You’ve got just days left to experience all the fun that the Rand Show has to offer, as SA’s biggest consumer expo gears up for a bumper closing weekend full of top-class entertainment.
Whoever you are, whatever you love to do, the Rand Show has something for you. Here are some of the highlights of the Rand Show’s closing weekend – Friday to Sunday, 21-23 April 2017 – that will keep you and your family entertained for the whole day … and all included in your entry ticket.
New: The Flying Lions
The Rand Show has secured a real treat for anyone who loves the dips and loops of a great flying show: the Flying Lions Formation Aerobatic Team. Twice each day, Rand Show visitors on the closing weekend will have their eyes trained skywards as the Flying Lions fly in tight formation, doing barrel rolls, loops and swoops, and showing off the capabilities of their classic, single-prop Harvard AT6 lanes. It’s a thrilling show full of growling engines, colourful exhaust smoke and the kind of right-over-your-head low passes for which Harvards are famous, and which have made the Flying Lions such a firm favourite at major airshows and events across the country.
The Flying Lions team is made up of highly experienced pilots who juggle their regular airline jobs with their passion for flying classic planes. Scully Levin, who has over fifty years of experience flying Harvards, is the training captain at Mango Airlines. Arnie Meneghelli is a commercial pilot. Ellis Levin and Sean Thackwray are both SAA captains, with SAA co-pilot Dewald Lourens completing the team. There will be three Harvards in the air at the Rand Show, piloted by various members of the team as their airline duties allow.
New: Drone Racing Nationals
Another new attraction that will be sharing the airspace over the arena is the SA Drone Open Class Nationals. Come and see high-tech drones, or quadcopters, competing against each other in edge-of-your-seat races around a prescribed race track, passing through arched gates and around flags and obstacles at speeds of over 150 km/h. Qualifiers take place from 20-21 April, with finals on 22 and 23 April.
New: FMX Stunt Show
Daredevil FMX riders Nick de Wit, Dallan Goldman and Scotty Billett will be flying – if only for a few seconds – as they pull off gravity-defying stunts such as tsunamis, cliff hangers and backflips in their stunt show, “Gravity Clash”. Brian Capper will also present the Xtreme Riding Xhibitions display, an action-packed Footup Trials riding show where he attacks a series of seemingly impossible obstacles on his specialised 300cc trial motorbike.
New: The Bounce Vibe Tribe
The BOUNCE Vibe Tribe will get airborne on the trampolines of the BOUNCE Revolution mobile rig, showing off some crazy bouncing and slam-dunking skills.
New: Let It Snow
It’s your last chance to play in the snow at the all-new Danone Frozen Yoghurt World. The highlight of this wintery playground is the Danone snow-tubing slope, a six-metre-high snow ramp covered in 20 centimetres of real snow where you can grab a snow tube and hang on tight for 30 metres of sliding fun.
New: The Let’s Play Sports Hall
On top of football pool, kick darts, putt-putt and a chance to bat against virtual Protea bowlers in the Standard Bank Batting Simulator, the Rand Show has two exclusive, closing weekend-only highlights for sport and game lovers.
From 10 am on both Saturday and Sunday in Link 5/6, there’s the annual Rand Show Pool Championships, arguably the most epic pool title any player can win in South Africa. Sixty-four pool players will contest this coveted singles title in a straight knockout, with the final match scheduled for 5 pm on 23 April. On Saturday and Sunday there’s also the SA’s Strongest Man final for 2017. Local Titans will battle it out for the title in a series of awe-inspiring strength events.
New: Motoring Experiences
Car enthusiasts can take part in the Precision Driving Experience on the Rand Show’s new gymkhana track. Climb into an Opel for a brief advanced driving session with an instructor. Or go offroading on the Rand Show’s 4×4 track, test-driving vehicles from Isuzu, Chevrolet and Imperial Ford. Then stop by Hall 5 for a road trip back in time to Route 66. Enjoy the sights and sounds of this iconic era, with motoring memorabilia hand-picked from the Shawn Tyler Museum, displays of classic cars and bikes, a Backdraft Cobra being built from scratch, and even some road-house-style refreshments.
On Stage: Kurt and TV Celebs
The Rand Show’s Showtime Stage presents a full lineup of music and variety entertainment throughout the show. A highlight of the closing weekend programme is the always entertaining Jimmy’s Steakhouse Sauce Celeb Braai Competition, on Saturday 22 April from 2-4 pm. Join stars of 7de Laan and Gold Diggers as they poke the coals and check the wors. Then from 4-5 pm on Saturday 22 April, enjoy the chart-topping hits of Kurt Darren, as he and the Culture Dancers get the crowd up and dancing.
On Stage: Mitalent and Mr/Miss Rand Show
On Sunday, 23 April, the celebs make way for the talented finalists of the Rand Show’s talent show, MiTalent, at 11 am. And then from 12 pm, the beautiful girls and guys of Mr and Miss Rand Show will hit the runway as they compete for titles and prizes in various age categories.
Explore the Wonders of Science
There’s plenty to do in the Science & Technology hall, where the kids can do experiments in the Wonderful World of Why workshops, and watch explosive daily science shows with the Nutty Scientists. There’s also a prehistoric dino maze, an inflatable planetarium with round the-clock voyages into outer space, and a PlayStation gaming zone … and that’s just for starters.
Much More Besides…
The Rand Show has also created the Animal Farm, where daily bird and reptile shows will delight animal lovers, and where kids can have a mini farm experience at the petting farmyard and milking barn. There are gardening workshops in the greenhouse with JJ from Garden World, and Baking Basics workshops with Chysil Creativ and South Bakels in the Home Living hall. Johannesburg Design Week presents displays of innovative local design, and in the Feeling Good hall, SA fashion designer Pieter Burger presents a curated design display. There are hours of exploring and discovering to be done at the massive SANDF exhibition, and visit the numerous exhibits of government departments and parastatals in the Showcase SA hall. Come and learn more about Nelson Mandela’s life at the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s exhibition, and have fun at the Every 1 Counts roadshow, playing and learning in Sanlam’s mini maths town, Kwa-Sanlam. And that’s not even mentioning it all … there really is an entire day out for the whole family packed into each Rand Show ticket.
Visit www.randshow.co.za to find out more about what’s happening over the Rand Show’s closing weekend.
When, Where, How Much?
The Rand Show runs until Sunday, 23 April 2017, from 9 am to 7 pm (last entry at 6 pm), at the Johannesburg Expo Centre, Nasrec (GPS – S26°14.484’ E27°58.510). There is ample secure paid parking at the venue, with visible policing. Open-air parking is R20 per car.
Rand Show tickets at the gate cost R150 for adults, R50 for pensioners, R50 for 13-16 years, R20 for 6-12 years, and under six enter free. Tickets are available at the gate or through Computicket.
Tickets give access to a wide variety of entertainment attractions, but exclude rides on the helicopter and monorail, drifting, bag jumping, the fun fair, and refreshments and food.
About the Rand Show
Dates: Good Friday, 14 April to Sunday 23 April 2017
Show Hours: 09h00 – 19h00 Daily; 18h00 Last Entry
Venue: Johannesburg Expo Centre, Cnr Rand Show & Nasrec Roads, Nasrec (GPS – S26°14.484′ E27°58.510′)
Tickets: Available at the gates or through Computicket (www.computicket.com) Ticket prices available at www.randshow.co.za or www.computicket.com
Parking: Open-air parking is available at R20 per car
Spokesperson: Mr Craig Newman, Chairman – Dogan Exhibitions and Events (Pty) Ltd
Telephone: 011 494 1920
Email: craign@expocentre.co.za
