In balmy weather and under blue skies, the Bellingen Showground gates peeled open at the weekend to reveal a melting pot of animals, rides, displays, live entertainment and artisan demonstrations.

It’s the annual event, for both young and old, that weaves the shire’s agricultural roots with the valley’s cultural diversity – and the blend was clearly successful.

This year’s crowd attendances smashed previous marks, and that according to Bellingen Show president Rick Maunder, was all due to the support of the local community.

“A great show needs entries, a crowd, glorious weather and a committed team of volunteers: the 2014 Bellingen Show had all of these resulting in all our records being broken,” Rick told the Courier-Sun.

“My thanks go to the community for their support and to all our magnificent volunteers without whom we could not run the show.”

While the wood chopping, equestrian, cattle and pavilion displays were the perennial favourites, show society secretary Gillian Anderson said that this year there were some innovative and new additions that gave the event extra zest.

“We have never had so much positive feedback from our show patrons and competitors and stall-holders,” she said.

“The demonstrations were well patronised, there were many more trade stalls and all these new initiatives, such as the fun run, poetry slam and partner carrying competition were highly successful and added to the overall family enjoyment.

“A standout performer was the children’s passport program. It was sold out and the kids just loved being part of the day’s action.

“As always with such a large community event, the volunteers and behind the scene helpers are what makes it happen – and what makes it special.”

So while the fair goers were ensured a great day out, it’s a tribute to the shire community that Irene Chesterman, just one of the many show volunteers, thought it necessary to send the following message: “Another successful weekend. A special thank you to all you girls and boys for making my job so much easier. You know who you are – thank you.”

Now the show has wound down for another year, eyes have turned to next year’s 125th anniversary.

Gillian said the show society committee would “build and consolidate, but at this stage we’re too exhausted to think”.

All the results from the 124th Bellingen Agricultural Show will be in next week’s edition of the Courier-Sun.