Genevieve Meegan, Features Editor

Genevieve has always loved the Royal Adelaide Show. She has memories of going as a young child and loving the wool fashion parades, and says, “it all seemed so glamorous and exciting”.

As a teenager, it was a big deal to be able to go without a parent and she remembers her school friends and her feeling so grown up: “We rode the Zipper about five times in a row! Not so grown up.”

As an adult, Genevieve was invited through work to be a passenger in one of the performance cars that speed around the main arena. “I remember screaming as it went up on two wheels,” she shares.

For the past several years, she has loved experiencing The Show through the eyes of her son Charlie, watching his appreciation of all the different offerings, which changes each year as he gets older. From a toddler loving the animals and the woodchopping to a teenager who now loves the rides, the show bags and staying until dark to watch the fireworks.

“We always go with Charlie’s cousins, and it is a joy to see them experience the fun and excitement together each year,” Genevieve says.

“The Royal Adelaide Show has been a constant in our family life through the generations and it holds great memories – it is a rite of passage that we each grow up with here in South Australia and we love it.”

Ben Kelly, Senior Journalist

A holiday in the Italian summer means Ben will miss this year’s Royal Adelaide Show, along with the favourites he narrows down to “action” and “animals”.

The sheep dog trials were always a must-see as a youngster. Nowadays, he is keen for the Flyball competition, where dogs race to catch and retrieve a ball, while flying over small jumps on the return leg. It’s fast fun for dogs and spectators.

Ben’s humorous view of what constitutes an action sport can be found in Car Soccer, another of his recommendations. Like most South Australians, he says he rode the now-retired Mad Mouse as a kid “only once, as it felt like it would launch you straight over the edge at every corner”. Rides – from family friendly to extreme – can be found here.

Earlier in his career, Ben covered agriculture for a rural publication and he’s still curious about “things that are foreign” to his city life. Consequently, the livestock exhibits and judging also make his must-see list.

He’s keen to experience The Show through the eyes of his niece and two nephews (children under 5 get in free). But even without kids, he says, The Show offers plenty to grab one’s attention for an entire day.

“Start with getting to know the food and wine producers in Goyder Pavilion, or a Cellar Door Experience – and take it from there,” Ben says.

Zoe Rice, Deputy Editor

As an annual treat, the fresh hot donuts are an irresistible magnet to Zoe, who makes them her first port of call.

“I walk in the gate and my nose is attuned to the smell of hot cinnamon in the air,” she says. “I haven’t really stepped away from the donut cart before I’m devouring them and shaking the sugar from where it lands.”

Zoe usually gets the lion’s share of the treats, dividing them up with her 7-year-old son.

This year, however, she is planning to change up her experience of the Royal Adelaide Show and have a leisurely day with friends (and no kids).

“I’ve never seen the closing fireworks,” she says, just a teeny bit overexcited for the coming milestone.

“The woodchopping is also on my list – the videos I’ve seen are really impressive.

“I’d like to see more of the agricultural side of things at a slower pace. As you can imagine, if you’re going with a young child, the rides and showbags can be rather distracting!”

Liz Walsh, Editor

Asked to nominate a single favourite experience, Liz unpacks a veritable showbag of happy memories.

“How can you pick one!” Liz says. “Mine range from those from my own childhood – picking showbags, buying those tinsel wigs and going to the wool fashion parades – to now watching my kids experience their own moments.”

Among those, she lists seeing the sheep wool judging up close, eating scones, watching the woodchopping and patting animals in the farmyard nursery.

“They’re all great memories,” Liz adds. “And the rides! The rides!”

A lesser-known fact about Liz is that, as a sports reporter for The Advertiser, she competed in The Show’s celebrity milk-off and milked a cow for her first time. “That was very informative,” she says deadpan.

Liz, her husband and two children have got their Royal Adelaide Show experience down pat. They arrive mid-morning for the big day ahead, armed with a packed lunch and a set budget that includes a showbag or two.

Like many families, they’ve been mindful of getting home for dinner and bath time.

“But now the kids are getting older, we might be able to extend leaving time till after the fireworks!” she says excitedly.

To plan your favourite day out, go to My Show on the Royal Adelaide Show website.

theshow.com.au