The Mount Gambier Show is set to go ahead this year however revellers can expect a show like never before.

While numerous events on the annual show circuit have been cancelled throughout SA, including the Royal Adelaide Show, Mount Gambier organisers are determined to press on.

Mount Gambier Agriculture and Horticultural Society president Danielle Tulak said work was well under way for the October 22-23 event.

“It is not going to be the usual Mount Gambier show that everybody remembers from 2019, but we have to make changes otherwise we will not be able to put the event on,” she said.

Mrs Tulak said organisers were planning for the show as if it will go ahead but were just waiting on SA Health to approve their proposed COVID management plan.

“They are saying it is a four-week turnaround and we are a month and a half out from the show but apparently that is not uncommon,” she said.

“If the show is to go ahead there will be a number of restrictions including online ticketing, compulsory face masks, seated food and drink consumption and contact tracing.”

Mrs Tulak said the society had asked for approval for 5000 people to attend on the Friday of the two-day show and 10,000 patrons on Saturday, which would be split over two sessions.

Mrs Tulak said patrons would pay for a six-hour session before they must vacate, leaving employees only an hour to deep clean the whole show, which was one of the biggest concerns.

“Our biggest concern however is whether country shows will ever get back to where they were after most have been cancelled for two consecutive years now,” she said.

“It is a real shame, but it is going to be interesting to see how country shows recover.

“Running the Mount Gambier show is a risk worth taking for our community because everyone is looking forward to it but ultimately it will all come down to SA Health and what their direction is.”