The Royal Adelaide Show showbag guide for 2024: Giant-themed bags scrapped from event

What’s new and popular at this year’s Royal Adelaide Show? Search all the showbags on offer here with our interactive guide.

Giant-themed showbags have taken a major hit at this year’s Royal Adelaide Show after a supplier “couldn’t get the stock in time”, with the Giant Zappomungus and Cadbury Giant Freddo & Friends bags now scrapped from the event, a spokeswoman confirmed.

The Giant Candy Showbag is still on offer – albeit coming in at $10 cheaper with 21 fewer items including the removal of ‘Snack Bites’ and ‘Mentos Mini Rainbow Bags’.

However, the bag will feature ‘Striking Popping Candy Cola’, which wasn’t in last year’s assortment.

This year’s cheapest showbag has also risen – jumping up from $4 to $5.

Chief executive Will Rayner said showbags would remain at “fantastic value”.

“You’ll see that over 95 per cent of all showbags haven’t changed prices from last year – there’s more than 90 showbags for less than $5 each,” he said.

“We understand that people might be doing it tough so the show this year represents really good value for money.

Ella McKay, 9, with Pom Po the chicken and mum and dad, Kristy and Mark. Picture: RoyVphotography

Ticket prices have remained steady too, with adult and family tickets costing just $1 more than last year.

Sixty children from Brighton Primary School and Camp Quality descended on the Adelaide Showgrounds on Thursday to test and rummage through every showbag at this year’s event.

The kids got an exclusive chance to get the inside look at more than 430 bags available at this year’s Royal Adelaide Show – nearly 140 of which will be either brand new or updated including popular brands like Emma Memma, Squish Mochi, Monster High, and the Menz Polly Waffle, marking its first appearance at the Show in 15 years.

Students from Brighton Primary School at the showbags launch. Picture: RoyVphotography

Oakley, 2, is one of the Camp Quality children who were the first to see the bags. Picture: RoyVphotography

Chief executive Will Rayner said typical fan favourites like Wizz Fizz, Cadbury and Bertie Beetle bags were “running off the shelves pretty extraordinarily”.

“I think M&M is going to be big this year and the Matilda’s was massive last year,” Mr Rayner said.

He added that thr Showdown would also play a big part in which bags would have more buyers.

“It depends what happens on Saturday night whether the Crows showbag or the Port showbag sells more, but we’ll wait until Sunday morning to predict that one,” he said ahead of the clash.

“You’ll see all the things you’ve come to expect at the show, but a few new surprises as well. We announced overnight we’ll have a second ferris wheel for the first time in our 185-year history.”

Oakley getting into the showbags. Picture: RoyVphotography

Jason Annaraj, 4, getting a preview of the Royal Adelaide Show bags and characters. Picture: RoyVphotography

The students from Brighton Primary School earned their spot in the Showbag testing – which feature bags from $5 Bertie Beetle bags to a $36 NBA bag – after sharing their entire class was learning AUSLAN to support their hearing-impaired classmates.

Camp Quality, a long-time partner of the Royal Adelaide Show, also plays a key role in the event’s community support program, which includes donating 7000 free tickets to South Australian charities each year.

For Camp Quality student Connor, 10, this will be his first year at the show.

“I got a bug-catching set,” he said. “I love catching bugs but I don’t know how to – I’ve never caught one before.

“I also got a butterfly net to catch cabbage moths. I’m looking forward to the showbags, the Ferris wheel and the fireworks.”

Any showbags remaining after the testing will be taken by Jeff, SA Police Road Safety Mascot, to be distributed to children at Flinders Hospital during the Show.

Show favourite the Yellow Brick Road by Brand SA stands out as a top value option, offering participants items from across the 26ha site. Many showbag operators have opted for paper or reusable bags for confectionery and novelty options.

A complete Showbag Guide will be included in this weekend’s Sunday Mail.

Originally published as The Royal Adelaide Show showbag guide for 2024: Giant-themed bags scrapped from event