Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland blown away by big turnout for first day of Toowoomba Royal Show

Damon Phillips admitted he was nervous in the lead-up to the first day of the 2021 Toowoomba Royal Show. But he and his team breathed a sigh of relief as the public holiday outing attracted massive numbers.

RASQ CEO Damon Phillips. Heritage Bank Toowoomba Royal Show 2021, peoples day.

Residents have smashed all previous records at the Toowoomba Royal Show for People’s Day, with 10s of thousands flooding into the showgrounds.

Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland CEO Damon Phillips likened the ticket sales counter to a “fuel bowser” as he watched a stampede of local families check out the return of the first major ag show in Queensland since COVID-19 hit.

The huge response is a major boost for the RASQ, which had been hit hard over the past few years including the cancellation of the 2020 show due to the pandemic.

Mr Phillips said he had been nervous in the days leading up the event, but the turnout on day one of the show long weekend led to a huge sigh of relief.

“I’ve been doing this 21 years, and this is the biggest crowd I’ve seen at this time of the day on People’s Day,” he said.

“I’ve never seen it like this – cars were backed up over Glenvale Rd.

“We were really nervous (this week), and Toowoomba is always a difficult market for events — traditionally, people always buy late.

“But we were sitting there watching the ticket sales, and it was like a petrol bowser.

“We’d be getting close to 65 per cent of where we’d like to be (for ticket sales) already.

“Normally between 9am and noon it’s a trickle, and it builds after noon — this just started from 9.15am.”

Sue Janetzki, floriculture chief steward. Heritage Bank Toowoomba Royal Show 2021.

Friday morning’s entertainment featured a big focus on families, with attractions including the famous pig races, traditional Indigenous dance groups, cooking classes with chef Paul West, and children’s gardening shows with TV personalities Costa Georgiadis, Dirtgirl and Scrapboy.

Mr Phillips said the evening entertainment last night and tonight would draw different crowds who were chasing the thrills and spills of monster trucks, comedy cars, acrobats and a fireworks competition.

“People will keep coming out for the night-time entertainment, and it will just build and build as the day progresses,” he said.

“Seeing what’s happening here and at the gate is really encouraging.”

Residents wanting to attend the show on Saturday and Sunday are encouraged to buy their tickets online, where they can register their details and simply be scanned in at the gate.

Handwashing stations and sanitiser are available throughout the showgrounds.

For information on the entertainment, head to toowoombashow.com.au.