We celebrated the Forty-fifth Show in 2010!

Next year’s Katherine Show falls on Friday 15th and Saturday 16th July.  The Rodeo will be held on the evenings of the Show, Friday and Saturday.

The Society was incorporated and held the first Katherine show in 1965, it was created to promote and encourage the development of agricultural, cultural, industrial and commercial activities in the Katherine Region.  The show has always been a major event on the Katherine Calendar drawing people into town from all over the region, across the territory and beyond.

It’s always good to be around for the birthday celebrations – and this year as the Katherine Show turns 45, we congratulate the committee of 1965 who with foresight and, no doubt, with tremendous effort and energy, organized that first show under considerable hardships. The committee erected the show yards to hold the livestock, horses, pigs, goats, etc.  They also built bush shelters for the public and bush toilets. This is a far cry from what the public gets to see at the Katherine Show nowadays. Many hours of tireless commitment and hard work has seen the building of the Stuart McDowell Pavilion and the Show Grand Stand Pavilion. We also now have a permanent Food Court area for the public to utilize not only on show days but throughout the remainder of the year.

The 2010 Show Committee extended an invitation to everyone to come and enjoy the festivities, participate in the many competitions, check out the pavilions and enjoy the Katherine Show. Returning to the Show was the usual array of favourite stall holders as well as fabulous new stalls.

“Come to Our Show” and enjoy a once a year experience. Our local show is about pride.  Pride in what your town can create individually and achieve as a whole.  Pride in the services provided by locals to make your day great.   Pride in the efforts of a committed dedicated group of volunteers to make show day a reality and of course your own sense of pride when you walk away with the Blue Ribbon for the best cake, homebrew, ute, chicken, story, pet, photo, plant, vegetable sculpture or most importantly the Giant Pumpkin.

With most entries costing less than a milkshake and a sandwich, a win or a place gives you bragging rights for the whole year and a ribbon to go on your wall – how’s that for fantastic value?

The Katherine Show committee had an action packed 2010 show with the emphasis on rural exhibits and competitions which saw more community participation than ever before.   Katherine and District covers 400,000 sq kilometers. The Show attracts more than 20,000 people to the town of Katherine, and creates the largest business week of the year.  The excitement the show brings is infectious and it not only showcases the best of Katherine, but also the greater district.