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The Dannevirke A&P Show is returning to town with new attractions, stalls and entertainment for showgoers including hosting the speed-shearing event for the first time.
A&P Show president Kirsten Wahlberg said the event was a great local showcase, adding: “Nothing has changed, we have just added to it.”
She expected a couple of thousand visitors through the gates over the weekend.
“We had 800 to 900 last year each day and that was in the pouring rain,” she said.
The show will run from January 31 to February 2 with the speed shearing to be hosted on the Friday night, with a $1000 prize for the winning shearer.
Show rides will be available all weekend at the Dannevirke A&P Show. Photo / Paul Taylor
“It’s all new to us, but at the same time we have got very good organisers organising it that have been around and know what happens for the speed share, so they can replicate it very well.”
Joining the Friday night entertainment fun is Mahons Amusement, which will be bringing along a selection of new rides.
“This year they are staying for the whole weekend so they run Friday night, Saturday and Sunday. We definitely have lots of new things happening.”
Wahlberg said they have worked to transform the petting zoo into a newly developed “Agridome”.
“We have basically moved the petting zoo and made it bigger and better and added a whole lot of other stalls inside the hall.”
She said showgoers would have plenty of demonstrations to watch including cow milking, terrier racing and various shearing events.
“We have got a competition between shearing the sheep and the knitters and spinners where they will go from shearing the sheep to ending up with a knitted garment of booties.”
The Fleece to Feet competition is organised by the Dannevirke Spinning and Weaving Club and Clarke Shearing, with the garments to be donated to local rest-home residents.
Wahlberg said the tug-of-war would make a long-awaited return at lunchtime on Saturday.
“It used to run at the show years and years ago and now we have actually found the tug-of-war machine.”
Participation in this event is free and competitors can enter in a team of six individually before the day.
Wahlberg said there would be bouncy castles and the Fonterra train for the younger children to enjoy.
Sunday will include a Pooch Party run by the Ruahine Kennel Association with a celebrity judge to determine who has the waggiest tail, cleverest trick, fastest eater and most impressive bark.
Michaela Gower joined Hawke’s Bay Today in 2023 and is based out of the Hastings newsroom. She covers Dannevirke and Hawke’s Bay news and loves sharing stories about farming and rural communities.
