FAQs

FAQs

Visitors to the
Royal Agricultural Exhibition
are urged to please note the following:

! Dangers - Livestock !
Visitors are reminded that there are in excess of 1000 cattle and sheep on site, and that at all times animals will enjoy right of way. Appropriate care is therefore required, particularly with young children.

Prohibited items
The public is prohibited from bringing the following into the Showgrounds:
alcohol, “laser lights”, firearms (including air-guns), knives or any other item deemed, at Security’s sole discretion, to be a weapon or an item that could possibly hurt or interfere with visitors and/or livestock.

Lost children
Please ensure that all children under 13 years old have a contact address and telephone number on them.  Parents are urged to keep a watchful eye on their children at all times.

Limited activities
Please note that certain livestock activities, such as cattle breed judging and sheep-shearing, are limited to certain days and times.  The current schedules for the livestock events and other special events are available on the website and Facebook page.

The official digital guide to the Royal Agricultural Exhibition will be published during May in the runup to the event.

  • The Royal Agricultural Exhibition will run from Thursday 23 May to Tuesday 28 May 2024.

  • Due to delays in moving to our new home, the Royal Agricultural Exhibition is still being held at the Royal Showgrounds in Howick Road, Pietermaritzburg, opposite Riverwood College (formerly Voortrekker High School).

    Visitors travelling from Durban (via the N3) should take the Sanctuary/Armitage Road offramp.

    Visitors travelling from Johannesburg (via the N3) can take either the Peter Brown or Chatterton Road/City offramps.

  • The official guide to the Royal Agricultural Exhibition will be available as a digital magazine, and will be accessible from the home page in May during the runup to the Exhibition.

  • Tickets cost R50 for Adults (12+ years) and R30 for children under 12.
    Children under 6 have free entry.
    Tickets are R30 for Pensioners (aged 60+ with ID).

  • Information on ticket sales will be made available shortly.

  • Please note that the Royal Agricultural Exhibition does not operate a pass-out system.

  • The gates will open at 09h00 daily and close at 18h00.

  • The halls will open at 09h00 daily and will close at 18h00.
    After the halls have been closed for the evening, they will not be opened under any circumstances.

  • Public parking will be available in the grounds of Riverwood College (formerly Voortrekker High School) every day of the Exhibition. Parking will cost R20. This parking will be controlled by Riverwood College, and Car Watch will be in attendance.

  • A Standard Bank ATM is located on site.

  • A number of food vendors will be on site, with offerings ranging from fast food to restaurant fare.
    Visitors may not bring alcohol into the Showgrounds, and may only consume alcohol within the facilities provided.

  • Smoking is not permitted in any area with a fixed roof.

  • Dogs are not permitted, other than in the case of guide dogs.

  • ER24 will operate a facility next to the KZN Milk Producers.

  • The Royal Agricultural Exhibition has extensive in-house security. The public are, however, advised to adopt the standard precautionary measures applicable to any environment where crowds gather, especially in respect of handbags, cell phones and laptops.

  • Bona fide disabled people will be permitted to park in a designated area on the Riverwood College (formerly Voortrekker) sports fields but remain liable for the standard parking fee of R20.00.

    Whilst most facilities within the Showgrounds cater for the disabled, the Royal has yet to attain a target of total “user-friendliness”.

  • The Royal Agricultural Exhibition prides itself on the cleanliness of its ablution facilities, the locations of which are clearly marked.

  • Baby changing facilities are available opposite Hall 7.

  • The Royal Agricultural Society of Natal, a private non-profit organisation, is run largely by volunteers who of their own volition have a tradition – extending for 173 years – of hosting a show in support of agriculture.

  • Any profits generated by RAS events are expended solely on agriculturally related service activities and on maintaining the Society’s facilities.

    No surplus funds are made available for distribution to any individual or corporate entity by way of a profit share or dividend.

DISCLAIMERS

  1. Visitors enter the Showgrounds entirely at their own risk and no claim will lie against the Royal Agricultural Exhibition for any damage, death or loss to one’s person or property arising from any cause whatsoever.

  2. Whilst the organisers endeavour to vet the credibility of exhibitors and vendors, the Royal Agricultural Exhibition cannot be held responsible for non-delivery or defective goods or services purchased.

  3. Please note that, depending on factors beyond the organiser’s control, it may not be possible to host certain advertised events.

  4. The Royal Agricultural Exhibition does not endorse any of the political, religious or personal views held by its employees, suppliers, exhibitors, organisers and performers at the Royal Agricultural Exhibition.