A family admission ticket (two adults and three children age five-15) normally sits at $40, but Friday’s opening day is a special price of $35 and kids under five have free admission every day.

While ride tickets and show bag prices vary, there are still plenty of attractions and activities that are free.

Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Society event director Gerard Ballinger said the show was unique for the city.

“It’s the biggest and most successful show of its type in Ballarat,” he said.

There is an extensive homecrafts section, where arts, crafts and all manner of delicious baked goods are on display.

The exhibition of painting will be a hotly contested division, with a $1000 prize offered for best painting in show.

The animal nursery is another popular attraction for both the young and young at heart that costs nothing to view. In fact, animals of all descriptions can be seen, both in events and general competition.

“We have the biggest and best in various categories, right down to the simple things like the nursery,” Mr Ballinger said.

Ferret-racing and dog-jumping are some of the more unusual animal-related events, and, as always, the showjumping (held at the Ballarat Polocrosse grounds) will attract a crowd.

The show provides a great opportunity for some of our local music talent to be heard free of charge.

Highlights include the Ballarat Brass Band, the Ballarat Memorial Concert Band and the Ballarat Ukelele Kollective.

The Federation University Australia Pipe Band will be in attendance, and, along with the Scottish dancers, will provide a Celtic flavour to the occasion.

Ballarat Brass Band musical director Mark Witham said the band got a “special feeling” performing at the show.

“To us, we enjoy playing for our home crowd more than competing elsewhere,” he said.

For local groups, the Show also provides some free publicity for new members.

“We have school kids coming along and seeing their local brass band, and thinking, ‘Oh, I didn’t realise we had a band,’ and we get quite a few membership inquiries,” Mr Witham said. 

For families, the youth pavilion will be a must-see, with displays and activities presented by Mainly Music, Seaweed Sally, Playgroups Victoria and Professor Wallace Puppets, among many others.

The Woolworths Farm Trail sees participants following the path and hunting for prizes along the way, with the grand prize of a bike up for grabs.

The pavilion also offers free tea, coffee and water, as well as a place for parents to sit while their children explore.

And with free samples on offer from some local produce stalls, it’s completely possible to not pay a cent after entry.