Special Competitions

Special Competitions at the Atherton Show

Calling all makers, growers, gardeners, and proud locals — our Special Competitions are your moment to shine, where creativity, community spirit, and our Atherton Show theme come alive!

This year’s Special Competitions include:

• Graffiti Name Fence — Primary School artists bring colour and personality to mini fences

• Creative Clock Challenge — Secondary School innovators turn everyday items into working art

• Paint a Gnome Competition — For all ages! Colour your character & bring your gnome to life!

• Hanging Basket Competition — A vibrant celebration of small‑space gardening and floral creativity

• Avocado Inspired Floral Art Competition — Where nature’s palette meets creative flair
• Commercial Avocado Competition — Showcasing the region’s finest fruit and local growing excellence

• Avo‑Ca‑Dash Relay — A fast, fun, avo‑themed relay challenge for all ages

Ready to jump in & join the fun? See below for how to get involved!

Creative Clock
– Secondary School Students

Kits available from the Atherton Show Office!

The details for these and other Junior Sections, including the Atherton Show Colouring Competition & Paint a Gnome Competition:

Details for the Hanging Basket Competition and other Floriculture & Orchid Sections:

Avocado Floral Art Competition
– Avocado Inspired Textures & Colours

Entry Fee: $5
Prizes: 1st $50 / 2nd $25

Open to all ages and abilities, this year’s Floral Art Special Competition invites entrants to create a design inspired by the rich colours and unique textures of an avocado. This is your chance to explore the fruit’s natural palette — from creamy greens to deep earthy browns — and transform it into a creative botanical display.

Theme: “Avocado”
Your challenge is to evoke the essence of an avocado without using the fruit itself. Instead, use plant materials and natural textures that reflect its signature look and feel.

Ideas may include:
– Soft green tones or velvety moss to represent the creamy flesh
– Dark seed pods, bark, or deep brown elements to echo the pit
– Pale green blooms such as hydrangea or lisianthus to mimic the inner layers
– Contrasting textures to capture the smooth skin and soft interior

What the judges are looking for?
Designs should creatively interpret the avocado theme through:
– Colour harmony
– Texture and material choice
– Artistic expression
– Overall presentation and impact

Who can enter?
Everyone is welcome — beginners, hobbyists, seasoned floral artists, and anyone who loves working with natural materials.

Why enter?
This is a fun, creative challenge that lets you showcase your artistic flair! Your beautiful display will be featured throughout the Show, with prizes and community recognition.

Details for the Avocado Inspired Floral Art Competition and other Floral Art Competitions:

Details for the Commercial Avocado Competition and other Agriculture Competitions:

Avo‑Ca‑Dash Relay Competition

Think you’ve got what it takes?
Get ready for one of the Atherton Show’s most exciting new challenges! The Avo‑Ca‑Dash is a fast, fun, high‑energy relay where teams race the clock to move as many avocados as possible using real harness picking bags — just like the pros. It’s agricultural skill meets pure adrenaline, and it’s guaranteed to be a crowd favourite.

“Participants race to transfer avocados from a full bin to an empty bin… aiming to collect the highest total weight within the time limit.”

How it works:
Teams start at their empty bin, strap on a harness picking bag, sprint 20 metres to load up, race back, empty the bag, and tag the next teammate. You’ve got five minutes to move as much fruit as you can — every second counts.

Picker correctly fits their bag… runs to the full bin… fully empties the bag… & hands it to the next picker!

Who can enter?
The Avo‑Ca‑Dash is open to solo competitors, duos and teams of up to 5 people over the age of 16 years.

Perfect for:
– Local farms: show us how the pros do it with farm strength meeting competition speed!
– Senior schools students: show your school spirit & sprint to avo glory!
– Gyms & Fitness groups: Think you’re fit? Avo-Ca-Dash to test it all!
– First responders: Heroes on the job, but who is the fastest of them all?
– Sporting teams: You dominate the field, but can you dominate the Avo-Ca-Dash?
– Local businesses: Teamwork, bragging rights & promotion with flare!
– Anyone who loves a challenge: If you love competition, chaos & a good laugh, this one is for you!

How you win:
It’s simple – The heaviest bin wins! After five minutes, the team with the highest total weight of avocados in their empty bin takes the title.

Teams are ranked by the heaviest total weight… 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place announced

Why you will love being involved:
– Fast, fun, and fiercely competitive
– Great for team bonding
– Great prizes
– A hilarious spectator event
– Show off real agricultural skills
– Bragging rights for a whole year

Safety First!
The event is open to participants aged 16+ who do not currently have an injury. All competitors will receive a safety briefing, and SES volunteers are on‑site throughout the event.

Register your team!
Team spots are limited — gather your crew and sign up early!

Completed registration will include injury disclosure, waiver and a quick pre‑race rules and safety briefing to get you competition‑ready.

Fill out the Registration Form below: