There will be no family day out buying show bags, queueing for rides, viewing the cattle and horses or winning a prize in sideshow alley as another iconic local event has had to cancel for 2020 due to COVID-19.

The Lismore Show has been operating for 134 years with 2020 making it the 135th Lismore Show or it was to be.

In 1888, the North Coast National Agricultural and Industrial Society Inc was formed to bring early settlers together to share knowledge about farming and also to show the world their achievements. It has always been a celebration of agriculture, ingenuity, creativity and resilience.

The Show Society met last night and confirmed what many in the community feared, it was to be cancelled this year.

President John Gibson said "We had no choice to cancel this years show because of the COVID-19 restrictions and the flow on effect to exhibitors and sponsors"

"As you know businesses are doing it pretty hard at the moment and we wouldn't have had a chance to confirm sponsorship dollars", John added.

The cancellation of the Lismore Show may be the tip of the iceberg with the Lismore Showground itself in danger of closing its gates.

Following the Show in October, it would be the start of the Speedway season then the Tropical Fruits festival around New Years, these events generate revenue for the Lismore Showground and pay for operational costs such as wages, electricity and water.

"At the moment we have a few caravans in and the weekly markets as our only source of income", John said.

North Coast National will have another meeting in two to three weeks time to assess their financial situation for the rest of the year.

Among today's bad news John did say that "if the government lifted restrictions we would look at doing something on a smaller scale but it wouldn't be the show as we know it".

"We want to give the people of Lismore and surrounding districts something to be involved in".

With no certainty for the future due to the coronavirus, we can only hope we keep moving in a positive direction for some entertainment in 2020.