Wanaka welcomed at least 40,000 people to the 82nd Wanaka A&P Show this weekend, with Show organisers thrilled with another successful event.

While official numbers are still to be confirmed, the crowd attending the popular annual Show is consistent with previous years.

A heavy downpour of rain on Thursday night was welcomed by the local rural community, with farmers breathing a collective sigh of relief after a dry and dusty few weeks. The rain had a minor impact on the set-up for some trade exhibitors but it was business as usual for the Show.

Wanaka A&P Show event manager Jane Stalker says a combination of factors attracted the huge crowd to the event.

“The Wanaka A&P Show is now the largest two-day show in the South Island and many people make it a fixture on their events calendar, whether they come for the agriculture or the entertainment,” she says. “We’re very lucky as the Show is always held the second weekend of March when the weather is generally great, people are ready to relax, farmers are less busy than at other times of the year and the timely rain meant they actually spent a bit more money, too.”

The park-and-ride initiative was once again well utilised and many Show-goers had pre-purchased their tickets online so there were minimal queues at the gates.

The total number of trade exhibitors was 465, on par with previous years. The number of cattle entries was 45, while horse and sheep entries remained were 230 and 130 respectively. Livestock, which came to the Show from around the South Island, continued to be of a high calibre. Sixty eight dogs competed in the world-famous Jack Russell race, with first place being awarded to nine-year-old Stella, owned by Kristin Renda of Wanaka.

The Show also hosted an impressive entertainment line up over the two days, including performances by Wanaka country pop singer Jody Direen, The Beat Girls, folk singer Anna van Riel and magician Jonathan Usher. The GJ Gardner Life & Style Marquee was a huge success, with crowds attending local fashion, food and wine showcases.

“The entertainment programme always enhances other aspects of the Show and this year’s performers were really drawcards in themselves – we’ve had some great feedback from people on how much they enjoyed the music and entertainment,” Stalker says. “Overall, it’s been another sensational Show and we are grateful to everyone who attended and helped to produce the event, including the Show’s stalwart volunteers, as well as the support from the wider Upper Clutha community.”

Next year’s Wanaka A&P Show will be held on March 13-14, 2020.

ENDS

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