They say the crowds at the Sydney Royal Easter Show are indicative of how the Hawkesbury Show will fair, and by all accounts, this year's Royal was 'the best ever'.
Chippa Chant of Chants Amusements said it was "the best Sydney show we've ever worked" and Hawkesbury could expect to match this.
Chants Amusements will be bringing a new, 35-metre-high ferris wheel that cost $4 million and was purchased from Holland to the Hawkesbury Show.
"It has wheelchair access - it's probably one of the only rides at the show that has that - and a beautiful lighting package on either side," Mr Chant told the Gazette.
Chants Amusements will also be providing the Rockstar, a 20-metre-tall flying carpet ride for the family, as well as the 40-metre-tall Freestyle, an "extreme white knuckle ride for the thrillseekers - it's real scary".
Mr Chant said he was looking forward to getting back to the Hawkesbury after it, and other shows, were cancelled last year due to COVID-19.
"I'm a third generation showman, my wife is a fourth generation showperson, and our children are fifth generation showmen. I'm from Melbourne, and I've been doing the Hawkesbury Show all my life," Mr Chant said.
He said the return of local shows "couldn't have come at a better time".
"Our industry's done it very tough due to COVID-19. We were one of the first industries to be shut down, and one of the last industries to be let open back up."
Ross Matheson, president of the Hawkesbury District Agricultural Association - which manages the show - said punters could look forward to "the absolute in dodgem cars" this year.
"Everyone loves dodgem cars; those that are 'real old' can remember dodgem cars having petrol engines in the back, almost like go-karts. Your parents knew you'd been riding them because when you came home you had petrol fumes and burnt legs off the mufflers," he said.
Elwin Bell and his team from Bells Amusements will be bringing Italian-made, New York model dodgems with drifting mode.
"They're the latest model with sideways action, and all the latest LED lighting. They're sensational to drive - they're like the Lamborghini of dodgems," he told the Gazette.
"They were the most popular dodgem at the Royal," he said, adding that the Royal this Easter was "the biggest and best show in the world, and the Hawkesbury is going to be just as good, if not better".
Bells Amusements will also be providing the Matterhorn, which simulates going down a mountain in toboggans.
In addition, "the No Limit ride is coming back, it's the world's most extreme travelling thrill ride," he said.
Sam Atkinson, Brand and Product Manager for Showbags.com.au, said they sold out of showbags at the Royal but would be fully-stocked again for the Hawkesbury.
"We're back bigger and better than ever. We've got a full range for everyone and it's an exciting range and we're not holding back - we're expecting a really great turnout at the Hawkesbury," she told the Gazette.
The Showbags.com.au pavilion will offer bags from $5 up to $30 and if it's chocolate you're after, the Cadbury bags, $5 each, will also be sold in a bundle at $12 for three bags.
Some of the most popular bags at the Royal were the Harry Potter, Pokemon, LOL Surprise, Beyblades, Cadbury range including Freddo and Dairy Milk, and Warheads.
Trolli and Hubba Bubba also did well, as did Game of Thrones and Supernatural.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne encourgaed Sydney-siders to attend the event, and said the show brings the country to the city doorstep.
"With the recent flooding in the Hawkesbury, it has been another challenging time for the local community," Senator Payne said.
"I was very pleased to deliver $70,000 in government funding to help restart the Show in 2021, but now we also want people to purchase a ticket and spend some time in this fabulous part of Western Sydney.
"Visiting the show is a great day out, and it's also providing an economic boost to the region as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic."
The Hawkesbury Show takes place at the Hawkesbury Showground in Clarendon from Friday, April 23 until Sunday, April 25. Buy tickets and find out more at hawkesburyshowground.com.au/events-and-shows/2021-hawkesbury-show
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Sarah Falson
Daily Liberal journalist. I love telling people's stories. Get in touch at sarah.falson@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Daily Liberal journalist. I love telling people's stories. Get in touch at sarah.falson@austcommunitymedia.com.au
