Bertie Beetle ready for a big Canning Show

Bertie Beetle ready for a big Canning Show

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Staff and volunteers are ready to welcome a bumper crowd at this year’s Canning Show. Photograph - Richard Polden.

After record-breaking crowds at last year’s show, event organisers believe this year’s Canning Show will be “bigger and better” featuring “more free fun.”

The two-day event, kicking off at 5pm this Friday, will be featured around a camelid theme, offering a range of activities, entertainment, and unique experiences related to alpacas, llamas, and camels.

Making a return to this year’s show is the Bertie Beetle show bag, celebrating its 60th anniversary.

CEO of the Canning Agricultural, Horticultural, and Recreational Society, David Russell, is encouraging families to head down to this year’s show and believes there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

“As the cost of living is affecting everyone, you’ve got to seek out these great free things to do, and we’ve got plenty of them,” Russell said.

“I just think it’s a great opportunity for families to get together. This is an opportunity to get out and actually see where a lot of our produce comes from.”

The event will feature several live performances on the main stage, including Dangerous Delights’ fiery spectacles on both nights, contortionist Lollipop Lyra, magician Magic Dale, and more.

In addition to the main stage, carnival rides, show bags, and food and drink offerings, attendees can enjoy a variety of entertainment options throughout the event.

These include Pro Wrestling exhibition matche, live performances from roving performers and stilt-walkers, markets and exhibition stalls, activities with the Hot Shots Table Tennis Club, dancing to DJs at a silent disco, and much more.

This year’s Canning Show is set to feature an expanded Sideshow Alley with a wider variety of rides and attractions for all ages to enjoy.

CEO David Russell said planning for this year’s show essentially started immediately after last year’s ended and believes the event can continue to play a significant role in today’s tech-driven world.

“Events like the Canning Show are as important these days as they ever were, given that there’s a lot of alternatives for people and the youth to stay at home, on their tablets and devices,” he said.

“The show is an opportunity, especially for suburban and city families, to actually experience a little bit of the rural life, and there’s great value in what we’re doing because there’s lots of free stuff to do.”

The Canning Show will be held over three different sessions to limit capacity and keep lines down, with Session 1 on Friday, November 1, from 5pm to 10pm, Session 2 on Saturday, from 9am to 4pm, and Session 3 on Saturday night, from 5pm to 10pm.

Last year’s Canning Show attracted a record-breaking crowd of over 20,000 attendees.

Both nights will conclude with a spectacular fireworks display at 9pm, presented by Westfield Carousel and Mix 94.5.

Tickets are only available online through Eventbrite, with no gate sales on the day of the event, except for online purchases during the sessions at a slightly higher price.