There’s a special kind of energy that washes over Kiama each summer - that unmistakable mix of sea breeze, sizzling barbecues, and the chatter of families about schedules and swapping “what’s on next” plans for a weekend that’s all about community.

With the Kiama Show colliding perfectly with the Australia Day long weekend, there’s no better excuse to take a deep breath, slow the pace, and soak up everything our town does best.

It's a short-term reprieve as our ‘ordinary’ daily lives are quickly getting back to routine, with household chat shortly being consigned to the return of school drop offs, weekend activities and the logistics of figuring out busy schedules.

So, this long weekend provides an opportunity not just for festivities, but for reflection and connection.

The Kiama Show has been part of local life for more than a century, and its enduring charm lies in the way it blends tradition with fresh energy every year.

The scent of hay and hot chips fills the air as cattle are groomed and ribbons pinned, while kids tug their parents back toward the Showground for just ten more minutes.

Inside the Pavillion, there’ll be a more formal kind of competition - scones judged to near perfection, homewares, paintings of our headlands and landscapes, and vegetables so perfect you’ll want to put them on display forever. It’s a celebration of rural pride, but just as much a tribute to the people who make Kiama a thriving, welcoming community.

For many, the long weekend stretches beyond the Showground and Pavillion.

After last weekend’s deluge, it looks like we will have an (overcast) reprieve from the wind and rain. The foreshore and beaches will become a second stage - picnic blankets spread under the Norfolk pines, boats bobbing at the harbour, and the soft hum of live music drifting through town.

Whether you’re catching up over a plate of prawns, or cooling off with a swim, it’s a time to simply enjoy where we live.

And on the plus side, at least we will get some fireworks, during the summer months.

It’s easy to forget, amid the busyness of the year, how lucky we are to have such an event stitched into our calendar. The Kiama Show isn’t just about exhibits or entertainment - it’s about reconnecting, pausing the rush, and remembering that small-town spirit still matters - something that is being actively talked around our dinner tables with respect to festivals, nightlife and ‘destination’ Kiama. 

So whatever your plans this long weekend, take a moment to enjoy the laughter, the community, and that view that never gets old. 

Because in Kiama, this long weekend of community fun has always been worth celebrating and The Bugle’s View is that this year should be no different.