It's Rand Show time

The annual show is back with music and rides, displays and competitions, and even a circus workshop for children.
THE Rand Show is back for ten days of exciting activities perfect for family outings. It will be setting up shop from 6 to 15 April at the Johannesburg Expo Centre in the Nasrec precinct.

at the food theatreCooking demonstrations will be done at the food theatrePatrons will have plenty to choose from.

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is returning to the Rand Show this year, exhibiting boats, tanks, helicopters and other military equipment.

The SANDF made a U-turn back to the Rand Show in 2011 after many years of absence. Their displays proved to be a massive hit with families, who rated it among the top highlights of the show.

Xolani Mabanga, spokesperson for the SANDF, said they were delighted at the opportunity to once again showcase and share the SANDF’s technology with all South Africans.

For those who love loud noise, the Rand Show is the place to be on Easter Weekend as there will be ear-splitting challenges set by the International Auto Sound Challenge Association (IASCA).

Auto Sound Challenge
Car sound and performance junkies from across the country will be pulling into the show from 6-9 April with the hope of blasting their way to the winner’s podium. Categories range from the quality of sound systems to modifications of body or engine. They will include installer challenge, static display, sound quality format and the dyno challenge as well as a show and shine competition.

Visit the IASCA website for more information about each competition format, and a breakdown of the 2012 competition rules, or call Elaine Squires at IASCA on 082 953 1958 to pre-register, or email iasca@futurejhb.co.za.

motor showThere are prizes for best modified car body and engine Lovers of cooking will find the South African Chefs Association food theatre entertaining to attend.

Fair-goers will learn the secrets and tips of how the expert does it in the kitchen. Demonstrations will be carried out by chefs from Johannesburg and Cape Town.

“The 20-chef team will hold food demonstrations throughout the course of the Rand Show, showing visitors exactly the kind of talent and passion needed to be sublime in the kitchen,” says Meg Houghton, the manager of SA Show Service, the managers of the Rand Show.

Handcrafted beers
Various microbrewers from across the country will also have stands showcasing South Africa’s finest handcrafted beers. These microbrewers will include some of the oldest craft breweries in the country such as Three Skulls Brew Works and Mitchell’s Brewery.

Beer lovers will be spoilt for choice as seven brands have already confirmed their attendance at the Rand Show.

Listed as one of the highlights of this year’s event is an exhibition of unusual motorcars, muscle cars, hot rods and racing cars among them. The exhibition, which will be entitled Festival of Motoring, is expected to be three times the size of a similar display last year.

According to Houghton, the Festival of Motoring will feature a motoring stage show on both weekends of the show, hosted by well known motoring media personalities Stuart Johnston and Hendrik Verwoerd.

There is plenty of entertainment for kidsPlenty of entertainment for the kidsOther activities include pony rides and a snake and bird show with Bites Jones. There will also be a Fun Fair complete with the fabled Looping Star.

Kid's theatre
Young visitors will also have plenty of activities to entertain them. They will be treated to a Kid’s Theatre for an action-packed programme of entertainment while parents are shopping in the exhibition halls.

Children of all ages will learn how to juggle, walk a wire, ride a unicycle, do balancing acts and walk on stilts in a circus workshop. After all the learning they will be given the opportunity to perform their new skills at the Kid’s Theatre.

Puppeteer Machteld van Nieuwkerk will entertain young patrons with her cast of wacky puppets and marionettes, and kids can expect a lot of fun and interaction.

In the afternoon Ronald Macdonald, the ambassador of McDonalds, will be on standby to perform a brand new show, Giving back with Ronald McDonald. The show will teach young ones to give back to the community.

“It’s a fun-filled performance complete with magic, laughs, lots of crowd participation, and the chance to win prizes,” says Houghton.

Among other activities, very young children will have the opportunity to sing along with Tjaff and Tjiff of Koowee, a kids’ channels in the DStv empire. After the show the duo will mingle with the young ones and open a photo-taking session.

The Naledi award-winning family musical, African Adventure, will be part of the line-up to keep patrons amused with its humour as well as a strong conservation theme. The show, which is packed with young performers, tells the story of two rhinos under threat in the African bush.

Circus
Tjaff and TjiffSing along with Tjaff and Tjiff of KooweeAlso among the entertainment scheduled at the show is Brian Boswell’s free circus featuring many animals, including lionesses, elephants, horses and prancing poodles, as well as acrobats and clowns. The circus will take place each day at 10.30am, 12 noon and 3.30pm in the centre ring.

The Rand Show is one of South Africa’s premier exhibitions and the largest consumer launch pad in the country. The show was established over a century ago.

It is famous for attracting thousands of visitors from Gauteng and the surrounding areas. In 2011, visitors exceeded 245 000, an increase of 40 percent on the 2010 show.

The annual event is firmly focused on families, offering wholesome, fun entertainment while providing hundreds of square metres of exhibits and shopping relevant to the lifestyle interests of Greater Gauteng families, says Houghton.

Tickets are available at Computicket or at the gate and prices vary. They cost R80 for an adult, R40 for pensioners over 60, R20 for children of six to 12 years and free for those under six.

Gates open each day at 9am and close at 6pm, although the Show will remain open until 8pm.

Johannesburg Expo Centre is located at the Rand Show Road, Nasrec.