Poverty Bay A&P Association begins 150th anniversary celebrations this week

A big crowd is expected tomorrow night in the Farmers Air Showgrounds Park Event Centre to begin the celebrations for the 150th Poverty Bay A&P Show, to be held in October. Pictured is last year's A&P Show. Photo / Murray Robertson

Celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the Poverty Bay A&P Association this year kick off on Saturday night.

A formal function will be held at the showgrounds at the Farmers Air Event Centre, starting at 5pm.

“The dinner is a sold-out event with 435 people expected to be there,” said A&P Association event spokesman Stephen Thomson.

“People are coming from far and wide across the region, and several are travelling from outside.”

Thomson said the evening will be an opportunity to acknowledge the past 150 years of the association’s existence.

“It will bring together many people who have been involved over the years,” he said.

“We will also be thanking our amazing sponsors, both past and present, and celebrating all the things the association and the people affiliated have achieved.

“The Show Association is among the oldest organisations still running on the East Coast, which is largely in part to the volunteers who keep it going.”

The theme tomorrow night will celebrate where town meets country.

“That means local wines from TW, Matawhero and House of Ashwood will be on offer, with a full sit-down dinner showcasing local produce from the likes of Ovation, Silver Fern Farms and LeaderBrand [which] will be served in between the formalities of the night,” Thomson said.

Showgrounds Park in Gisborne drew a massive crowd for the opening day of the 2024 show. Photo / Murray Robertson

“We follow that up with the band The Mo2s to finish the night with dancing and fun.”

The 150th Annual Poverty Bay A&P Show takes place on October 18 and 19, the weekend before Labour weekend.

The event has attracted crowds of more than 18,000 for the last two years, according to organisers.