Every November, the paddocks behind Ranelagh fill with the sound of cattle, chainsaws and a crowd that has been walking through the same gates for generations. The Huon Show, known around southern Tasmania as the Show of the South, returns for its 79th year on Saturday 14 November 2026, running from 8:00am to 4:30pm at the Ranelagh Recreation Grounds. It is one of Tasmania's longest-running agricultural events, and for a single day it turns a quiet Huon Valley township into the busiest place in the south.
The show is a country fair in the truest sense. There is no headline act and no need for one. What pulls around 10,000 to 12,000 people through the gates each year is the mix of serious agricultural competition, homegrown baking, woodchopping, horse events, rides and food, all packed into eight and a half hours.
Huon Show 2026 at a Glance
If you only need the essentials before planning your trip, this is the short version. Details below reflect the show's official information, and it is worth checking huonshow.com.au closer to the date in case anything changes.
Detail
Information
Event
79th Huon Show, also called the Show of the South
Date
Saturday 14 November 2026
Time
8:00am to 4:30pm
Venue
Ranelagh Recreation Grounds, 49 Marguerite Street, Ranelagh TAS 7109
Tickets
Adults 16 and over $16, children $6, free for under 5s
Booking
Tickets sold online through Oztix, linked from the official show website
Why the Huon Show Still Matters
Agricultural shows have been part of rural Australian life for well over a century, and the Huon Show is one of the ones that has kept its character intact. It is run by the Huon Agricultural Society and remains a genuine showcase of what the valley produces, from dairy and beef cattle to apples, berries, preserves and handwork.
The show has been held on the second Saturday of November for most of its life. It ran annually from 1947 until 2019, took a break, and returned in 2022. That continuity is part of the appeal. Families who exhibited livestock decades ago now watch their grandchildren lead animals into the same judging rings.
There is also a practical side to it. The show is a meeting point for growers, breeders, small producers and hobby farmers who spend most of the year working on separate properties. One day at Ranelagh does the work of a season's worth of catch-ups.
Photo by Karolina Grabowska www.kaboompics.com on Pexels
What Happens on Show Day
The programme runs from open to close, and most visitors find themselves moving between the arena, the pavilions and the food stalls without much of a plan. That is part of the rhythm of the day. These are the main areas worth building your visit around.
Woodchopping and Arena Entertainment
Woodchopping is the loudest and most reliably crowded corner of the ground. The official show description points to the roar of the woodchopping arena as one of the signature sounds of the day, and the events draw a standing crowd from mid-morning onwards. The dog high jump is the other crowd favourite, a lighter counterpoint to the axes and saws. Between them, the arena hosts horse events and other displays that keep something happening throughout the afternoon.
Livestock Judging, Produce and Craft
The competitive heart of the show sits in the judging rings and the pavilions. Cattle classes, sheep and other livestock are judged through the morning, while the pavilions fill with entries for produce, baking, preserves, flowers, photography and craft. Scones fresh out of the oven are as much a part of the atmosphere as the animals, and the baking sections are where local reputations are quietly made and settled.
If you have never been to a country show, the pavilions are the best place to start. They are calm, they are indoors if the weather turns, and they show you exactly what the Huon Valley does well.
Machinery, Rides and Food Stalls
The show lays on a large line-up of agricultural equipment and machinery, which makes it as much a working trade display as a family day out. Around the edges you will find rides, sideshow stalls, community group stands and local food vendors. The organisers describe the event as a great family day out that stays affordable, and the ticket pricing backs that up.
A Short History of the Huon Show
The first Huon Show was held in December 1947, which makes it one of the oldest agricultural gatherings in the state. The early shows were held before the event found its permanent home, and the current Ranelagh location was established in 1956. Ranelagh has been the show's base ever since, and the grounds have grown around it.
