A & P Show time in Whanganui and Waverley

James Rountree did his best to feed the laughing clown at the Waverley A & P Show in 2014. Photo / Stuart Munro

If it's spring it must be showtime - and Mahon's Amusements is trucking its sideshows around the North Island.

They will be set up at Whanganui's racecourse on November 15, 16 and 17 - open from 7pm to 10pm on Friday, 10am to 5pm and 7pm to 10pm on Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday, Paul Mahon said.

The Explorer is one of the rides that is back this year, said to be New Zealand's fastest.

The Chronicle understands there will be horse events on both days, in the racecourse oval, with free family fun events and a pet parade starting at 4pm on Saturday.

Other traditional A & P Show events are missing. But many will be happening at the Waverley A & P Show in Dallison Park on November 19, Waverley A & P Association chairwoman Leeanne Morrison said - and two of the Mahon's sideshows will be there too.

The Waverley show is in its 98th year, and its horse events will span two days this year due to an agreement reached with the Hāwera show organisers.

Riders said their horses didn't like being near the sideshows at the Hāwera Show on November 23 - so those events will be held in Waverley and riders will move on to Hāwera for events on November 24.

There's no camping at Waverley's Dallison Park, and 25 riders and horses will stay overnight at the Waverley Racecourse stables.

"It's the most we've ever had," Morrison said.

Jumping will begin at 9am on November 19, and gates to the rest of the show will open at 10am. It will probably finish about 3pm.

Waverley's fire brigade will be there, and Roadsafe Taranaki is bringing a free climbing wall. There will be dog trials, food, flower and vegetable competitions and all manner of stalls - from soap and crystals through to farm equipment.

The ground usually allocated for fencing competition will be taken up by the stalls.

"We are basically full. I have had to turn people away," Morrison said.

The show is popular with trade exhibitors because it happens on a weekday when staff are working, and because stall space is cheap. It's also a "good country show", and very social.

Morrison is hoping for good weather. She said organisation has been hectic, and the association needs new, young members.