Show (fair)

Show is the Australian term for a village, county, state or national fair. They range from small fetes to medium-sized attractions like the Luddenham and Camden Shows in New South Wales, to the all-encompassing ‘Royals’ such as the Sydney Royal Easter Show of the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales , which runs for two weeks and combines all the elements of an amusement park with those of an agricultural show and those of a rodeo.

These comprehensive fairs feature many competitions including arts and crafts, photography and cookery, as well as tests of strength and skill such as wood chopping.

A distinctive feature of these shows is the showbag, a themed carry bag of goods from a commercial sponsor. Most showbags are marketed to the young, containing lots of lollies (candy), dolls and other toys. Common themes for showbags include trademarked toys such as Barbie, Garfield, GI JOE and Batman. Showbags may also be created and named after current fads.

List of Royal Shows

• Sydney Royal Easter Show
• Royal Melbourne Show
• Royal Adelaide Show