Hub Goes to: The Royal Adelaide Show

Whilst this year's Royal Adelaide Show has sadly passed, we’ve done an in-depth look into the full Show experience. Is it worth it? Has Show Nostalgia gotten the best of us? And should we go next year? All important questions that plague South Australians.

Well, hopefully our experiences can answer some of these questions come next September, as we will definitely be going again!

Credit: City of Unley Council

Eating + Drinking

The best places to get your food fix are at the Taste SA Pavilion, the Dairy Pavilion, and at Kingsway Lane.

We started at Taste SA, a great showcase of local products made in South Australia. With over 35 exhibitors, we all found something that we liked from the ample free tastings of food. Some highlights included ice cream and chai concentrate made from native ingredients.

We then proceeded to the Dairy Pavilion, the home of all things milk, both with and without lactose! Think ice cream, flavoured milk, chocolate, cheese, coffee, and so much more. My personal favorite thing to pick up here is the lactose-free chocolate milk. However, Farmers Union iced coffee merchandise and more ice cream, this time with a warm brownie thanks to Hokey Pokey, were close seconds.

This was One of the Best Brownies of my Life.

Kingsway Lane was an outdoor dining precinct with mobile food vendors dishing up all kinds of dishes, from curry to pitas to paella to burgers to bubble waffles! Whilst most of the tables and chairs were exposed to the weather, the stalls themselves had ample shelter for those ordering, which is important considering the intermittent September climate.

Outside of these places, there were lots of spots to pick up a snack or drink, from food trucks in the carnival and stadium areas to vendors in the Jubilee Pavilion and the permanent cafes and canteens in the Showgrounds. We felt spoilt for choice in regard to both our cravings and our budget.

Seeing + Doing

There was a heap of things to see and do at the Show, including competitions of all kinds, the carnival with show rides and games, and various animals and other agricultural learning opportunities.

The carnival included rides for thrill seekers and games for those whose feet stay firmly on the ground. While not personally my favourite Show activity, I do see the appeal of the adrenaline rush from a ride that revolves over 20 meters in the air like ‘The Joker’. I will point out however, that unlike many of the other things to do and see at the Show, the carnival rides can add up quickly, so I recommend going in with a plan or a pre-paid ‘Carnival Pass’ add-on that the Show regularly offers when you purchase tickets online. Despite that, I would recommend the carnival to all demographics, as at the very least it is exciting to wander through.

The Carnival Provided a Fun High Action Experience

There are all sorts of competitions going on at the Adelaide Show, from the cookery, art, craft and sewing entries in the Jubilee Pavilion, to the animal judging and so much more. At times the judges do ‘live judgings’ so you can see the reasoning behind their rankings. We saw the woodchopping, where people chop wood in the fastest time possible (sounds boring but it’s actually really cool with all the axes being raised and lowered really quickly) and the dog judging, which was adorable. Whilst not all competitions are on at once, I would recommend seeing at least one, as they truly are quintessential Show.

There is ample opportunity to see all sorts of animals at the Show. We loved the Farmyard Nursery as there was a variety of animals in one space, including cows, alpacas, chickens, and pigs.

The Farmyard Nursery was Home to All Sorts of Animals

There are also many things to buy at the Show. The Jubilee and Goyder Pavilions had local stalls selling wares from beanie babies to a KIA car. The show bag pavilion had lots of show bags, including confectionary, toys, magazines, makeup, and pet supplies, whilst the adjacent Market Bazar had local wares, including crochet flowers, earrings, and crystals.

Is it Worth it?

I would like to preface this analysis by saying that people go to the show for different reasons. For example, us Hub journalists all had different things we wanted to see and do. I was nostalgic for the woodchopping, sitting on the stands and watching the competitions go by. Zane was nostalgic for all the animals and literally got a selfie with every single one he interacted with, whilst Megan loved completing the Yellow Brick Road show bag, which costs $11 and gets you a bunch of local produce and snacks that you hunt for around the Show.

I generally think that the Show is worth it. I personally experienced many free things to see and do, full-scale productions on the Goyder Stage, a kid-sized working farm for families, competitions to witness, animals to pet, and a jam-packed night schedule in the main arena complete with fireworks. Moreover, if you like the list of vendors at the Show or just want to buy locally more often, then the Show is good as you can meet the people behind your favourite products and secure 'Show-exclusive’ deals, which are actually pretty good.

Regarding food and drink there are many options that don’t break the bank. I managed to find large servings of Mountain Fresh Juice and flavored milk from the Fleurieu Milk Company for $3. I also managed to find a dinner of loaded fries for under $10 in the carnival area.

The Classic 'Chip on A Stick' was also Priced Around $8-$10

Every year, the Show is one of the biggest events in Adelaide outside of ‘Mad March’. It’s also a good opportunity to take a break from our daily lives and have some fun and excitement with events catering to all including our nostalgia. Overall, I believe the show is worth it, and when the advertising for tickets rolls around next year you should snap one up!