General News
5 June, 2025
Warren Show on just around the corner
If you’re counting, it’s just nine sleeps until the Warren Show is on once again and the hardworking organisers at the Warren Pastoral and Agricultural Association (WPAA) hope to see you there.
The one-day-only event will transform the Warren Showground and Racecourse, and Warren residents and visitors can access what’s guaranteed to be an amazing day’s entertainment for just a gold coin donation.
Yes, you read that right. Entry to the Warren Show is just a gold coin donation.
With other agricultural shows in the region charging entry fees of up to $20 per person, it is becoming increasingly difficult for some families to be able to access and enjoy their local shows.
WPAA publicity officer and spokesperson Audrey Weston said the gold coin entry fee had been a staple element of the local show for some time to make it easier for locals and visitors to attend. “The gold coin donation entry came about a few years ago when we were finding, as a committee, it was difficult to afford a free show,” Audrey explained.
“It’s important that the show is almost-free entry and so people can spend what they like once they’re in there,” Audrey said.
People do appreciate the gold coin entry fee at Warren Show, especially when they see the prices at similar events, she added.
“I think local people are so used to it that they get a shock when they go elsewhere,” she said.
It is possible to enjoy the day at the Warren Show without spending a great deal of money. While the activities in the sideshow alley are not free, there are many things that are free to view at the show, including the poultry, sheep, wool and cattle exhibits; and pavilion activities including literary competition, cooking (including juniors), fine arts (including schools), crafts (including juniors), produce and fruit, needlework, flowers, preserves, photography, and woolcraft.
Highly anticipated free-to-watch events at the show include ring events, horse and showjumping events, prime lamb competition, quick shear competition, baby show, bushman’s challenge, school quiz, yard dog trials, dog high jump, junior sheep judging, lawn mower races, science show, woodchopping, whip cracking competition, junior bushman’s relay, tug-o-war, pet show (returning after a long absence) and the wife carrying competition.
The Warren Show will finish with a magnificent fireworks display, made possible through the generous support of the Warren Services Club. “You could have a completely free day at the Warren Show if you went in there and looked at things, the pavilion, all of the attractions,” Audrey said. Achieving an almost-free show is not easy, as it costs money to stage it - even the “free activities” will have a cost that the organisers need to cover in order to stage them.
The welcome support of valued sponsors and the ability to raise money is critical to this process, Audrey explained.
The Macquarie Cotton Growers are a key partner in this, providing the popular barbecue and donating the proceeds to the WPAA.
The event website and show program list the dozens of sponsors whose support makes it possible for the WPAA to stage the Warren Show with almost-free entry. Organisers encourage the community to support those sponsors, for without them the Warren Show would not be the excellent event that it is.
This year marks the 146th anniversary of the Warren Show, which was first staged in 1879. Are you going? You’ll get to see a lot for your gold-coin entry fee.
Read More: Nyngan