Centacare New England Northwest in Armidale have given the Walcha Show Society $5,000 and the group will use this money to ensure no one has to pay to come to the Walcha Show this year.

"With the extra money we decided to have two open days so it's a free weekend in Walcha," said Walcha Show Society president Angus Monie.

"Our aim is to entertain, and there is a lot you can do for free at the show, so we hope families and everyone in the district can take a break and enjoy a day out from the mentally and physically demanding drought.

"We all know the drought's tough out on the land but the local community is feeling it just as bad. We just feel as though if one person came to the show and it changed their outlook on the drought and they felt a little happier going back to their farm or back to their business then, who knows, we might just save one life."

The Friday events are more school based with junior judging and horse riding. As well as the horse events the main pavillion will be open and it is the best day to see the fruit and vegies and also the horticultural exhibits before they start to fade from the heat. Students will be busy with the junior Merino sheep, junior meat sheep and junior beef cattle judging as well as a junior heifer show and junior six bar show jumping competition.

Friday night is always popular with the community and this year will be no exception. At 5.30pm the inaugural Walcha 'Saw Off' will take place in front of the bar area and then the perennial favourite dog jumping competition will begin around 6pm. The day will be finished off with the much loved fireworks display.

On Saturday the 2020 Walcha Showgirl will be announced after the grand parade. The Poultry Pavilion stewards are expecting record entries again this year and the Demolition Derby has received local entries as well as those from Uralla, Inverell and Armidale.