Attendance at A&P show largest yet, organiser says

Lining up for the Strath Taieri A&P Show grand parade yesterday are Jade Miller (8) of Lawrence, and her pony Jubilee Heera Nagina. PHOTOS: ALICE SCOTT

After being forced to cancel just days before last year’s event, the Strath Taieri A&P Show has come back bigger than ever.

Ella Turner (8) and Ruby Dykes (7), both of Middlemarch, show off their face paint.

Show secretary Michelle Tisdall said about 500 people packed into the Middlemarch showgrounds for the 118th show yesterday.

Middlemarch turned on the sunshine for the event, which Mrs Tisdall described as amazing.

The event was cancelled less than a week out from the big day last year due to a shift in Covid-19 alert levels. Mrs Tisdall said this year’s show was the largest in its history.

"The year before last, we had eight stalls — now, we have over 50," Mrs Tisdall said.

"As a local, it’s really great seeing faces I don’t recognise, because that means people have come from far away."

The event featured live music, a grand parade and all kinds of activities, such as a lawn mower race.

Mrs Tisdall said the archery tag arena and face painting were very popular with children, but what she loved was seeing everybody in the community having a great day out.