Park show - 100 not out

The Centenary celebrations kick off on Friday at 7pm with the Centenary Concert featuring Peter Corry and his band, supported by local lass Clara Costly.

The concert which is free is the Lurgan Show committee’s way of saying a big thank you to the people of the Borough for all their support year on year which has helped to ensure the continuance of the show.

Entrance to the event is by either Windsor Avenue or Robert Street gates only and while it is welcomed that you bring a picnic if desired, remember there is strictly no alcohol in the park. Catering vans will be in attendance also.

The concert concludes with a spectacular firework display, kindly provided by Craigavon Borough Council as part of their Diamond Jubilee Celebrations.

Hopefully, after enjoying such a fabulous concert, you will return to the park on Saturday to experience a wonderful Lurgan Show. An entrance fee does apply (£5/ Adult , £2 Age 5-16/ SC) but with a family pass costing £15 (two adults and up to four children), it is a very reasonable day out.

With over 600 classes for all types of livestock it really is the one day when the rural element of life arrives in town.

The spectacular Horse Section on the hill provides entertainment from 8am–8pm with classes for pony, horses, driving, Clydesdales and donkeys!

The cattle and sheep sections take place from 10am on the cattle lawn just in front of the tennis courts and the poultry marquee is sited up near the children’s play park. Many exhibits are on display including the Birds of Prey, Gun dog trials, Ulster Scots and a Performing Arts School who hope to produce a play in one day with your participation!

There is a soccer skills school and why not try your hand at the latest craze “The Boris Bikes” which are provided by Segway NI who will challenge you to handle this latest idea in transport!

Big Pat will ensure there is plenty of craic and music to which you can sing along and if you prefer something more tranquil there is a section dedicated to the bygone era with a fair ground organ, basket weaving, barn threshing, butter making and a traction steam engine.

The PSNI will be in attendance with the fabulous EMO car, complete with a play station and major boom boxes! There will also be dog handlers and some poor volunteers who are going to be locked into the back of a prison van all day – but all for charity so please support them!

There will be Motor Bike Trials with the bikes performing all sorts of tricks and the NI Fire Brigade may even allow you to sit in the engine!

Up in King’s Park School some 4,000 exhibits will be on show including art, photography, plate painting, miniature gardens, baking and floral art so don’t forget to include that section which can be accessed through the walled section of the park.

For those who like to shop there are over 40 trade stands and 25 craft exhibitors as well as the funfair, bouncy castles, quad bikes and trampolines.

You can try a spot of Archery with the Ballyvalley Archery Club, Mens and Ladies Ferguson Tractor Building Teams, Chainsaw Art, Mobile Radio Station, Birds of Prey and Magic Shows at 12noon and 4pm. The ever popular Pet Show will take place at 2pm , entry on the day!

The catering marquee will ensure you don’t go hungry and plenty of ice cream can be purchased to help you cool down on what its hoped will be a hot sunny day!

The Mayor’s Parade will leave the PSNI station at 11.30am flanked by six outriders and will arrive in the park at 12 noon. The carriages will stop at the Secretary’s Office at the hard standing in front of the cricket pavilion.

Everyone in the family is catered for so why don’t you come along and help celebrate 100 fabulous years!

Lurgan Park is the place to be this Friday and Saturday - a great way to start the Bank Holiday weekend!