Showmen's Guild of Australasia seals new carnival agreement for the Royal Canberra Show

A dispute over payments between the Royal National Capital Agricultural Society and the Showmen's Guild of Australasia has been resolved prior to the 2024 Royal Canberra Show at the end of February.

Revolving around payments paid by carnival ride and stallholders to the Royal National Capital Agricultural Society (RNCAS) for being present at the Show, the last minute deal means that attractions of sideshow alley will not be at the event.

RNCAS Chief Executive, Adelina La Vita told The Canberra Times last week that after discussions with the Showmen's Guild “we reached an agreement."

However, showmen were unhappy at the time it had taken to reach an agreement, with Showmen's Guild Committee member Elwin Bell stating "the show society forgets that we are the biggest part of the show.

"They should be happy to learn from us. We are the professionals.”

Bell advised that an offer was put to the Canberra Show organisers last year but it had taken until this month for the offer to be accepted. He said initially the Canberra Show organisers had come back with a higher offer, which the guild had rejected.

Another owner of rides said the Canberra Show was initially asking a "ridiculous" sum for rides to be on site at the Exhibition Park event.

Up to 35 major carnival rides and another 30 or so child-oriented ones are expected at the Show which runs from Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th February.

Post pandemic, attendance numbers have gone up.

Last year, then RNCAS Chief Executive, Geoff Cannock, said the three-day show had had more than 90,000 visitors.

The ACT Government is also to offer free public transport to the Show with travel on Transport Canberra bus and light rail services included in pre-purchased tickets for the event.

Images: Royal Canberra Show highlights (top, credit: ACT Government) and below, credit: Royal Canberra Show).