The Parndana Show is going ahead with its plans to stage its event in November, which will make it the only physical SA country show to be held in 2020 since early March.
The show committee is keeping all its fingers crossed, as it has decided to proceed with plans for a slightly different show this year on Saturday, November 14.
But committee president Nic Tremaine cautioned COVID-19 restrictions could change and the fate of the 61st show depended on getting the necessary state government approvals.
"We have to be prepared for things to change and be flexible, but the committee really hopes to be able to put on something for the community," he said.
"Because of the year we've had with bushfires and now COVID, we thought the community needed something to look forward to and to bring everyone together, to have something to celebrate and to say 'We got through 2020'."
Being one of the last shows on the SA show calendar certainly has helped the Parndana committee, while other shows made the call early to cancel.
Shows that do cancel due to COVID-19 have been promised government funding.
Committee member Bill Roper said the Parndana community wanted to be able to organise something to give back to the Kangaroo Island community after the bushfires.
He said if the show was to proceed, and he was hopeful it would, he would like to see as many Islanders enter events and participate.
"There hasn't been much else to celebrate this year," he said.
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Organisers anticipate that certain sections and events will need to be modified to meet restrictions.
"It's probably not going to be the show we're used to and we're trying to manage what we can and can't offer based on the current restrictions," Mr Tremaine said.
If the show was to proceed, the committee urges all attendees to follow rules such as leaving names for tracing and limiting numbers in the pavilion.
"We ask the community to be patient while we sort out what we can and can't do," he said. "If we do go ahead, we ask that people respect the regulations and follow directions."
If you're interested in exhibiting at Parndana, contact parndanashow@gmail.com.
Another late hold out in deciding its fate was the Uraidla and Summertown Show, which was scheduled for November 1, but made the decision to cancel its physical event mid-way through this month.
While there will be no public gathering, the committee has planned an online version, with a selection of demonstrations and competitions streamed, including a limited cookery competition on October 25 and other events on November 1.
Show Society president James Sadler said they felt a responsibility to see what they could do to safely showcase the community.
"We ask people to go online on Sunday, November 1 at 11am where the show will be launched on our website uraidlashow.com and our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram - all of which will take you to our YouTube channel," he said.
Also embracing a different format is the Naracoorte Show, scheduled for October 17-23.
It is planning for six competitions, including a "local identity chocolate cake challenge" with the sections to be displayed in shop windows throughout the town.
To put in your entries, head to showday.online and click on SA.
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