A black-tie ball at the Tenterfield Showgrounds will celebrate 150 years of the Tenterfield Show, with 400 tickets now on sale for Saturday, 20 February 2027.
Tenterfield Show Society member Emily Rhodes is organising the night, which will run from 6 pm to 11:30 pm in the Main Pavilion at 62 Miles Street. The event is for guests aged over 18, and it is less than four months away.
Ms Rhodes said the show ball has a rich history in Tenterfield, with the showgirl (now known as the ACCIONA Young Woman) traditionally named during the evening. The ball faded as volunteer numbers dropped and show preparations filled the calendar.
The revival came from a new wave of young people wanting to get involved. Ms Rhodes said about 10 extra volunteers, mostly around her age of 25, had joined the society over the past three years.
“We’ve got all these people; they’re really keen to do stuff. What do we do to keep them here?” said Ms Rhodes.
When she took the ball idea to the committee, so many members wanted to help that the subcommittee had to be capped. About eight people now share the work, with one person each looking after decorations, ticketing, the bar and social media.
The society will draw on its archive and heritage room, which holds historic photos and records collected over many years. The decorations coordinator will choose items from the show displays to use on the night.
Guests are asked to wear black tie, but there is some flexibility.
“We’re not going to turn anyone away with jeans on,” said Ms Rhodes. She said jeans are allowed, but work shirts are not.
Food will be provided by the Tenterfield Transport Museum, which already runs the barbecue shed at the show. Live music will come from popular Queensland band Route 33. Camping will be available in the main ring for guests who want to stay on the showgrounds.
Ms Rhodes said the ball is planned as a one-off celebration of the 150 years for now, but the society would love to run it again if it goes well. Every dollar raised will go back into making the show bigger and better.
The Main Pavilion was the natural choice of venue.
“It’s kind of our home. We wouldn’t be able to go anywhere else,” said Ms Rhodes.
The ball was first planned for January, but the date was moved to avoid clashes with other events. It now falls about two weeks after the show.
The Tenterfield Show will run on Friday, 5 and Saturday, 6 February 2027. The society is hoping to feature something from every decade of its history in the grand parade.
“We’re trying to get something for every decade to the grand parade,” said Ms Rhodes.
Ms Rhodes will also represent the society at the 2027 ACCIONA Sydney Royal AgShows NSW Young Woman Zone 4 Final in Glen Innes on Saturday, 16 January 2027. She hopes to attract more entrants to the young woman’s competition at the show.
The Tenterfield Show Society stated it was proud to have one of its own representing the town and that the community would be right behind her.
Ball tickets are limited to 400 for now, and people are urged to book as soon as possible. The society may add more if tickets sell well ahead of the night. Tickets are available at https://www.trybooking.com/au/event/1513953
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