The Luddenham Annual Show is back for another year on March 1 and 2 with thousands expected to attend the biggest event on the Luddenham calendar.
The 119th edition of the “Country Show” has a range of entertainment for the whole family with organisers expecting to build on the record crowds in attendance last year.
Saturday morning kicks off with the traditional poet’s breakfast with other Luddenham favourites throughout the day including the cattle show, the dog high jump, and line dancing.
With the help of generous sponsors, a prize pool of over $8,000 has attracted bull riders from across the state for a hot contest on Saturday night. Once the rush of the bull ride has concluded, crowds can enjoy live music with the 2024 Best of the Buskers from the Tamworth Country Music Festival, Robbi and Ben lighting up the stage followed by Ronnie Judo and the Whiskey Sodas who will be performing until late with a quick intermission for the famous Foti Fireworks.
Sunday presents the opportunity for crowds to get involved with the best mullet competition, strong arm competition, pumpkin lawn bowls, whip cracking, ice cream eating and Lego building competitions for the family to enjoy. For those who prefer to sit and watch, the farm vehicle challenge, sheep dog trials and wood chopping competitions will be held on Sunday with almost $4000 up for grabs in the wood chopping. Back for another year, Ingrid Mae will again grace the Luddenham stage, performing her country music hits into the late afternoon.
The Wheel of Steel will be performing five shows throughout the weekend, defying gravity with daredevil tricks dazzling the arena. The stage is spoilt for entertainment with magic shows, dancers, a bush balladeer and the infamous Jurassic Jack Dinosaur show. Sideshow alley is back as well as the animal nursery, horse and poultry competitions with a new cow milking demonstration occurring on both days in the cattle pavilion.
The pavilion competitions are free to enter with categories for art, craft, photography, cooking, produce, flowers, scarecrows and of course Lego. Debuting this year is the “man cake” competition, designed to encouraged men to enter baking competitions with cash prizes up for grabs. A great range of prizes including cash, vouchers and prize packs donated by sponsors will be on offer, for full details check the website or social pages.
Luddenham Showground can be found on the corner of Park Road and Campbell Street, and is one of only three grounds in the state still wholly owned by the community. The annual show raises much needed funds for the upkeep of the facilities as well as next year’s show. Luddenham A.H & I society boasts a proud history dating back 1891 when it was reported in the papers of the time “Luddenham may fairly lay claim to having the best first show ever held in the colony!” This year’s committee, many of whose forebears were among the first organisers are determined to live up to that high standard.
Further information can be found on the website http://www.luddenhamshow.com.au or on the Luddenham Show Facebook and Instagram pages.
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