Ararat Show Society president Gwenda Allgood said the support enables the town to continue the long running tradition of an annual show.

''It was fantastic to see so many people there,'' she said.

''There has been a lot of controversy surrounding show day holidays and many country shows are struggling at the moment.

''It was really great to see the community supporting the event because if they don't support it, it won't continue.''

Residents young and old enjoyed this year's show, which offered something for the entire family.

The animal nursery was a popular attraction for youngsters, giving them a chance to get up close and personal with a range of cute and cuddly creatures.

Children were also delighted with the selection of rides.

''There were many different sorts of rides at the show,'' Cr Allgood said.

''We had some feedback from last year so we asked them to bring some better rides this time. We had a wonderful response.''

The Miss Show Girl competition again proved extremely popular, with local girls taking advantage of the opportunity to dress their best.

Other highlights included the children's art and craft displays, the horses and miniature goats and the tractor pull, which saw contestants travel from as far as Melbourne to compete.

A bucking bull, pet show and pony rides also provided hours of entertainment.

Inside the pavilions, entries in the various show day sections were up on previous years.

''We had a lot of entries throughout all the categories,'' Cr Allgood said.

''The Lego competition had a big increase on last year when there was only one entry. This year there was lots.

''There are also a lot of skills that are starting to come back. Young people are learning how to knit and sew and they are choosing to display their work at the show.''

Cr Allgood said the community should be congratulated for their ongoing support of the Ararat Show.

''It is great to see that the people of Ararat realise the importance of these events,'' she said.

''We are very lucky to have such fabulous sponsors and we are extremely grateful for their support.

''We only have between 12 and 15 people on the committee but on the day we have up to 100 people volunteering their time. I have so much respect and admiration for those people and what they do.''

While the 2009 show was a huge success, the committee is inviting suggestions for next year's event.

''We love to know how we can improve the show or if anyone has something they think should be added to the program,'' Cr Allgood said.