The Country in the City Itinerary

Livestock auctions are bustling heartbeats of the farming world. You’ll witness a captivating spectacle of animals parading through the auction ring and the thrill of competition electrifying the air!

ALPA Young Auctioneers Competition State & National Finals, and Sydney Royal Cattle Show Purebreed Steers Auction

• WHEN: 22 March, 1.00pm
• WHERE: Amphitheatre

Sydney Royal Poultry & Pigeon Auction

• WHEN: 23 March, 1.00pm
• WHERE: Poultry & Pigeon Pavilion

Sydney Royal Stud Pig Auction

• WHEN: 25 March, 6pm 
• WHERE: Pig & Goat Pavilion

Wool Auction

• WHEN: 26 March, 10am, and 27 March, 10am
• WHERE: Sheep Pavilion

Country food embodies the warmth of rural hospitality, creating a welcoming atmosphere where every meal feels like a hearty embrace from home. Combine the enjoyment of that hospitality with the added benefit of supporting rural communities, and everything tastes a little sweeter.

You will find that warmth and friendly faces at these special fundraising food outlets:

The Country Women’s Association (CWA) Tea Room
Located: Home & Lifestyle Pavilion

The CWA Tea Room is a favourite meeting place for many showgoers who, each year, meet to catch up over a scone (or two) and cup of tea. Equally many of the CWA volunteers have developed lasting friendships with other volunteers and look forward to reuniting annually at the Show. Some members have been volunteering at the Sydney Royal Easter Show CWA Tea Room for as long as 30 years, with a number of volunteers in their 80s still putting up their hand to help.

The CWA mission is to improve the lives of women and children in regional and rural areas, supporting the CWA supports their mission. Manildra is one of the major sponsors of the Tea Room, donating 2.5 tonnes of scone mix, with Dubbo business Little Big Dairy donating all the double cream, Nestle the coffee and hot chocolate, Pepe Saya the butter and Sunshine Sugar donates the sugar sticks for the tea and coffee.

Rural Students Café
Daily 10.30am – 4.00pm, Fashion & Style Pavilion

For a true taste of the bush take a seat at the café run by hospitality students from rural and regional NSW. Gaining real world experience in the kitchen and front of house, the students are mentored by professional chefs as they prepare tasting plates of locally inspired treats. Not only do they gain practical knowledge and experience, but they also take all proceeds back to their school for much-needed financial support.

In 2024, 11 schools from rural and regional NSW will be participating, with many students coming to the “big smoke” for the first time.

The tasting plate menu this year also has added Aussie bush magic, introducing Australian Native Ingredients. The pavlovas have refreshing Lemon Myrtle, the hearty sausage rolls are enhanced by Native Thyme, and last but not least the Vegetarian Quiche boasts Aussie Bush Tomato.

Big Bush BBQ
Daily 9.00am – 4.00pm, Schmidt Arena

Nothing beats a good old-fashioned sausage sizzle… and nothing makes the snag taste as good as knowing all funds raised are going straight back to a regional community.

Each day of the Show different NSW Show Societies will pick up the tongs and fire up the barbie to raise funds for their local community. You can enjoy a sausage sandwich knowing all money made at the BBQ will go to help our friends in the bush.

Since its inception in 2018, the Big Bush BBQ has raised over $200,000.

The District Exhibits Competition is an iconic feature of the Show, with four distinct districts across NSW each gathering the very best produce from their region to display in their own unique, creative, and elaborate design.

Sourced from NSW farmers and producers, and often grown all year just for this Show exhibit, over 10,000 pieces of fresh produce will be on display. Everything from apples, pumpkins, and peas, to grains, wool, and wine, every item is included in the judging process, both individually and for overall exhibit.

Experts in their field come from across NSW to participate in the judging process, which includes a prize for Best Display and for Best Quality Produce–often considered ultimate bragging rights! There is also the highly regarded ‘People’s Choice Award’, as judged by Showgoers.

