Royal Agricultural Show

The Royal Agricultural Show, or more commonly known as the Royal Show, originated forty years before the start of the Anglo Boer War. The show had already been growing, while the main trunk line to the Witwatersrand was being built, and technological innovations such as electricity and transistor radios were being slowly introduced into homes throughout the country. At that time cattle, sheep, horses and pigs were paraded along Pietermaritzburg's Commercial Street towards the Royal Agricultural Showgrounds.

Today the Royal Show is the largest exhibition of its kind in Africa, displaying some of the finest livestock and agricultural equipment. The venue also houses a range of activities and displays which shed light on the entire industrial, commercial and service sectors within the province. 2011 sees the Royal Show taking place between Friday, 27 May to Sunday, 05 June 2011.

The 2,100 sqm. food hall provides visitors with an interesting and informative insight into the chain of food processing, from farm fields to the dining table, through a series of exhibits and demonstrations. In the recently refurbished hundred year old Crafts and Home industries hall, visitors are treated to an impressive display of skill and talent, which includes various fine examples of embroidery, needlework, tapestries, knitting, painting, photography and woodwork. Other halls at the show feature various displays regarding regional tourism and business, adding to a total area of 4,000 sqm. of undercover exhibition space, allocated for a wide spectrum of general displays.

The outdoor stands also house a large variety of exhibits varying from building requisites to swimming pools, and the latest ranges of cars and trucks, as well as materials handling and building equipment.