ORGANISERS are hoping to build on the success of last year’s Warrnambool Show and have another successful outing this weekend.
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With previous years falling short, the Warrnambool Show went “back to basics” with last year’s three-day event, and saw a rise in attendance as a result.
Senior vice-president Karen Jackson said signs were already promising for this weekend’s show, with the organising committee receiving a record-breaking number of entries in events such as show-jumping (over 700 entries) and cooking (over 200).
“The figures are looking promising compared to other years,” Mrs Jackson said.
“It’s going to be a big show.”
Mrs Jackson, who has been involved with the show for 22 years, said this year’s event was attempting to recapture Warrnambool’s roots in agriculture and horticulture, while still representing the city’s present and future.
But she said the key was to get more community involvement.
“I’d like to see more families and kids here,” she said.
This year’s show’s theme is “home-grown, hand-made, up-cycle and recycle”, which has proven popular with schools, with many students entering artwork made from recycled items.
Mrs Jackson said the community could expect to see a range of different events, including local artists painting and shearing demonstrations.
The familiar attractions of arts and crafts, biscuits and slices, pony rides, competitions, an animal nursery including native fauna, a circus, a kids play area, and sideshow alley will be there to entertain all ages.
The show is locked and loaded with its annual display of fireworks set to go off Saturday night.
The small committee of about 15 volunteers has been working from dawn until dusk to bring together this year’s show.
“We’re all very passionate about it,” Mrs Jackson said.
“We are going up but we need public support.”
Mrs Jackson said she hoped some free entertainment and show bags would help encourage the community to get into the spirit of the show.
Along with community support, Mrs Jackson said the show’s success was dependent on the region’s weather and hoped the sun would be shining this weekend.
The show runs from Friday to Sunday and according to the Bureau of Meteorology, the weather is expected to be mostly sunny for the three days, with a chance of showers on Sunday.
In 2014, the show ran for just two days, but last year reverted back to its three-day program, which will continue again this year.