Pleasant warm autumn weather is predicted, with maximum temperatures hovering around 37 degrees for each day of the annual event.
For the first time the show will extend over three days - it will open at 3.30pm today, will have an action packed program from 9am until late tomorrow, and finish on Sunday with horse events and sideshow alley remaining open.
Pastoral & Agricultural Society president Graham Doncon said the show was organised by a community and family based committee which has helped it develop a diverse program with ‘‘something everyone will enjoy’’.
‘‘We do it because we love the area and we are able to create a great family friendly event for the whole town and region,’’ Mr Doncon said.
Show weekend will include lots of regular favourites including cattle, sheep, horses, dogs, shearing and the pavilion.
Sideshow Alley is popular with families and teenagers and brings new and returning classic family fun, including the Cha Cha, bumper cars, The Aviator and the largest racing simulator in the area for thrill seekers.
It will also have a range of family friendly rides and games for everyone including laughing clowns, catch a duck and the bungee trampolines.
Pavilion entries are on display from 3.30pm today with winning tickets accompanying the best of Deniliquin’s craftsmanship. Australia flora and fauna themed works will be featured.
A special attraction this year will be Australian circus icon and vaudeville impresario Roy Maloy, who is coming out of retirement to perform his record breaking stunts on both Friday and Saturday. He is said to be like to the great P.T. Barnum, performing an almost extinct, traditional style of circus and entertainment.
Outback stockman Lachie Cossor will also make a highly anticipated appearance, showing off his skills in what has been described as ‘orchestrated chaos’. There will be horsemanship, working dogs, crowd participation, Jigsaw the 1000kg bull and a few surprises. He will perform on Friday and Saturday.
Miss and Master Pageantry is always a popular part of the Deniliquin Show and this year will be no exception, especially the Tiny Tot category packed full of young beauties ready to strut their stuff. With a variety of categories, children from eight months to 16 years all have the opportunity to take home a place ribbon and the senior winners go on to represent Deniliquin in the regional finals.
The show horse events will be held tomorrow and Sunday, extended for a second day due to an increased demand for different events and categories. To accommodate this demand the show society is putting on an extra, free day on the Sunday.
Livestock competitions and events will be a show feature, despite the impact of drought. Local farmers have indicated they will still attend and support rural events for sheep and cattle, which will be complemented by shearing competitions, poultry and a petting zoo to let youngsters get ‘up close and personal’ with a range of animals..
‘‘It was challenging with the lack of water but hopefully it can take people’s mind off all of that with the large number of rides and exhibits here,’’ Mr Doncon said.
Local band, The Northwesters, will be perform on Friday night. The band is made up of four local senior students, most of whom are doing their HSC. They are expected to be popular among the younger years singing classic rock covers.
For motor lovers, a car display, motorbike display and vintage car displays will intrigue with some of the best sets of wheels in this region complementing the machinery display.
The dog show and dog jump are crowd favorites which will be held on Saturday.
Giant pumpkins will line the edges of the showground with this competition being more intense every year. Pumpkin stalwart John Russell has been promoting the show and selling tickets in the ‘guess the weight of the pumpkin’ competition in Cressy St this week, and the winner will be announced over the weekend.
A wife carrying competition will take place on Friday and should produce some good laughs.
The popular fireworks will close the event on Saturday night with families and generations gathering to see the display as a tradition each year. Firework tickets will be available for $5 each from 6pm on Saturday night with the fireworks going off at 9pm.
Tickets are available online and at the gate, promising a great outing with friends and family.
‘‘It’s a full year’s project; once the show is done we start to plan the next one, improving it as much as we can.
‘‘We do hope that families will come and enjoy what we have on offer this year,’’ Mr Doncon said.
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