Over the decades the site has been expanded and modernised, including upgrades to facilities and power infrastructure, supported by local sponsorship and a lot of community involvement. That slow, steady investment is why the show can still host livestock, machinery, catering and entertainment on the same patch of ground it has used for generations.
Photo by U.Lucas Dubé-Cantin on Pexels
Planning Your Day at Ranelagh
Gates open at 8:00am and the day wraps up at 4:30pm, so a full visit is a long one. Mornings in the Huon Valley in November can start cold, with frost still on the grass when the first cars arrive, and the weather can shift through the day. Layers, a hat and footwear that can handle a paddock are the sensible choice.
A few practical notes help the day run smoothly:
- Arrive early if you want to watch the livestock judging, which tends to run through the morning.
- Buy tickets online in advance through the Oztix link on the official show site, and confirm gate sales with the organisers before you travel.
- Bring cash as a backup for stalls and side shows, alongside a card.
- Plan around the woodchop and dog high jump, which are the two busiest draws on the programme.
- Keep an eye on the official Huon Show website and the Huon Valley Council event listing for any last-minute updates.
Ranelagh is a short drive from Huonville, which makes the show easy to combine with a weekend in the valley rather than a single-day dash from Hobart.
Photo by Charles Criscuolo on Pexels
Where to Stay Near the Huon Show
Because the show finishes mid-afternoon, plenty of visitors turn it into an overnight stay and spend the rest of the weekend exploring the valley. Huonville sits close to Ranelagh and gives you access to the river, the townships and the food and wine trail without a long drive home at the end of a big day.
Riverfront Estate is a restored 1800s homestead on the Huon River in Huonville, set up as a three-bedroom holiday rental for up to six guests. It has four beds, one bathroom, an open fireplace, pet-friendly options and 75 metres of private river frontage for kayaking, fishing and quiet mornings on the bank. The wood-fired outdoor hot tub tends to be the part guests mention first, particularly after a cold, busy day at the showgrounds.
For anyone travelling with a dog, planning a family catch-up or looking for a base for the November show weekend, it puts you within easy reach of Ranelagh while keeping the river on your doorstep.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Huon Show in 2026?
The 79th Huon Show is on Saturday 14 November 2026, running from 8:00am to 4:30pm. It is held on the second Saturday of November, which is the show's long-standing slot. The venue is the Ranelagh Recreation Grounds at 49 Marguerite Street, Ranelagh in Tasmania's Huon Valley.
How much are Huon Show tickets?
Entry is $16 for adults aged 16 and over and $6 for children, with free entry for under 5s. Tickets are sold online through Oztix, with the booking link published on the official Huon Show website. Because prices and gate arrangements can change, it is worth confirming current details at huonshow.com.au before the day.
What can you see at the Huon Show?
The programme includes livestock judging, produce and craft competitions, woodchopping, horse events, a dog high jump, a large display of agricultural machinery and equipment, rides, and local food stalls. The organisers describe it as the biggest show in the Huon Valley and a classic country show day, with plenty of free entertainment across the grounds.
How long has the Huon Show been running?
The first Huon Show was held in December 1947. It ran annually through to 2019, paused, and returned in 2022, making the 2026 event the 79th show. The current Ranelagh location was established in 1956, and the grounds have been expanded and modernised over the decades since with support from local sponsors and the community.
Is the Huon Show a good day out for families?
It is built for it. Around 10,000 to 12,000 people attend each year, and the mix of rides, animals, machinery, woodchopping and food keeps children occupied for a full day. Entry is affordable for a family, the gates are open from 8:00am, and everything sits on one compact site that is easy to walk.
Between the woodchop arena, the produce pavilions and a paddock full of machinery, the Huon Show 2026 keeps doing what it has done since 1947: putting the valley's working life on display for one long Saturday in November. Book your tickets through the official site, layer up, and give yourself the whole day at Ranelagh.
https://blog.riverfrontestate.com.au/huon-show-2026-guide-to-the-79th-show-of-the-south/
Comments
Post a Comment