Rochester’s two-day agricultural show

author avatar
Photo by Steve Huntley

ALL THE FARM ANIMALS, A CRAFT PAVILION, KIDS’ ACTIVITIES, A SHOW CARNIVAL AND FIREWORKS AT THE ROCHESTER AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

The Rochester Agricultural Show is over two days at the Rochester Recreation Reserve, with everything you love about a good old country show.

The show starts on Friday, February 27, 2026, with the dog show during the day.

For the dog show, you can wander in and see various dog breeds in action, including which dog will be Best in Show.

From 5pm, when the gates officially open, the Rochester Agricultural Show is a ticketed evening carnival.

The Rochester Recreation Reserve will come alive Friday night with entertainment, food, drinks, maybe a few hands-on activities like mechanical bull riding, finishing the evening with the 9pm fireworks extravaganza.

General entry tickets for the Friday night carnival, which runs from 5pm to 9pm, are $10 for adults, $5 for secondary-aged children, and free for primary school-aged and younger children.

To start bringing the animals to the show a day earlier, there will be a ‘beef spectacular’ on Friday night.

Then, on Saturday, February 28, it will be all about the animals from 9am to 3pm, with free entry for the day.

On Saturday, there will also be all the traditional show items you would expect, including show bags, rides, fairy floss and children’s entertainment.

Saturday will heavily feature animals, including working dogs, horses, both dairy and beef cattle, goats and chickens.

The craft pavilion will run a full schedule of categories, including food, arts and crafts, which will be on display Friday evening and all day Saturday.

This year, more food trucks will be set up in the food court area, with extra shaded seating.

For more information on the Rochester Show, visit facebook.com/rochestershow3561