MEDIA RELEASE
Tuesday 13 November 2012
For immediate release

It’s Showtime!

The country’s largest agricultural and pastoral show, the Canterbury A&P Show, opens tomorrow in Christchurch. For three days a year country comes to town with a unique mix of animals and agriculture, fabulous food and wine and heaps of free family entertainment.

Canterbury A&P Association President Richard Lemon welcomes Cantabrians to join in the 150th celebrations of this much loved annual event.

“We are expecting around 100,000 people to attend the event over the next 3 days. It’s a mammoth task hosting an event of this size but with the help of over 500 volunteers who contribute more than 20,000 voluntary hours, we are ready for the Show to begin,” said Lemon.

“For 150 years, families have been coming to the Canterbury A&P Show, as visitors and competitors, generation after generation, creating memories that last a lifetime. The Canterbury A&P Show celebrates all that is great about the region along with diverse entertainment, it truly is a unique experience,” he said.

In 2012 the Canterbury A&P Show promises to be a special event with a great line-up of attractions and free entertainment, as well as a few surprises.

Highlights include performances by local bands Moorhouse, The Haze and Mandy Pickering; foodies heaven with some of the nation’s finest food and wine on offer; thrilling rides in the carnival area; close to 7000 livestock and feature competition entries; plus an amazing 3,000 animals.

The 150th anniversary programme includes a special equestrian display, steam display, commemorative prizes on offer for competitors, memorabilia displays as well as judging in period costumes.

“The Canterbury A&P Show has plenty of entertainment options but if you ask people why they come to the Show, 9 out of 10 would probably say the animals. Animals and showing are the raison d’etre of an A&P Show. Since the very first agricultural shows held in Christchurch in the early-1800s, displaying the very best of livestock and furthering the progress of agriculture in the region has been the driving force behind an event that has thrived over the past 150 years” added Lemon.

The 2012 Canterbury A&P Show will be held Wednesday 14 to Friday 16 November at Canterbury Agricultural Park in Christchurch. It is the largest A&P Show in the country attracting over 100,000 people, close to 7000 livestock and feature competition entries and 600 trade exhibitors.

-ENDS-

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