Five reasons to take your grandkids to the Sydney Royal Easter Show
With rides, showbags, animals, and a host of entertaining events, the Sydney Royal Easter Show has plenty on offer that the whole family can enjoy - and there’s even more in store this year.
If you’re still deciding whether to take the grandkids along this year, the Show’s celebrations of its 200th anniversary might be enough to convince you.
Though there are plenty of reasons to take the grandkids to the Show in any given year, here are five reasons you should consider visiting this year.
1. Join in celebrating the Show’s past and present
The street parades are a beloved part of the Easter Show, and this year’s Bicentenary Street Parade is just as special (if not more).
The parade, held three times a day everyday, will feature floats devoted to past fads in fashion and entertainment, as well as
Other must-see events include:
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A Tribute to Our Spectacular Past - the nightly show in the main arena, which promises to take you on a trip from the Show’s origins with horse-drawn carriages to the daring stunts of today’s motorcyclists and precision drivers, rounded out with the classic fireworks display.
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The Car Parade - cars from some of Australia’s top collectors will be driven around the grounds at 5pm, with a different car club every day. If you miss the parade, you can also catch the cars on display from 8am til 5pm.
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The Heritage Pavilion - filled with snapshots and stories from the last 200 years, you can see the history of fashion, shopping, and other marvels on display every day.
Daily shows from aeronauts on balloon bikes, the circus-inspired Cyclopod, the humorous penny-farthing duo The Gagliardies, and travelling medicine show called Gandini’s Medical Marvels are perfect from audiences young and old and perfect additions to your itinerary.
2. Enjoy the thrills and spills of the Kids’ Carnival
The Easter Show isn’t complete without the rides, and kids (including kids at heart) will find the Kids’ Carnival is the best place to find some fun.
From the intricately-detailed carousel to the sky-high super slide, the rides operate daily from 9.30am until late.
Kids Street, designed for younger kids, is home to the iconic Tea Cups, Merry Go Round, Mini Chairs, and Mini Bumper Cars, as well as carnival games and spots to refuel with hot food and coffee.
In a first for the Show, tickets will no longer look like the traditional paper coupons and will instead take the form of a Carnival Fun Pass: a digital pass that you load with credits before you visit or top-up at specially marked kiosks in the carnival areas.
3. Give the kids a taste of some of Australia’s best arts, crafts, and produce
Along with all the fun rides, carnival food, and jam-packed showbags, the Show can be a perfect place to learn something new about agriculture or take in some of the country’s best arts and crafts.
From paintings and flower arranging to novelty cakes and fashion, you’re sure to find something that piques your (or the kids’) interest.
Must-see events include the district exhibit displays, a hallmark of the Show that see produce turned into massive, artful displays, and the Bee-Zeebo, where you’ll learn all about how honey goes from the hive to the jar.
4. Meet the animals and see who’s Best in Show
Who doesn’t love getting up close to cats, dogs, cows, horses and other animals? Since the Show is organised by the Royal Agricultural Society, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that farm animals are a major part of what the Show has on offer. It also means that there’s plenty of cuteness to go around.
Must-see events include the daily competitions to crown the best in breed and show, and no matter which day you go, you can see goats, dogs, horses, cattle, sheep, chickens and even adorable puppies strut their stuff for the judges.
The grandkids are also sure to enjoy the 10 Shake Farmyard Nursery, where they can meet, pat and even feed any of the 500 animals there, which can be rounded out with the nightly rodeo that pits international cowboys against Australia’s finest.
5. Spoil the grandkids with goodies they can take home
Last, but definitely not least, is the classic showbag. With 392 varieties available this year, from Bertie Beetle to Bluey-themed, there’s heaps of choice.
Bargain bags include the aforementioned Bertie Beetle range, priced between $3-$18.
The fun-filled bags aren’t just for kids, either, with the Australian Women’s Weekly bag ($20), the RAS AG bag ($25), Licorice Lovers ($10), Metallica ($26), Darrell Lea ($25) and themed bags for a host of sports teams among the many popular choices.
The Sydney Royal Easter Show runs until Tuesday, April 19, with the main gates opening from 8.30am until 9pm every night.
Plus, the final day of the Show is Kids’ Day, meaning that entry for kids is just $12 (or free for kids under three).
Image: @sydneyroyal_eastershow (Instagram)