Easter Show tips can save you time, money…and stress! Now that The Easter Show is back, if you’re planning on taking the family, then you MUST read these excellent tips from North Shore Mum and ex-exhibitor Amy Porter, who shares her insider tips. Follow her guide to have the easiest Easter Show experience possible.
As an ex-exhibitor at the show, I thought I’d put forward a few tips on how to do the Easter Show and get the most out of it without remortgaging your house!
What date does the Easter Show start?
The Sydney Easter Show is back in 2022 and on from Friday 8 April until Tuesday 19 April.
Where is the Royal Easter Show held?
The Easter Show will happen at Sydney Showground at Olympic Park, Homebush.
Sydney Royal Easter Show: Tickets
- Tickets are only available via TicketMaster in order to limit crowds. The Sydney Royal Easter Show has instituted a daily cap to ensure effective social distancing.
- Rides are being done a little differently this year. You can tap and play all day with your Carnival Fun Pass – order now for delivery straight to your door, load it up with credits and all the fun of the carnival will be yours with just a simple tap. Save up to 27% when you pre-load your Pass with credits before the Show.
- You can also pre-book parking beforehand to ensure a spot on the day, or take advantage of public transport, which is included in your ticket.
Meet farmyard animals, taste award-winning produce, shop ’til you drop and feel the adrenaline in the carnival rides!
Staying Safe
- Use kids’ wristbands that you can write your mobile number on in case they get lost. Otherwise, write your number on their arm.
- Take a photo of your child on your phone at the beginning of the day, so if they get lost you can show people what they’re wearing.
- Covid-safe measures are been taken including hand washing and hand sanitisation stations throughout the venue, updated layout to enable increased physical distancing and ‘air flow’, regular hygiene cleaning, cashless purchasing options at all retail and catering outlets and new digital ‘carnival fun pass’ replacing retired coupon system.
What to bring
- If you’re going the BYO lunch route, then lunch in a cooler bag plus snacks and water bottles. Get to the Easter Show as soon as it opens so you can snag a locker to dump your things in. There are $2 lockers are located between the Haunted House and Thomas Cook / Wrangler shop.
- Warm clothes (it gets cold at night).
- Wear enclosed shoes which can get dusty and dirty. Gumboots might be a great choice with all the wet weather we’ve been having.
- You may wish to bring your own sanitiser or face masks.
The Show offers children, adults and families a wonderful world of excitement, gasps and giggles with balloons galore!
Itinerary
I recommend navigating the show in an anti-clockwise direction. This is a great system and order that works for us:
- Start with showbags (you can dump them in the locker or drip feed them to the kids throughout the day). It’s so much quieter in the morning! Even better, if you’re letting the kids pick a showbag each then do it beforehand! Head to the showbag website and let them browse away and make their choice before the day.
- Woolworths Food Dome (I get all my showbags from the Food Dome) and district exhibits. It’s quieter in the morning period. This is also a good time (early) to visit the Farmyard nursery as it’s not as chaotic
- Woodchipping competition and the pet animal pavilions
- Morning tea of scones and tea at the CWA tearoom (in the pavilion next to Food Dome) or at this stage kids can eat their BYO snacks. If you have a pram, leave it off to the side, also it can get a queue but it moves fairly fast.
- Dog pavilion (if you have a purebred dog then check out which day your breed is on).
- Horse stables, practice arenas, Schmidt arena and marshalling yard.
- Cattle stables.
- Pick up lunch in locker and eat in the main arena while watching entertainment or general classes.
- Sheep Dog demonstrations.
- Children’s and educational areas.
- Rodeo, evening and night entertainment.
- Anything else which takes your fancy and you might have missed.
Bathrooms
Don’t use a bathroom you can find easily, they’re usually gross! There are bathrooms next to the CWA Tearoom which are OK and have baby changing facilities, otherwise the horse stables and cattle stable buildings have bathrooms. The bathrooms are on the ground floor on the short side of the buildings. There are more quiet toilets in the pet pavilion near the cafe.
Animal Etiquette
You’re more than welcome to ask people if you can pat their dog/horse/cow etc, just ask nicely (address the person not the animal) and don’t get offended if they say ‘no’. Most will say yes, but some horses might have their show makeup on and the owner saying ‘no’ might be just to prevent you from getting the makeup’s black colour on you. Or they might be really anxious or nervous before a class (Sydney Royal is a huge deal for competitors). Take the opportunity to ask them what they’re competing in, and then thank them and wish them luck.
When you meet farm animals just remember two simple rules: take care of the animals and take care of yourself
Taking a break
One of the best Easter show tips is to make sure you plan some breaks. It’s a big day! The best places to sit and recover are the dog pavilion (in the stands in front of the show ring), the main arena, Schmidt arena and CWA tea room
Easter Show tips: How to save money
BYO water, snacks and lunches!
While healthy is good, keep in mind you’ll need to compete with show food so carrot sticks will only go so far! If you do have to buy food, head towards the stables and look out for where the exhibitors are queuing they’ve spent two weeks living at the show so they know where is cheapest and best (e.g. CWA tearoom!)
BYO Essentials
sunscreen, water, Band-Aids, hats, etc., so you don’t get caught out and have to pay through the nose for essentials or emergencies. If you do get stuck, Wrangler and Thomas Cook shops have amazingly cheap long-sleeved shirts and polo tops for kids
Be selective about what you do for entertainment!
Choose rides OR showbags… and make that clear before you go to the show. There’s plenty of free entertainment & shows on offer to keep you busy the whole day.
Most of all, have a wonderful day and soak up the atmosphere!
More fun things to do with the family
- Easter Events Guide 2022: Egg-citing hunts, festivals & events in Sydney
- Essential Guide to Easter School Holidays around Sydney’s North Shore
- Movie Guide: What’s in cinemas these School Holidays
- Easter School Holidays at Sydney Opera House: Edward the Emu
- Fun indoor attractions to visit with kids on a rainy day in Sydney
Comments
Hi all Easter Show People.. take snacks Drink with you change shoes and one more thing dress kids very Bright T-shirt.. and you to Mummy!
Tip: don’t wait to get to the Easter show to plan your day go to the Easter show website and print the day itinerary and with the kids at home the day before sit with them and highlight what you and they want to see, this will ensure you don’t miss anything and gives everyone the opportunity to be happy. Eg Showbags can be purchased anytime but you don’t want to miss the woodchop!
Tks…great advice fr families
Thanks so much, these tips were very helpful. In particular, re the show bags and lockers.