A&P Show shows Canterbury at its best
The Canterbury A&P Show is coming to town, with its annual feast of trade displays, livestock competitions and entertainment.
New Zealand’s largest agricultural and pastoral show is a unique blend of quaint tradition and innovation. Show Week evokes many images, ranging from the typically hot and nor’west weather to crowds in a happy holiday mood jostling between the show attractions. One of the most popular areas is the farmyard section where it’s a delight to witness the tentative interaction of city children with the extremely patient lambs, calves, goats, chooks and donkeys.
“Our Show has maintained an equal balance of town and country elements,” says Chairman of Committees for the Canterbury A&P Association Richard Lemon.
“We provide plenty to entertain the city visitors while running high-quality livestock judging for farmers.”
Entries are up considerably from last year. The poultry section alone has increased from seven entries to 74 this year.
The show runs over three days, from Wednesday, 9 November to Friday, 11 November at the Showgrounds off Wigram Road. Each year the A&P Show attracts more than 100,000 people, 4000 livestock entries and 400 trade exhibitions.
There is plenty of entertainment, both in the main arena and in the main stage area, where this year the headline act is the musical comics the Topp Twins. The Taste of Canterbury pavilion, where produce and food exhibitors and the region’s top chefs demonstrate their talents, is another “must-visit” section.
An innovation is the Kiwi Christmas Cake Competition. The winning entries will be displayed in Town and Country Crafts, a new feature marquee for people who make and sell top-quality crafts.
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