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Everything from Chinese lion dancers and rodeo riders to miniature horses and medieval combat fighters will be performing at this year’s Warkworth A&P Lifestyle Show on Saturday, March 15.
The organising committee has trawled its nets far and wide to secure a range of attractions to suit everyone’s taste, from farming families to visitors passing through, with a variety of entertainment and demonstrations on stage and around the showgrounds all day.
New this year and bound to be a highlight will be the dynamic drumming and brightly coloured costumes of the Auckland-based Tung Tek Lion Dancers. This energetic Chinese cultural dance involves two people controlling each of several giant fluffy lions and performing an animated dance, accompanied by a drummer, cymbals and gongs, with the aim of driving away bad spirits and bringing good luck and prosperity to all.
Also new this year is the chance to fight a knight with the Dargaville Medieval Combat Club. The group trains in historical European martial arts using authentic weapons, including longswords, side swords, spears and daggers. As well as giving demonstration fights with their heavy steel weapons, the group will also have an arsenal of soft training swords for show visitors to have a go.
There will be a number of music and dance performances throughout the day, including the Razza Dazzlers line dancing group, the Wellsford Variety Music Group and performers from the local Kiribati community.
Warkworth Rodeo and Cowboy Challenge North Auckland will be running a Have a Go day, featuring pole bending, barrel racing, team sorting and penning, and steer and calf riding, while Warkworth Volunteer Fire Brigade will have a climbing challenge for kids.
Other attractions include a truck show with a people’s choice award, a display of classic vehicles by the Wellsford Warkworth Vintage Car Club and quick fire raffles.
There will also be plenty of traditional show events to enjoy, such as wood chopping with the Puhoi Axemen’s Club, sheep shearing and a sheep display, cattle classes, the Donkey & Mule Society, plus a demonstration of hay baling by Sam Paddison.
For equestrian fans, there will be a mounted games tournament (see story p30), the cowboy challenge and there are more than 40 different classes in the popular miniature horse section.
As ever, children will be well catered for with free rides all day in the Fun Zone, including tea cups, a merry-go-round, the big slide and giant lawn games, plus cow milking and calf feeding. The always popular inflatable obstacle course will also be back.
And, of course, there will be a spread of impressive produce, preserves, crafts and flowers in the Indoor Exhibit section (see story p30), plus plenty to eat, drink, buy and admire at the many food trucks, market stalls and trade sites.
Entry costs $15 for adults, $5 for children and $35 for a family pass, which admits two adults and up to four children.
Info: https://www.warkworthshow.co.nz/
Thanks to our sponsors
Warkworth A&P Lifestyle Show committee are grateful to all their sponsors and volunteers, without whom the show could not take place: Principal sponsor – Wharehine Group; Major sponsors – Auckland Council, Mason Contractors, Northland Waste, Absolute Scaffolding, Mason Containers and Carter’s Tyres; Shearing sponsors – Coresteel & Hutchinson Consulting Engineers; Indoor and general support – Warkworth Butchery, 8 Wired, STR Automotive, Charlie’s Gelato, Tahi Bar, The Photo Store, Warehouse Stationery, Paper Plus Warkworth, Matakana Cinemas, Katie Boyle Real Estate, Intimate Apparel, Warkworth Menswear, Stargate Forest Retreat and Mahurangi Matters.
Ticket Giveaway
We have two family passes, worth $35 each, to give away. To enter the draw, email reporter@localmatters.co.nz with your name and contact number, and ‘A&P pass’ in the subject line. Closing date Wednesday, March 12.
