WATCH: What happened at the 2026 Kempsey Show

The Kempsey Show dates back to 1881 and continues to celebrate the Macleay Valley with livestock competitions, arena events and all the trimmings of a good agricultural show.

This year, the event was held on Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15, May. The Mid North Coaster attended on the final afternoon to catch the nerve wracking tricks of the Freestyle Kings, the woodchopping competition and the camel race – and we got to talk to those involved.

Meet Aussie champ in woodchopping, Leon Kritchfield, and six-year-old Phillip who got into the sport thanks to his dad and has been handing an axe “forever”.

Despite  “never even patted a camel before”, Keith Elms found himself winning the camel race. Nominated for the event by a work colleague, Elms was nervous before hopping on the hump, but after the thrill of riding a camel, he hopes to get involved again next year.

The Freestyle Kings are world-renowned for their freestyle motocross live events. The riders are currently in the midst of a world tour, and while travelling the east coast the boys stopped at the Kempsey Show to spread the adrenaline.  From one-handed back flips and no-handed jumps, here’s what happened.

Here’s a little wrap video to finish us off and get you inspired to pop the event in your 2027 calendar.