Australia's fastest show ride, Extreme Speed, among the attractions at 2018 Cessnock Show

Australia’s fastest show ride, Extreme Speed, will get the adrenalin soaring as it propels passengers upside down, inside out and backwards, at speeds of over 100 kilometres an hour.

Other rides and amusements at this year’s show include a giant Ferris wheel, dodgem cars, the Joy Whizzer, Midnight Express, the Orbiter, Kiddieland rides, a giant slide, an inflatable obstacle course, a monster truck ride, merry-go-round and lots of games.

Gates will open at 6am Friday, with the horse class competition starting at 8.30am and running all day.

Friday’s program also features Professor Wallace’s Puppet Show (with four shows during the day), plus Aussie Outlaw Karts at 5.30pm, trotters and mini-trotters at 6pm and a demonstration by Kurri Speedway Club at 7pm.

The horse class competition will kick off Saturday’s proceedings at 8.30am.

Poultry of all shapes and sizes will be in show in the pavilion from 9am, along with the puppet show (with four shows throughout the day) and Hunter Valley Zoo’s petting zoo (from 11am to 4pm).

Trotters and mini-trotters will be on show at 2.30pm, with the karts at 5pm and speedway motorbikes at 6pm.

Cessnock MP Clayton Barr will conduct the official opening at 7pm Saturday, and encourages the local community to head along and support the event.

“Whether it’s showbags or rides, horse events or motorbike performers, it’s the one time of year you can see this unique combination of events in your local town, without having to drive many miles to do so,” he said.

“There’s an excitement and buzz around the town when there’s something different and unusual happening, and that’s a really positive thing.”

The ever-popular demolition derby will run from 7.30pm Saturday, and a fireworks spectacular will wrap up the festivities at 9pm.

The weather is predicted to be mostly sunny, with a top of 31 degrees on Friday and 36 on Saturday, and the chance of less than one millimetre of rain both days.

Tickets are $10 for adults; $5 for children aged five to 16, pensioners and concession card holders; and $25 for a family pass. Children under five enter free.

For more information, call the showground on 4990 1181.

VIDEO: Check out GT Amusements’ video of Extreme Speed in the post below.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24

Click on the photo below to check out our gallery from last year’s Cessnock Show.