The December 4 event is being promoted as a family day and outdoor movie night as there will be none of the usual animal attractions associated with the usually October-staged event.
A children’s pet parade, the usual array of categories for tiny tots, toddlers and show girl competitions and the latest addition, a Shannon’s Insurance-backed car show, will be features of the event.
Organisers of the show met last week to finalise the details of the family day, which is being staged after the October 16 postponement of the annual farm-focused celebration.
Gates at the showgrounds will open at 12.30pm and the “all-day’’ celebration is expected to continue well into the evening.
“We will be going until the end of the movie on Sunday night, probably around 10pm,” secretary Janelle McDonald said.
Mrs McDonald said the show was “what you do when you have a show without having a show”.
“We will still be busy, but in a different way. We will still be doing lots of other stuff,” she said.
The only cows on site will be cardboard cuts outs that can be painted by children, but Mrs McDonald is expecting a bumper pet parade to more than account for the lack of animals on site.
“There will be plenty for people to see and a lot of free kids entertainment,” she said.
Entry to the event will be $10 for adults, with 17 years and under free for the event — thanks to a Victorian Government sponsorship of agricultural societies announced earlier this year.
“We have show and shine vehicles coming from all over Australia,” Mrs McDonald said.
“I put it out on Facebook expecting an okay response, but now Shannon’s Insurance has come on board.
“They’ve told me to expect between 200 and 400 cars. It will be great if they fill up the main area, along with the bikes.”
Those attending the show will have the chance to cast a vote in the people’s choice award, which carries a $100 trophy, along with the car of the show category.
“We will be running a bar and barbecue. We haven’t chosen the movies yet, but they will have a Christmas theme,” Mrs McDonald said.
“Peter Summers will arrive with his big screen at 7pm, ready for movie time.
“He has been part of the A&P society family for a long time.
“We have hired a popcorn machine for the movie, so there will be fresh popcorn available.”
A couple of thousand lucky tickets will be sold at $2 a piece, with a range of prizes available, including a unique Betta Electrical-donated art piece.
Mrs McDonald said the society hoped to “break even” on the day.
“We will be offering Santa Claus family photos and expect to do those from about 1pm,” she said.
“The side show element will go right through until the end of the night and we expect to have a similar amount of attractions to what we normally have at the show.”
There are several categories for the tiny tot, toddler and show girl titles, with Miss and Master Tiny Tot for the under three-year-olds, Miss and Master Toddler for three to six-year-olds and then two junior show girl titles
On Wednesday the showgrounds site will be inundated by canines as AH&P Society Dog Show is run from 8am until 6pm under the watch of Joe Seiter.
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