In 2020, the show was cancelled due to the COVID pandemic, a situation committee member and assistant treasurer Michael Watts described as unavoidable but disappointing.

"It was the first time in over 160 years that the show did not go ahead," Mr Watts said.

"Even in the war years the farmers around Port Fairy were able to put on small shows.

"COVID was something we couldn't do anything about so we just had to give it a miss in 2020 and start planning for 2021."

This planning period has had some ups and downs on the road to the scheduled date of the show, November 6.

The show committee had some costs for 2020, which they received government assistance to meet.

The committee has also successfully transferred $8000 it received from the Moyne Shire's events and festivals funding for 2020 to 2021.

On a negative financial note, the committee's biggest fundraiser outside of the show, using the showgrounds for camping for the Port Fairy Folk Festival, did not go ahead in March, with the festival another victim of the pandemic.

"That was certainly a blow given how important it is to our year," Mr Watts said.

"But again there wasn't anything we could do about it."

The committee has started booking entertainment for the 2021 show, with a circus performance, including a high-wire walker, locked in.

One of the uncertainties attached with the show is sourcing rides for the event.

Many of the ride operators are struggling to renew their insurances after a rise in premium costs during the pandemic.

This shortage is proving a challenge for the show committee to overcome.

"We are looking at a number of different operators, it has changed a bit from normal," Mr Watts.

"Getting entertainers from interstate is also a bit harder this year with the uncertainty of lockdowns."