Kids’ verdict on best 2019 Royal Melbourne Show showbags

They range in price from $2 to $50, but there are some clear-cut winners among the 360-plus showbags unveiled for this year’s Royal Melbourne Show. So which are tipped to be the hot favourites?

Hundreds of thousands of showbags will be sold at this year’s Royal Melbourne Show.

Showbags have become such a big part of the annual show that they have been moved to a bigger, more central location this year — in the Grand Pavilion, in the heart of the showgrounds.

The move gives Melbourne the biggest exhibition of showbags in the world, with more than 360 on offer in 2019.

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Young judges Josh, 11, Jasper, 12, Ruby, 10 and Paris, 3, had the enviable task of road-testing this year’s showbag offerings ahead of the 2019 Royal Melbourne Show.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE FOR KIDS’ VERDICTS ON 2019 SHOWBAGS

Showbag judges Jasper, 12, Ruby, 10, Paris, 3 and Josh, 11 work their way through some of the hundreds of show bags. Picture: David Caird

This year’s showbags will contain everything from AFL and TV or movie merchandise to craft, gym gear, lollies, magazines and gourmet produce.

HOTTEST SHOWBAGS AT 2019 MELBOURNE SHOW

Among those expected to be popular among kids this year are:

• Paw Patrol ($28 — three versions, including one with backpack and cooler bag, bucket hat, activity set, ball, sunglasses, masks, wallet and drink bottle).
• Toy Story 4 ($28, including disc shooter with 18 foam discs, slide show projector torch and discs, DIY Forky, squishy Woody and Buzz).
• Avengers ($25, including torch, foam dart gun, light-up yoyo and choice of dress-up).
• PJ Masks ($28, including backpack, masks, projector torch, toothbrush, cap, umbrella and rewards chart)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ($26, including backpack, clip, wall walkers, projector torch, spinning tops, tattoos, stationery set, DIY slime and cap).
• Hatchimals ($28, including backpack, body glitter, pencil case, sticker set, two Hatchimal Colleggtibles, bracelet, earrings, headband, notebook and ring set).
• Spider-Man ($25, including role play vest, eye mask, gloves, spinning top, projector torch, disc shooter and rocket launcher).
• Girlfriend Magazine ($22, including a magazine, backpack, T-shirt dress, hair tattoos, makeup, gel cushions, cake decorations, smoothie squeezer and hair ties).
• Peppa Pig ($28, including backpack, cooler bag, hair clips, skirt, tea play set, bucket hat and headband).
• Harry Potter ($28, Classic version includes backpack, wand, iron-on transfers, drink bottle, pen set, letter writing set socks, wristbands, key ring, pendant).

Other hotly anticipated showbags this year are:

• Rick & Morty ($28, including hat, key ring, notebook, Pickle Rick plush, playing cards, coasters, drink bottle, mousepad, decal, tin case, socks).
• Black Panther ($25, including lenticular tumbler, cap, rubber key ring, backpack, wall flag, temporary tattoos, socks).
• Ultimate Magic Showbag ($22, including more than 10 trick props, a gel snake, a nail-through-finger gag, magic wand, duck whistle, dog poo and choice of animal mask including fox, goat, wolf, horse, dinosaur or chicken).
• World’s Biggest Jumbo showbag ($20, including several types of lollies, chocolates and bubblegum, soft drink, jumbo bat and whoopee cushion).

2019 MELBOURNE SHOWBAG PRICES

Prices range from the $2 Bertie Beetle and Rip Snorter showbags to the $50 Ugly Swan Scream-Free Hair showbag (you’ll get a 150g unicorn hair towel and 50g “scream-free” brush for your money).

Show organisers said there would be a considerable number of $2, $5 and $10 showbags this year, with 36 per cent of showbags priced under $20.

Josh 11, buries himself in his work finding the best showbags on offer. Picture: David Caird

But among the best value for money are the $25 Art, Craft and Cookery showbag, with a retail value of $200, and the $25 Elle showbag, which has a retail value of just under $275.

There will also be seven varieties of Bertie Beetle showbags, including a “retro” version for $15.

Showbags have undergone stringent safety checks.

“All the showbags available for purchase at this year’s Royal Melbourne Show have been tested by Consumer Affairs, Victoria Police and the Melbourne City Council,” Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria chief executive Paul Guerra said.

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WHAT’S NEW AT THE 2019 MELBOURNE SHOW?

The showbag hall shake-up is part of several changes to this year’s event, which also sees the launch of a new Jurassic creatures pavilion with interactive dinosaurs and a futuristic hi-tech pavilion.

There will be a twice-daily parade in the town square featuring characters such as Batman, Wonder Woman and Peppa Pig, plus more traditional attractions, including livestock, a bigger animal nursery, fireworks displays and stunt shows.

With last year’s attendance exceeding half a million, it’s anticipated that this year’s upgrades will further boost numbers.

The showbags will be officially revealed today by Oakleigh South Primary School students, who won the chance to attend the unveiling by entering a competition to predict what the show will look like in 50 years.

The 2019 Royal Melbourne Show runs from Saturday, September 21, to Tuesday, October 1, with tickets available now.