The Rand Show, previously known as the Rand Easter Show, is an annual

show Show or The Show may refer to: Competition, event, or artistic production * Agricultural show, associated with agriculture and animal husbandry * Animal show, a judged event in the hobby of animal fancy ** Cat show ** Dog show ** Horse show ** Sp ...

held in Johannesburg, South Africa, and is the largest

consumer exhibition A consumer is a person or a group who intends to order, or uses purchased goods, products, or services primarily for personal, social, family, household and similar needs, who is not directly related to entrepreneurial or business activities. ...

in Southern Africa. It has been an important event in the city for many years, attracting in excess of 400,000 visitors in 2007. It was also called the ''Grand Rand Show'', when it was held a few weeks outside of Easter in the late 1980s . There were no shows in 2020-21 due to COVID-19 restrictions on major events. The next event is scheduled for 6 to 10 April 2023. Besides the Great Boer War, other cancellations occurred in 1915-18 & 1940-45.

History

The show was first held at the Old Wanderers cricket ground in November 1894 by the Witwatersrand Agricultural Society, a society that had formed in March of the same year. The second show was opened by Paul Kruger on 13 March 1895, at a venue called ''Milner Park'', which is today the site of the University of the Witwatersrand's West Campus. It was held again in 1896 and reestablished subsequent to the end of the Anglo Boer War, in 1907. In 1936, the Rand Show was called the Empire Exhibition. The eleven-day show was historically an agricultural exhibition for all South Africans where livestock, poultry, yearlings, farm products and equipment were shown and judged with prizes awarded in the form of Gold and Silver medals. In later years it also featured industrial and commercial exhibitions and would eventually attract foreign participants who would exhibit country pavilions. Other annual exhibitors included Military Tattoos, the South African Defence Force, the South African Police as well as

show-jumping Show jumping is a part of a group of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes are commonly seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics. Sometimes shows ...

competitions. The 1960 show was the site of a failed assassination attempt on Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd, by white farmer David Pratt

Venue after 1984

It continued to be held at Milner Park until 1984, when it was moved to the Expo Centre at Nasrec, and the brand was sold in 2000 to company

Kagiso Exhibitions & Events Kagiso is a township situated in Krugersdorp west of Johannesburg in Gauteng Province, South Africa. The word ''kagiso'' means peace in Tswana. Kagiso's administration comprises five wards, each headed by a councillor. History Kagiso was establis ...

, a subsidiary of

Kagiso Media Kagiso Media is the largest black-owned media corporation in South Africa. Its primary assets include: *Knowledge Factory * East Coast Radio *Jacaranda FM *JUTA publishing History On 29 October 2008, the Competition Tribunal The Competition Tribu ...

.Expo Centre buys back Rand Show
''eprop'' In 2009, the Rand Show was to have moved to

Gallagher Estate Gallagher Convention Centre is a convention centre in Midrand, Gauteng, South Africa and is the seat of the Pan-African Parliament. Marking its first time, Gallagher Convention Centre was the host venue for the Miss World 2009 Miss World ...

, with a separate ''Joburg Easter Festival'' being held at the Nasrec Expo Centre, however, the Expo Centre bought the Rand Show brand back from Kagiso, and the Rand Show was held, as normal, at Nasrec, as the ''Joburg Easter Festival, incorporating the Rand Show''. In 2009, the show, branded as the ''Rand Show'' and subtitled ''Joburg's Easter Festival

was again held at Nasrec, and the 2011 Rand Show scheduled to take place from 22 April to 2 May 2011. The 2012 event ran from 6 April 2012 to 15 April 2012. The 2013 event of the Rand Show ran from 28 March 2013 to 1 April 2013. The 2014 event was hosted again at NASREC from 18 April 2014 to 28 April 2014. The 2015 Rand Show ran from 3 April 2015 to 12 April 2015, and featured "pirates paradise" and the

SANDF The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) comprises the armed forces of South Africa. The commander of the SANDF is appointed by the President of South Africa from one of the armed services. They are in turn accountable to the Ministe ...

Merchandise

According to its website, the Rand Show offers products in one of its six categories: "Sports Expo, Kids Expo, Lifestyle Expo, Science & Tech Expo, Showcase SA and Outdoor Lifestyle Expo".

References

External links

* {{Greater Johannesburg, culture Tourist attractions in Johannesburg Easter traditions Festivals in Johannesburg