After two years, the historic Luddenham Show is back on the 4th and 5th of March. This will be the 117th Annual Luddenham Show and its Committee expects it will be the biggest ever.
That’s saying a lot about the scope of this year’s event since the Luddenham Show may have a fair claim to having the very first country event of this kind ever held in the colony, as reported all the way back in 1891.
The Show will host the traditional agricultural events that have always been its staples such as the sheepdog trials, and dog high jump. With two days of horse competitions, and hotly contested poultry and cattle events, there will also be the non-traditional staples of the Luddenham Show, like the Crash’em, Smash’em Demolition Derby and of course the classic wood chopping.
Some exciting new events are planned for this year’s Luddenham Show, including the Eljay Freestyle Motorbike and BMX Stunt/Comedy Show which will be performed on both Saturday and Sunday. Wheelie bin races and gumboot throwing too.
If something a bit more extreme is to your taste, some of the hottest bull riders in NSW will be throwing down with some of the scariest bulls in the state – all for a prize pool worth $2,000.
Should onstage entertainment be more your scene, then don’t miss the traditional Poet’s breakfast which will be kicking off the stage show before the singers, dancers, magicians, the reptile shows, and even a bush balladeer tread the boards.
If you’re the type of punter who wants to be a part of the action this is your chance. On Saturday night there will be a mechanical bull for you to try your skills on, while Sunday will see whip cracking and even ice cream eating competitions going down.
For all Lego enthusiasts, this year will see the introduction of the Lego master creators competition where teams of two children build Lego/brick toys and structures in front of the crowd to take out the title of Luddenham’s best Lego creators.
If you want to unleash your inner artist and win some cash prizes while you do so, you can participate in the competitions held in the arts and crafts pavilion. Also, there will be an opportunity to enter your best baking, your favourite photograph, decorate a gumboot in a creative way or even submit your homebrew for the judges to sample.
The whole weekend will see live bands throughout, fireworks at night and of course sideshow alley. Because what show would be complete without it?
Entries to the arts and crafts pavilion are free with cash prizes on offer, whilst horse and cattle entries attract a small entry fee. Find all of the details at www.luddenhamshow.com.au or pick up a show schedule from local businesses in Luddenham.
The event will be held at the newly upgraded Luddenham Showground on the corner of Park Rd and Campbell Street, which is only 30 minutes away from the Liverpool area. The showground has increased its capacity since the 2020 Show with a new cattle arena, new cattle and poultry pavilion, new grandstand seating and new asphalt walkways. It is still one of only three grounds in the state still wholly owned by the community. As a result, the annual show raises much-needed funds for the upkeep of the facilities as well as funding future shows.
The Luddenham show is run entirely by volunteers, many of whose forebears were among the first organisers and the Committee is determined to live up to their high standards and even surpass them.
