MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday 7 November 2012
For immediate release

FREE Family Fun at the Show

This year’s 150th Canterbury A&P 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&P 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&P Show will be held Wednesday 14 to Friday 16 November at Canterbury Agricultural Park in Christchurch. It is the largest A&P Show in the country attracting 100,000 people, close to 7000 livestock and feature competition entries and 600 trade exhibitors.

-ENDS-

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