The Beenleigh Show has been cancelled for the second year running due to the risk of COVID-19 restrictions and lockdown uncertainty.
It would have been the show’s 143rd instalment, due to start on September 11th.
Beenleigh Show Society CEO Annette Mundt said it was best to make the early call to avoid any serious losses and for the safety of all volunteers involved.
“It’s sad, but we had to make the call because there’s no good leaving it until a week out from the show,” she said.
“We have lost a bit but that is negligible compared to what we could have lost.”
She said they were prepared to not make a profit from this year’s show, but the potential for even tighter restrictions or a snap, last second cancellation would have left them worse off.
“We were prepared for lower than normal numbers and to not make a profit, but with the restrictions now in place, there could well have been others that made it even harder for the show to run.”
They also considered the welfare of their exhibitors, such as bakers, jam makers, and food vendors, who need advanced notice before producing goods for the show.
“All our jam and cake makers have been impacted, and while we’ve been able to save some of the jams, all of the cakes have had to be thrown out,” she said.
She said the hardest impacted people behind the show have been the entertainers and ride operators.
Kay-Dee Promotions, in charge of the all the rides and games at the show, said this is the worst possible start to September for them.
“I had over 20 events booked and cancelled in August, and now our first show for September has been as well,” said Felicity Thomas, general manager of Kay-Dee Promotions.
Ms Thomas added that the decision was understandable but expected.
“We don’t know from day-to-day what numbers we can have at the event, so we don’t even know if it can be profitable,” she said.
