Donald Show, Definitely the “People’s Choice”

The 2026 Donald Show delivered a huge program of entertainment across two action-packed days, with something for everyone and attractions keeping visitors entertained throughout the weekend.

From high-flying motorbike action and tractor pulls to live music, family activities, pavilion displays and the ever-popular Sideshow Alley, this year’s show was a wonderful celebration of everything that makes Donald and its surrounding districts special.

Friday’s program kicked off with plenty to keep the crowds busy, Doin Time provided live music on the main stage, with entertainment continuing into Friday night with the tractor pull giving spectators the chance to enjoy the power of vintage machinery as the sun went down.

Opening Night
The official opening in the Blue Room honoured those who make significant contributions to the continued success of the show. Donald Pastoral and Agricultural Society president Nicole Nunn welcomed a packed room and reflected on the show’s recent People’s Choice award.

“You are sitting at Victoria’s Most Popular Agricultural Show,” she said, thanking the volunteers, sponsors and community members whose efforts had helped make the event possible.

The evening also recognised the next generation of show volunteers, with junior vice-president Kaylee Krause named the 2026 Junior Show Ambassador. In accepting the award, Kaylee acknowledged the wider team behind the show, saying she could not have received the award without the people who helped make the event happen.

Guest speakers Kelvin Hepworth, Jono Robinson and David Manifold then shared the story behind their successful hay drive, which raised $54,500 for the show after local farmers pledged and donated 223 bales. The initiative grew from a conversation about supporting the show’s shearing competition and has helped attract competitors back to Donald.

“It was just great to see other communities,” Jono said, reflecting on the support that extended well beyond the district. “Country communities help country communities.”

The trio received a small memento in recognition of their efforts before the evening turned to a very entertaining segment, the “Brains, Bales and Bragging Rights”. The Donald District Challenge put local knowledge to the test in a lively quiz hosted by Donald Show life member Peggy, with four teams competing for bragging rights.

With the rides still turning and the evening’s entertainment continuing across the grounds, Friday night set the scene for another big Donald Show weekend.

The evening was then capped off with a spectacular fireworks display that lit up the Donald sky for an impressive nine minutes.

It was fantastic to have such a display at a small country show, with bursts of colour and explosions of sound as a fitting way to finish the first day’s entertainment.

A pyrotechnical display of that scale takes considerable planning and preparation behind the scenes and a big thank you goes to the organisers and sponsors for helping make it possible, along with everyone involved in preparing for the display and ensuring it could be enjoyed safely.

Entertainment for All
There were plenty of opportunities for younger visitors to get involved, with pony rides, camel rides, Tiny Goats & Co animal nursery, reptile show and rock climbing wall among the attractions. Balloonatic Bruce returned to keep the fun going, with MXW Pro Wrestling returning alongside Fizzics Education, Cartoon Portraits, Furals, plaster decorating, Cupcakerella, Young Expressions, Level Up Gaming, Professor Wallace, the sandpit and face painting. It's a wonder the kids could even keep up!

For the adults, kicking back and taking things a little easier, The Austins provided live music on the main stage, next to a vast array of food vans, helping create a lively atmosphere for visitors to sit down and enjoy all the wonderful different flavours the show had on offer.

As always, Sideshow Alley was a major drawcard across both days, attracting young thrill seekers keen to try their luck at the games, enjoy the rides and take home a showbag or two. The familiar sights and sounds of the rides and sideshow attractions were once again part of the magic of show weekend.

The Fat Farmers Bus added another talking point around the grounds, to inspire and encourage rural communities to improve their health and wellbeing through physical activity.

Saturday’s Tractor Pull Power
In its second year at the Donald Show, the tractor pull was a huge success, with generous support from sponsors and the Quambatook tractor pull team helping to deliver an exciting program for spectators.

A new Friday night smaller sled was introduced for the lower-horsepower class, while Saturday’s competition was run with the Quamby team’s assistance.

President of Quambatook Tractor Pull, Tim Betson, also generously supplied mini modified tractors and an open modified to add to the display in promotion of their 50th anniversary at Easter 2027.

The rumble of “Dirty Deeds” as it was moved into its static display location certainly drew a crowd of curious spectators, giving them a chance to get up close to the machinery, while Saturday’s competition provided an extra special treat when “Aussie Thunder” and “The Chief” each had a run, much to the delight of the enthusiasts gathered trackside.

