What can I say - I only go to the Show every 2 years now instead of going every year. It was quite disappointing this year in some areas therefore I am going to rate it a 7/10. Entry after "discount" or "twilight" hours ie 4 pm not recommended unless you are there just to see specific night events or just there for the fireworks , showbags and rides (animals need their rest too). You need to spend a whole day at the show to see most things as some exhibits and halls close earlier and it takes time to walk from entry to exhibits that maybe at the other end of the showgrounds or long queues to view popular exhibits, shows or programs.
Following are the reasons for my disappointment
1. I originally intended on going on Good Friday when it was cooler however I was unable to purchase a SHOWLINK ticket from Woolworths Chatswood on Thursday night after work as they were sold out and were not getting any more tickets in. Problem - Woolworths are not open on Good Friday therefore I would not be able to go to another Woolworths on Friday morning to purchase a SHOWLINK ticket and had to wait until Saturday when I was at work and purchase one from the closest Woolworths near my workplace. Luckily they had some. I was unwilling to go online to purchase a ticket as it always ends up more expensive due to the surcharge or booking fee added on (you might as well line up and get one at the show gate when you arrive). Also I want the double Woolworths reward points offered this year. At A$39 (A$42.50 or so if purchased at tthe show gate upon arrival) the entry fee just to get into the Easter Show although it does include public transport to and from the Showground @ Olympic Park Station is getting quite steep. Extras not included - food, drinks, show bags, rides as examples. It is also quite a hike to get out to the Easter Show - for me it takes upto 2 hours with no direct train service - a train change at either Strathfield, Lidcombe or Central stations.
2. When I used to go to the show before it was relocated out West to Olympic Park, you would buy heaps of showbags as they were no more then A$10 or so each for the most expensive ones. For quite a number of years after, families limited each kid to purchasing only 1 or maybe 2 show bags only. Showbags can now cost upto A$30 plus for the most expensive ones although you can still find a middle of the range Bertie Beetle Showbag for around $5 ( I remember when they were just A$1 a bag! After all it's just a plastic bag with a few chocolates in it) Today I saw families once again prams loaded up so full of show bags that the prams could topple over! Which leads me to my second diappointment - showbags that had sold out completely. I had 2 showbags I really liked - the Marie Claire Showbag and the Spring Stella Athletica Showbag. Both had sold out completely. Second choice for some people was the Autumn Stella Athletica Showbag but a Woman's Weekly Showbag or Cosmopolitan Showbag or even the Better Homes & Garden Showbag wasn't a substitute for the Marie Claire Showbag and Spring Stella Athletica Showbags so I didn't buy any showbags from the Showbag Pavillion which I spent so much time in and made 2 visits to. Even 2 for a special price or special reductions on certain showbags could not persuade me to purchase a Showbag. In the end I went searching for the AG Showbag (as it was listed as) from the Lifestyle & Home Pavillion. I always purchase this bag when I attend the show which supports The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW Foundation and is made by Australian Farmers for A$20. The bag hasn't changed over the years although products in the bag vary from year to year. Tip : either buy your showbags towards the end of your visit to the show as you don't want to lug them around with you all day and everywhere you go. If you do ,don't do what I did and leave purchasing your favourite showbags until almost closing time as you will end up with the disappointment of sold out showbags. Alternatively there are locker/storage facilities for hire around the showgrounds but the best ones are closest to the entrance/exit of the Showgrounds gates near The Dome Building. These are usually undercover which is great in extreme heat or extreme wet conditions during your visit. Some stalls also offer a pay now pick up later service when you purchase larger or heavier items.
3. If you stay at the show later then 5.30 pm, some of the "attractions" are closed. The Easter Show may close at 9 pm and the Showbag Pavillion may be open until 9.30 pm but the Woolworths Food Farm was almost completely closed before 7 pm. The only stall still open was the Sydney water stall and apple stall. The on site pie stall complete with onsite pie making kitchen was closed for the day. There were still crowds of people there - mainly families however there were no live demonstrations or workshops by the evening. Therefore it pays to arrive early unlike me who arrived a little before 2 pm as it took so long for me to get there by public transport on a Sunday or holiday public transport schedule.
Ok enough of what disappointed me. Below is a summary of what I did manage to see at this year's Royal Easter Show. Please also refer to my 4 videos uploaded onto YouTube.
Sydney Royal Easter Show 2018
General photos - ticket, station & entry/exit to the Showgrounds
Games of Skill
Haunted House @ Night
Ferris Wheel Day & Night
Carousel
Gravity Defying Rides
Arts & Crafts - Photography, Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Dress Making, Doll Making, Bookbinding, Soft Toys, Knitting, Crocheting, Glass Making & Painting etc....
Photography
Sculptures
Chinese Calligraphy
Mixed Media Painting
Felting
Crochet & Knitting
Glass Making, Blowing & Painting
Soft Toys & Dolls
Quilting & Dress Making
Baking - Fruit Cakes, Tarts, Biscuits, Cookies, Painting, Sponge Cakes, Marble Cakes, Cake Decorating , Sugar Art, & Jam Making etc.....
Fruit Cakes
Jams, Marmalade, Conserves, Butters, Sauces & Spreads
Chocolate Vanilla & Strawberry Cakes, Sponges, Cookies, Biscuits, Slices, Cup Cakes, Scones, Gingerbread men, Lamingtons & Other Homemade Confectionery
Cake Decorating, Sugar & Chocolate Art
Jelly Cakes & Fruit/Vegetable Carving - MS THOM BUI
Transport For NSW - Self Driving Shuttle Test Vehicle & Future Driverless Sydney Metro Rail Line (look familiar? It should the exhibition was previously at Barangaroo refer my blog)
Animals - Farmyard Nursery, Working Dairy, Horses, Ponies, Sheep lambs & Wool, Pigs & Piglets, Goats, Ducks, Chickens, Geese, Turkeys, Eggs, Cows, Cattle, Alpacas, Dogs, Cats, Mice, Guinea pigs, Rabbits & Bunnies , reptiles etc......
wool, sheep, lambs, rams & sheep dogs
dairy cows & milk production
Farmyard Nursery - chickens, ducks, lambs & goats - a family favourite where animals roam free and are hand fed!
Chickens, Turkeys, Ducks , Geese & Eggs
Pigs & Piglets
Alpacas
horses
ponies & pony rides
reptiles
training dogs
Tea in a bag - flavour chosen Watermelon - so refreshing and cold - lots of ice and brewed for at least 3 hours before being chilled to maximise the flavour of the tea with real pieces of fruit to garnish - was also available in passionfruit or lychee
free food sampling from Woolworths - turkey and spinach wrap, 2 flavours of potato salad and a cherry tomato and goats cheese brechetta.
The Tram Cafe
The Stables - yes this venue originally did house horses and carriages a few years ago. It then became a mixed usage venue with a mixture of animals and textiles on display even some art and fashion before being converted to a food and drink venue. This year The Stables housed a restaurant upstairs on the Mezzanine Level , a bar downstairs at the rear of The Stables and a selection of food vendor stalls.
Donuts Donuts & More Donuts.
Oysters - yep Oysters and boy did this display stink this year and if it wasn't this oyster display that stank something sure did as you walked past it inside The Food Dome!
Junior district displays
Inside The Woolworths Dome - District Displays.
There were many other activities, shows, exhibitions, demonstrations, etc to see and do around the showgrounds but it is impossible to see and do everything in 1 day - Future Farm, Wood Chopping, Animal Parades and Judging, Cow Milking, Horse Riding & Jumping , Shopping, BBQ etc just to name a few.
