Fairlie event a celebration of all things rural

• Published date: 27 March 2024
• Publication title: Courier, The

It is the day when the 126th Mackenzie Highland Show will fill Fairlie with a celebration of all things rural

The eagerly-awaited event takes place on Easter Monday each year.

People from across the central South Island make a beeline for the Fairlie A&P Showgrounds, where free car parking adds to the appeal.

The Mackenzie Highland Show is renowned as the biggest one-day Highland show in New Zealand, where some 12,000 visitors are expected.

It is billed as ‘‘a fun family day out with something for everyone for the cost of a movie!’’.

‘‘You will enjoy watching sheep shearing, a live sheep auction, sheep dog trials, wood chopping, agri-sports, fencing, the New Zealand Kennel Club and Highland dancing and music,’’ the Mackenzie A&P Society says on its website.

‘‘There will be a pet tent and an exhibition of rare breeds of animals.

‘‘The Barwoods stage, sponsored by Fairlie Early Learners, will feature Josh Grimaldi, Eddie Simon Music and the Jae Bedford School of Entertainment.

‘‘There are also all of the standard A&P animals and competitions ... the grand parade is well worth watching and is followed by the Fairlie Four Square lolly scramble.

‘‘There will also be a large number of stalls, a variety of food and many other activities.’’

New this year is the secondary schools fencing competition. Sarah Foley-Smith from Geraldine High School’s Primary Industries Academy led a local team to success at a North Island competition and is now bringing it to Fairlie.

The heritage livestock and rare breed display has been put together by Timaru woman Megan Hopkinson with the Rare Breed Conservation Society...