“It’s Show Time!” broadcasts the DJ, his voice trembling with unbridled delight. “Get your tickets early to avoid disappointment! This year’s show promises to be bigger and better than ever!” For weeks the airwaves and newspapers talked of almost nothing else. It certainly got my attention – what could possibly get our Aussie community so excited?
Why, the Perth Royal Show of course! Hmm… Royal Show. Sounds like a pretty spiffy event. Probably have to dress up and get my hair done. The local radio stations brought in guests to talk about this year’s show and they kept mentioning “Show Bags.” Apparently they’re a really big deal. Does that mean I have to buy a handbag too? Okay, so now I have a mental picture of Vince and me in out dress-up clothes, me in an updo with my new purse, styling our way to the Perth Royal Show.
Talk about the wrong idea. I asked some Aussie friends about it and they replied, voices quivering with enthusiasm, that it’s one of the highlights of the year in Perth and their kids can hardly wait to go. Turns out the Perth Royal Show is in fact the Western Australian version of the State Fair. Oh, so it’s that kind of show! Glad I asked.
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| The fairgrounds are a 10-minute train ride from town. Saves the bother of parking and it's cheaper too! A compartment full of fairgoers adds to the fun and promotes a festive atmosphere. |
So Vince and I got our jeans on and moseyed over to the train station on a Saturday morning to go to the “Perth Royal Show!” (You have to shout it when you say it!)
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| You can sell anything if you make it look like a woman, even wheat. |
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Rehearsing for dressage
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| You want me to squeeze what? |
The show, which really is fabulous, reveals the best of Perth, which is basically a very large country town. There was livestock, dressage, music, carnival rides, side shows, stuffed animals, food, and lots and lots of people. Attendance is around 500,000 per year. That’s 25% of the population of the state and about 70% of the population of Perth. Folks come from as far away as Broome (1400 miles to north) and Esperance (450 miles south and east) to show and sell their cattle and horses, crafts and jars of jam. The rest of us come to play, listen to music, enjoy the shows, eat, and people-watch.
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| Teacup ride, Aussie style |
I noticed a few interesting things along the way. The showgrounds were filled with children. An awful lot of the mums and dads had tattoos and piercings-- a sign of the times I think. Contrary to the stereotype my generation grew up with, they were polite, friendly and had extremely well-behaved children. We'd stepped back 50 years to a time when families did things together on weekends besides organized sports and there was time to relax. No one minded having to wait a few minutes for a ride or queuing at the food stands. People held hands and smiled at the chicks and piglets. Mayberry, Western Australia.
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| mff...we should tell Dad it's time for lunch |
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| Excuse me, do you have a Kleenex? |
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| Move over buddy, we're thirsty! |
About those showbags. What's a showbag? Wikipedia says it's a "themed bag of commercial merchandise, and a distinctive feature of Australian shows (the local equivalent of fairs or carnivals). The bag is usually made from plastic or heavy paper, and is printed with graphics promoting a theme or manufacturer." Get a load of these.
http://www.perthroyalshow.com.au/showbags.aspx Most showbags are marketed to children, with candy and toys, superhero or movie themes, etc..
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| For some, it's all about the shopping. Showbags galore and a Taylor Swift replica hat. |
I took literally hundreds of pictures, a portion of which are visible here, or click on the link below for more. Meanwhile, enjoy the show!
