Arriving just as the sun was going down, rugged up in our layers to keep out the Winter cold, we enjoyed a night-time visit to our little local show in the valley.
Around it goes!
Looking down from the top!
Colourful, wide-mouthed clowns.
Sparkly balloons.
Side show alley rides.
Given the chill in the air, we soon made our way to the big bonfire, burning up the leftovers from the woodchopping competition earlier in the day. The heat from those crackling, golden flames was toasty warm and so we found a spot nearby for our barbecue tea. While we ate our burgers and sausages-on-bread, drips of tomato sauce on our chins, we joined in with the beat of the bush band playing their toe-tapping, sing-a-long tunes.
The Bush Band playing one of their upbeat songs.
I only had a moment to dash in to the pavilion, where I usually while away much of my show day, before it closed for the night and while hubby and son sourced dinner. I wish I'd had more time as I love seeing what people are growing and baking and making!
Beautiful roses like this one.
Delicious cakes and biscuits and slices...
(I remember making this when I was a girl!)
Lots of jam and lots of ribbons!
Juicy oranges for judging.
Pikelets ... of course!
After our dinner was done, it was around and around on the ferris wheel to look out over the showgrounds, lit up by the colourful lights of side-show alley.
Looking down from the top!
After our whirl through the sky, we joined with many others to await the fireworks. After a countdown from ten to an enthusiastic "Zero!" from all the children in the crowd, those first fireworks whizzed up and into the sky. Popping and crackling and fizzing, they burst into showers of sparkles that lit up the dark sky of the valley.
Bursts of colourful sparkles.
A stroll around sideshow alley, a few whirling rides and an ice-cream (it seems our boy can eat ice-cream no matter the weather) later, we were back in the car and heading for the warmth of home. While our night-time visit to the show cut short our time compared to other years, we still found much we enjoyed.
Our little local show is something we look forward to, as a family, every single year. That's a tradition that I hope continues for many a year yet.
Meg
What a wonderful evening and a lovely tradition to enjoy as a family. A ferris wheel always makes an event like this for me. X
ReplyDeleteI am not one for those whirling fast rides but love the ferris wheel. Looking out over the lights at night is gorgeous! Meg☺
DeleteWonderful photos! It looks like you had a fantastic time. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks! It's a lovely event to look forward to each year. Meg ☺
DeleteMeg, I went to our show for the first time in years to see Costa. It was very well attended. I think it would have been too chilly for me at night though.
ReplyDeleteIt was cold, Chel. You would have enjoyed seeing Costa! Meg☺
DeleteI love the show too. Ours isn't until October. You've reminded me, I must mark the closing dates for baking entries in my diary, AND buy some early bird tickets when they come on sale! 😁
ReplyDeleteYour family will be looking forward to taste testing all your practise entries, Cheryl!
DeleteVery nice photos! I like the ferris wheel ride photo the best. I agree, it is fun to see what people are growing/making/baking! Andrea
ReplyDeleteThe pavilion is my favourite, Andrea. I only just made it in before they closed the doors for the night so I didn't get to see any of the craft entries this year. Meg:)
DeleteIt sounds like lots of fun. I love ferris wheel rides. :)
ReplyDeleteI think there is something old-fashioned and charming about ferris wheels, Nil. Meg:)
DeleteI love the pavilions too Meg. As kids we would enter so many things 'in the show', it was such fun. My last experience at the show was in Adelaide and I found the 'big city' show a lot more commercialised, not my cup of tea. Small local shows have so much more character.
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a nice time.
Cheers,
Laura
I love the smaller shows too, Laura. Our little show is busy but it's not too crowded and it's always nice to bump into people we know from the community too. Meg:)
DeleteI do like the small country shows, so much better than the large city Royal Show.
ReplyDeleteThe home-made cooking and craft section is always worth spending time at, even in the city, and I too like the flowers too. I will try and get to one this year as it's been a while.
I could spend hours in the pavilion, Rosie! I love seeing all the displays and getting ideas from what people are making. I am going to make some marshmallow slice one day soon, ever since I saw it at the show I've been thinking that I've never made my boy that slice even though it was something I learned to cook when I was young. I hope you do get time to visit a show this year too. Meg:)
DeleteI love a local show, here in our village we have a gala each June is the castle grounds, but our community center held it's 1st village show, very small start, I am thinking of joining the committee to ensure it happens every year and grows. I would love to see the competitions for craft and produce.
ReplyDeleteA gala in the grounds of a castle sounds very grand, Marlene! I always think about how much work goes into organising a successful show, I know there are many community groups involved in our local show. I think it would be really rewarding to be a part of something that can bring a community together like a show. Meg:)
DeleteLove the show....haven't been for a few years and we loved the little pig races. Both my kids entered a painting each as well.
ReplyDeleteWe missed a lot of events this year, Kathy, as we only arrived on dusk but we still had a lovely time out in the valley. I think children really love the show and seeing their entries in the displays. There were many paintings, crafts and cooking entered by children which is always delightful, I think. Meg:)
DeleteWe too love the show! Though missed out this year as we tend to go every second year. I too love looking slowly at all the handicrafts and garden displays. The SA spinners and weavers guild always has the most beautiful hand spun and hand knit jumpers, scarves, beanies and vests for sale. Just beautiful things and considering the work that goes into them, they are very reasonably priced.
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I love the handcraft displays too, Emma. Always so many good ideas and beautiful.creations. Meg ☺
DeleteI haven't been to a country show in a long time Meg...the Cha Cha ride though brings back happy memories...What a lovely tradition for your family :-)
ReplyDeleteIt is a lovely outing for a family, Suzie. Entry is very reasonably priced and there is so much to enjoy. The cha cha ride isn't my thing but our son loves it. The ferris wheel is more my kind of ride! Meg☺
DeleteFestive...and all that food. Marshmellow slice. I can smell it now. Yum! It all looks so good. I'm glad you guys had a wonderful time. And there's always room for ice-cream, lol. ;)
ReplyDeleteI think my son would happily eat ice-cream in Antarctica, Chris! Meg:D
DeleteLooks like you had a great night out.
ReplyDeleteIt was a lovely evening. It's very pretty out in the valley, cold though! Meg:)
DeleteI love show season, it is happening in the local towns around us at the moment. It is great to see so many old fashioned entries in your pictures. I remember that marshmallow slice too :)
ReplyDeletexTania
Some of the entries definitely bring back memories, Chris. Marshmallow slice, gooseberry jam and things like that. I love the nostalgia of it! Meg:)
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