Woodchopping & Sawing

Daily, 22 March – 1 April, Events every 10 minutes from 9.00am

Promising world-class action, the Sydney Royal Woodchopping & Sawing Competition is a crowd favourite and is the only competition in Australia to host five world title events.

This year marks 125 years since Woodchop & Sawing competitions first appeared at the Show. In what has traditionally been a male-dominated sport, 2024 has more women entrants than ever before, marking up 20% of woodchoppers on the lawn.

Be there for the 125-year Sydney Royal Woodchopping & Sawing Competition Celebration
WHEN: Sunday 24 March, 12.30pm – 1.30pm
WHERE: Ugly Fish Woodchop Stadium

For the first time ever, the Sydney Royal Easter Show will host two women’s world championship titles:

325mm Women’s World Championship Sawing Content (Single Handed)
WHEN: Monday 25 March, 3.00pm
WHERE: Ugly Fish Woodchop Stadium

275mm Women’s World Championship Underhand
WHEN: Tuesday 26 March, 2.30pm
WHERE: Ugly Fish Woodchop Stadium

World Championship Campdraft Competitions
WHEN: 22-27 March, 6.00pm
WHERE: Main Arena

Originally developed in the mustering camps of rural Queensland, Campdrafting has been a part of the Sydney Royal Horse competitions at the Show since 1934.

In 1948 the Word Championship Campdraft was introduced at the Easter Show, giving the best campdrafters in the country the opportunity to compete, “cutting out” a cow from the mob and moving it around a course.

Points are awarded for horsemanship and for control over the cow while completing the course.

You’ll be on the edge of your seat cheering!

Wrangler Federation Rodeo Challenge
WHEN: 28 March – 1 April, 6.00pm, and 2 April, 5.25pm
WHERE: Main Arena

Rodeos were introduced at the Show in 1931 and ever since, the horses, riders, bulls, clowns and crowds have kept coming back for more.

For six nights only man will take on beast and prove once again that the Australian way of rodeo is hold-your-breath, edge-of-your-seat, non-stop thrills and spills of the Bull Ride, Bareback and Saddle Bronc—all chasing the elusive 8 seconds, plus the wild excitement of Steer Wrestling.

And it’s not all just fun and games out there, points earned during competition at the Sydney Royal Easter Show go toward riders’ National standings.

Sydney Royal Horse Show Tent Pegging
WHEN: 28, 29 March, 5.25pm, 30 March 5.00pm, 31 March 5.30pm
WHERE: Main Arena A

cavalry sport with ancient origins, tent pegging is one of only ten equestrian disciplines officially recognised by the International Equestrian Federation. The Australian Light Horse used tent pegging as a training exercise during World War 1 and have been demonstrating tent pegging at Royal Shows as far back as the 1930’s.

The competition is fierce, as four riders in a team gallop in unison to gather pegs in the ground using a sword or lance.

Working dogs
WHEN: 22 March – 2 April, 7.10pm
WHERE: Main Arena

A stunning demonstration of working dog talent led by Ellerston stockman Murray Wilkinson.

Having had an affinity with dogs and livestock from an early age, Murray mastered his own secret language to communicate with his dogs, and you’ll be in awe as he puts six talented working dogs through their paces, manoeuvring livestock around using nothing but whistles.

Bison Stampede: The Battle in the Saddle
WHEN: 22 March – 2 April, 7.50pm
WHERE: Main Arena

If you like cowboys, cowgirls, two stepping, galloping horses, bison, long horn bulls and all things Yellow Stone…then you are going to love Sydney’s very own stampede show, ‘The Battle in the Saddle’. Sit tight for an all-action show that is the perfect experience for anyone who has ever wanted to put on a cowboy hat.

The show is an Aussie Stockman vs American Cowboy challenge that will determine who really does run the West. It's an interactive and crowd-pleasing arena show that will have the whole family hooting and hollering for their pick as cowboys and cowgirls show NSW the biggest animals they may have only ever seen on a movie screen before.

Never to be outmatched, you will also witness the skill of the Australian Stock Horses as they gallop against the power of the American Quarter Horse.