MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday 7 November 2012
For immediate release
FREE Family Fun at the Show
This year’s 150th Canterbury A Show includes plenty of family friendly free activities to entertain and delight Show visitors of all ages with the
return of old favourites and the introduction of some new initiatives.
“The annual day out at the Show doesn’t have to cost the earth. You can pre-purchase a family ticket for five people (up
to 2 adults and 3 school age children) for $50, bring along your own food and drink and spend the entire day at the Show
with heaps of free attractions and activities once inside the gates. We spend a lot of time planning the entertainment
programme to ensure that the event continues to represent great value for money” said Canterbury A Association President Richard Lemon.
The cornerstone of the Show has always been the animals and competitive showing, with more than 3000 animals expected on
site over the three days, including horses, ponies, beef/dairy cattle, sheep, alpacas, llamas, pigs, goats, dog trials
and poultry. Animals will be on display in the livestock pavilion and in the showing rings as well as various daily
parades.
“From bulls to bantams and merinos to mammoth donkeys, there are plenty of animals on site. For the young ones, the ever
popular Mike Greer Homes City Farmyard is sure to delight. The petting area lets kids get up close with animals and this
year Horrietta the Hermit Sheep and her twin lambs will be taking up residence. You can even watch wool spinning
demonstrations using Horrietta’s wool” added Lemon.
A new initiative this year is the Mike Greer Homes Discovery Trail, a fun activity for children of all ages. On entry to
the Show, children can pick up a Discovery Trail Map that will lead them around the showgrounds to Trail Points were
they can collect reward stamps as they make their way to the final destination, the Mike Greer Homes City Farmyard. Once
they reach the City Farmyard they can enter the Discovery Trail competition for a chance to win some fantastic prizes.
The Tip Top Family Lawn is the entertainment hub for young families, check out the Tip Top Popsicle Planet with
activities in the adventure ring like patter tennis, juggling lessons, face painting, dance classes and plenty more.
The Tip Top Family Lawn is also home to The Carrot & Pickle Show, with high energy, crazy clowning, amazing acrobatics, stupendous slapstick, tricky juggling, goofy songs,
clown magic and a whole bunch of hilarious audience participation. Plus The Twisty Twins with spectacular stilting, duo
acrobatics, contortion, hand balance and so much more.
The Kids Can Cook Kitchen will also be located on the Tip Top Family Lawn, with celebrity chef Chris Fortune and local
school kids serving up some tasty treats using locally grown produce.
For something a bit different, the Rare Breeds Display will have some curious creatures with some special attractions
including Nadudana Zebu Cattle, Guanacos ‘South American Horse’, Enderby Island Rabbits as well as various rare breeds
of goats and sheep.
“With entertainment on the MORE FM Stage on the Village Green and the Main Arena including Show favourite the Shetland
Grand National, USAR Search Dog Demonstrations in the Dog Trial Arena, 150th Anniversary Displays and demonstrations
from the NZ Contractors Federation, this year’s Show is bumper packed with family fun” commended Lemon.
Organisers are expecting close to 4000 school children and special groups to attend this year’s Show as part of the
subsidised school/group visits programme offering discounted ticketing for Canterbury schools, selected community
organisations and not-for-profit groups.
This year’s 150th Canterbury A Show will be held Wednesday 14 to Friday 16 November at Canterbury Agricultural Park in Christchurch. It is the largest
A Show in the country attracting 100,000 people, close to 7000 livestock and feature competition entries and 600 trade
exhibitors.
-ENDS-