WE list the top ten things to do at the show - from patting cute animals to coming face-to-face with the scariest characters from your favourite Hollywood horrors.
1. Dairy Farmers Farmyard Nursery:
There is nothing cuter than baby ducks, chicks, goats, puppies and lambs, and at the Dairy Farmers Farmyard Nursery, kids get a chance to see, touch and hold some of nature's cuddliest creatures. Especially for city kids who rarely get a chance to see farm animals, this is a safe and rewarding learning experience they won't forget in a long time.
Cuddle a rabbit, catch a chicken, bottle feed a baby goat or watch tiny pigs frolick in the mud.
Make the nursery a must on your agenda at the show, and meet the yongest members of the show family.
2. District Exhibits displays in the Woolworths Fresh Food Dome:
It's a fantasy of fruit and veg, a vast and multicoloured 3D tapestry created from the finest produce from all over NSW and SE Queensland.
Climbing up the walls of the Woolworths Fresh Food Dome, the District Exhibits are one of the Shows iconic displays, featuring creative and artistic installations assembled from outstanding quality grain, wool, fruit and vegetables.
Produce used in the displays represents the finest produce from each area represented, a true labour of love by those who participate.
It's not just about fun. Regional pride is on the line, and the five districts undergoing five days of judging compete for a prize that reflects the skills of professional designers, farmers and volunteers.
3. Woodchop:
A show favourite sees both men and women wielding an axe and making the woodchips fly in a race against the clock. The best axe wielders from around the world will vie for the title of World Champion in the Underhand, Standing Block, Single Handed Sawing and crowd favourite - the TreeFelling. Get down to the stadium to cheer on the Aussies as they take on the best from across the globe in the world's biggest woodchopping event.
Fun for all ages.
4. Super Slide in the Kids Carnival:
This brand-new attraction is promised to be the speediest, slipperiest fun you will have all year! The Super Slide allows children to "float'' to the top on a state-of-the-art moving walkway before they slide past a spectacular disco lights show.
Race your family and friends down one of the eight brightly-coloured lanes while grooving to the disco tunes.
Warning: kids may never want to leave.
5. Watch a Grand Parade:
You haven't experienced the Sydney Royal Easter Show without stopping to watch one of the renowned Grand Parades. Held in the Commonwealth Bank Arena, these parades feature the best of the best the winners of the animal competitions and competitive events held throughout the Show. There will be prize-winning cattle, dogs, sheep, goats, horses and even woodchoppers.
Make sure you're in the audience for this spectacular event, as the ringmaster controls the finest display of Australian agriculture.
The iconic Grande Parade is a sheer spectacle of colour and entertainment, and all that the Easter Show is about.
6. The Purina Sydney Royal Dog Show:
This hugely popular annual event aims to find the Champion of the Canine World.
It brings together thousands of dogseach vying for the prestigious title of `"Best on Show''.
During the 14 days of competition, thousands of dogs will compete in conformation, obedience, agility and sweepstake competitions.
Come and see the biggest, mallest, cutest, fluffiest and most obedient dogs there are.
As well as a showcase for excellence, the Purina Sydney Royal Dog Show promotes public understanding of the place of domestic animals in our community.
The feature breed for the 2012 Show is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and will be on display in the Howie Pavilion the whole 14 days of the show. You may also want to catch the NSW Police Dog team in action at lunchtime every day at the Howie Dog Ring lawns.
7. Hollywood Horrors:
This one will not be for the faint hearted, but if you dare, how about checking out the shadowy, dark castle of Hollywood Horrors? Come face-to-face with the scariest characters from your favourite shockbusters. This spine-tingling horror show promises terryfying encounters with scare actors and animatronic models that will leave you trembling with fear.
Beware of the gate keeper who is six metres tall and snatches at his victims as they come along.
Nighmares do come true in this heart-stopping house.
8. Say G'day to an Aussie farmer:
Head on into the animal pavilions and meet a real life Aussie farmer.
This is your chance to learn about the life of an Australian farmer. Find out what makes them tick, and what drives them to do what they do, day in and day out.
See for yourself the special bond they have with their animals, and if you're lucky, they might let you meet their furry friends too.
There will be thousands of animals on display throughout the pavilions, so stop in and say g'day to the farm folk who take such good care of them.
9. Showtime Spectacular:
Evenings in the main arena promise to be spectacular.
From the moment the first rodeo riders enter the ring to the finale of the Colours of the Outback Pyromusical, the Showtime Spectacular presents some of Australia's best and most exciting live entertainment.
Cheer on the rodeo champions as they take on the toughest rides of their lives, share the pride of our Australian bushmen and women as they present their horseback skills in the RAS Stockmen's Ride and hang on to the edge of your seat as the ShowTime Freestyle MotoX performs a jaw-dropping quad bike backflip.
Then settle in for the Colours of the Outback Pyromusical, which will take you to the outback and beyond, in an amazing show of light, colour and rhythm. It will set your heart racing and make you proud to be Australian.
James Blundell, an Australian country music icon with his own deep roots in the country, will host the Showtime Spectacular and promises to take you on a journey to a very special place in Australia.
10. Sinbad: In Search of the Golden Pineapple:
The enthralling story of the Adventures of Sinbad with displays of diving skill that will have you gasping.
Another brand-new show in 2012, Sinbad will dazzle the crowd by leaping from a jawdropping height of 25m into a pool below.
If that gets the heart pumping, then afterwards you can run over to the Ashton Circus Skills Workshops, with activities for children scheduled several times daily where they can learn to juggle and swing a hula hoop. Who wants to run away and join the circus?
Ten Things You Must Do at the Royal Easter Show
