaniacs Cairns own Mike Newman will light up the skies from 8.30pm each night with a showstopping finale expected on Friday night to celebrate the show’s 120 year anniversary.
Chris Nunn and his two sons Axel, 7 and Zack 6, were holidaying from Sydney when they came across the event.
“First time at the Cairns show, we are up here on holiday for a week and it just worked out. How lucky is that,” he said.
“It’s better than the Easter show because you’ve got no lines.
“You can just see and do whatever you like and not have to worry.”
Melville’s Animal Nursery proved to be a crowd favourite during the opening day with chickens, ducks, sheep and goats eager for a pet and a feed.
Arianna Dodge who helped run the nursery said this year goats had won the hearts and minds.
“The goats have definitely been the most popular,” she said.
“People love the goats because the just eat and eat and never get full.
“We’ve had some preschool groups through and they have just had the best time... it’s been the most rewarding experience seeing.”
Originally published as Thousands descend on first day of Cairns Show
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