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The Royal Adelaide Show: Day and night

Our guide to this year’s Royal Adelaide Show.

By Jeremy Rochow. Illustrations: Pip Kruger
Last updated on: August 14, 2019 at 11:05 am

The sweet smell of fairy floss wafting through the air, the sound of children’s laughter and the RAA Fireworks ending every day with a bang. It can only mean one thing – show time!

Each year thousands of South Australians flock to the Royal Adelaide Show, whether it’s to buy up big at the showbag pavilion, go for a spin on the Skymaster wheel, eat some delicious doughnuts or check out the agriculture exhibitions. This year’s show will be held from 30 August to 8 September.

If you’re planning a day at the Royal Show, we’ve got you covered with highlights for both day and night.

DAY

There’s so much to do while the sun’s up that it’s hard to get to everything, so we’ve picked a few special events to keep the whole family entertained this year.

Grab a scone to celebrate 90 years of the CWA

While the Country Women’s Association (CWA) is well-known for its baking competitions at the Royal Adelaide Show, it also plays a part in feeding the thousands of show-goers who enter the gates each day.

An illustration of the Ferris wheel at the Royal Adelaide show, laughing clowns and scones with jam and cream.

Over the course of the show, the CWA sells more than 12,000 scones slathered in jam and cream at its SACWA Country Café, raising more than $40,000 for various charities.

Not only will you be supporting a good cause, you’ll also be eating some of the best treats you’ll ever taste.

To celebrate CWA’s 90th birthday, the organisation will hold a special tea cosy competition. The tea cosies will be on display for the public to see at the pop-up market near the Country Café.

Ride the Skymaster Ferris wheel

The Skymaster Ferris wheel is celebrating its 50th birthday this year, making 2019 the perfect time to go for a spin on the Royal Adelaide Show stalwart.

From the top of the big wheel you’ll get a picture-perfect view of the Adelaide Showground and beyond.

To celebrate 50 years of the Skymaster wheel, the ride will take on a different look, with LED lights and images of show-goers flashing across a big screen.

Check out the woodchoppers

The woodchopping competition is a fan-favourite at the Royal Adelaide Show. Crowds gather daily at the woodchopping arena to watch axemen saw, chop and climb trees in their bid to be the best.

After the show, the used wood is donated to Rotary Club of Adelaide, with the funds donated to various community groups and charities.

An illustration of an axe in a block of wood, doughnuts and ducks.

NIGHT

As the sun begins to set, attention turns to the Main Arena. There’s plenty happening to keep both adults and the littlies happy. Here’s what you can expect.

Get revved up for the precision driving team

Get ready for ISUZU Team D-Max Precision Driving to rev their engines and roar around the track performing stunts. Children and adults will be equally amazed by some of the moves these drivers pull off.

Rock out with the RAA fireworks

Finish the perfect day at the Royal Adelaide Show with the annual RAA fireworks, backed by covers of songs from famous Aussie rock bands like AC/DC and Cold Chisel.

The theme for this year’s seven-minute fireworks spectacular is Aussie rock live, with Energy Oz performing Australian classics as the night sky sparkles.

The fireworks begin at 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 8pm Monday to Thursday and both Sundays.

An illustration of fireworks and a D-Max ute.

Watch the Bumper Bubble Blitz

Get ready to watch your favourite athletes and television personalities slip, slide and tumble as they take on the bumper ball obstacle course.

This new event sees participants navigate obstacles while they’re inside a giant, inflatable ball.

LED lights will be attached to the bumper balls so spectators can see the competitors run – and potentially roll – through each obstacle once the sun sets.

The CWA is expected to serve this many scones at the show:

Get a taste of the rodeo

Before you get any ideas, barrel racing isn’t when a person jumps in a drum and rolls down a hill.

It’s a rodeo event in which a horse and rider attempt to complete a cloverleaf pattern around barrels in the fastest possible time.

You can see the horsemanship and skills of the riders when they take centre stage at the Main Arena on Saturday 7 September at 2pm.

The horse riders will also perform on Fridays and Saturdays at 7.30pm and on Sunday 8 September at 6.30pm.

An illustration of horses running around barrels, as well as fair floss and burgers.

Keep an eye out for the RAA Rangers

If you’re at the main arena, keep an eye out for our ambassadors – the RAA Rangers – who might even surprise some visitors with upgrades to the RAA Fireworks Deck, the best place to watch all the evening entertainment.

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