Each year the event celebrates the region’s skills in arts and crafts, cooking and preserves, growing produce, showing cattle, poultry and sheep, equestrian exhibitions including showjumping, wood-chopping and sports shearing.
It also features a grand parade, pet show, campdraft and rides. The three-day event has been running since 1869 and is one of the earliest regional shows to be established in the state.
Chairman of Glen Innes Showground Land Managers, Philip Lynn, said the showgrounds are iconic in the New England region with their unique park setting.
“The Showground, set on 25 acres, is one of the few left in the state with a full suite of architect designed, Federation style show buildings clustered around a central arena,” Mr Lynn said.
“But due to that age we needed to make upgrades to take the facilities into the future and make sure everyone can continue to enjoy them.”
The Glen Innes Showground received funding to upgrade damaged asphalt at the showground entrance, build a wheelchair accessible pathway, improve flooring in the show pavilion, create a parent’s room, install additional showers and upgrade the toilet facilities in the Pavillion and Yarraford Hall to modern accessibility standards.
The Glen Innes Showgrounds are also home to the town’s annual campdraft and show-jumping carnival and provides more than 400 powered van sites for the Australian Celtic Festival, as well as regularly hosting regional RFS training, camping for travellers and youth muster events.
The Glen Innes Show runs from 14-16 February this year and tickets are available online.