Unfortunately, technical issues meant no distances could be recorded, so no prizes were awarded. However, the participants were there for the full-throttle experience, the maximum pull and, above all, the sheer joy of putting their machinery to work. The enthusiasm around the track showed that, sometimes, the thrill of taking part is a big enough reward.

A big thank you to everyone from Quambatook for providing and operating the sled, helping bring the tractor pull to Donald and making it such an enjoyable part of the weekend.

The shearing competition was also so good this year that it deserves coverage of its own. Be sure to see the separate report elsewhere in today’s “Buloke Times” and two days of horse events simply will not fit in one report. Please keep your eyes peeled for a detailed coverage and results in a later edition.

Pavilion Creativity
Inside the pavilion, visitors were treated to an impressive display of quality crafts, cooking, grain, produce, photography, art, Lego creations, flower arrangements and even the biggest weeds!

The pavilion is always a wonderful opportunity to see the talent, creativity and hard work of people from across the district, with entries reflecting hours of care and attention. It also provides an important opportunity for younger exhibitors to get involved and have their work recognised.

The school displays seem to get better each year, and it is encouraging to see young people taking pride in their creations and contributing to their local show.
These displays are an important part of keeping the tradition alive and giving the next generation a chance to experience the fun of entering and exhibiting.
There was plenty to admire throughout the pavilion, and the full results will appear in a future edition of the “Buloke Times”.

Community Displays
Beyond the entertainment program, every little nook and cranny at the grounds was filled with plenty to see and explore, including classic cars in the car show, vintage tractors and an impressive display of modern and vintage agricultural machinery.

The emergency services displays also attracted interest, with a firefighting demonstration using new equipment providing visitors with a closer look at the work carried out by those who help protect the community.

From the old machinery that tells a story of the district’s farming history to the latest agricultural equipment, these displays offered something for enthusiasts of all ages. They were another reminder of the important role agriculture, machinery and community services play in the life of the district.

Improved Traffic Flow
The new parking procedures made a noticeable difference to the way people moved around the grounds, keeping pedestrians safer and helping traffic flow more smoothly.

The changes made movement easier for horse floats, volunteers and paramedic services, allowing important areas of the grounds to remain accessible when needed. While parking and traffic management can be a challenge at a large community event, these improvements helped make the show experience easier and more convenient for everyone.

It takes considerable planning and co-operation to keep an award-winning event of this size running smoothly, and the work behind the scenes is even more important than what the public sees.

Lucky Winners
There were some very happy winners, with the Golden Wristband prize giving Mary Archbold the ultimate Donald Show upgrade.

Mary was treated to VIP parking, spending money, rides, food, showbag and market vouchers, along with Donald Show merchandise. Talk about doing the Donald Show in style!

Sarah Jane was another, scoring the Ultimate Donald Show Giveaway, which included gate entry, lunch vouchers and ride tickets, thanks to the wonderful generosity of one of the Donald Show sponsors.

Prizes like these add another bit of excitement to the weekend and are a great way to reward visitors while recognising the generosity of the sponsors who help make the event possible.

Community Generosity
This year’s show also benefited from a noticeable injection of funds raised through the hay drive fundraiser. The contribution was an important boost and demonstrated once again what can be achieved when people get behind a local event and give generously.

A sincere thank you goes to everyone who contributed to the community hay drive, whether through donations, time, effort or support, every contribution helps, and is greatly appreciated.

That same spirit could be seen throughout the Showgrounds, from the people providing entertainment and running displays to those working behind the scenes to make sure everything was ready for visitors. Events of this size do not happen without an enormous amount of work, much of it carried out quietly by people who simply want to see their community thrive.

The Donald P & A Society deserves enormous credit for bringing together such a varied program and delivering another successful show. The planning, organisation and commitment required to co-ordinate two full days of entertainment, displays and activities should not be underestimated.

Most importantly, the 2026 Donald Show was a reminder of what makes these events so valuable to country communities. They bring people together, give local talent a place to shine, showcase the district and create opportunities for families and friends to enjoy a weekend out together.

With such enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers as the driving force behind this event, well... it really just goes to show (pun intended) why Donald’s is the people’s choice!