and will run from 8 a.m. on April 27 until the evening of April 29 at the Botanical Gardens in Paget.

This is the first `Ag Show' of the new Millennium and organisers hope it will draw large crowds as in years' past. Last year more than 20,000 people attended the show despite a rain soaked final day.

It has been described by Agriculture and Fisheries Director John Barnes as "the largest single community event on the Island'' and Assistant Director of Agriculture and Fisheries Kevin Monkman encouraged everyone to "come out and support the exhibition'' again this year.

A survey to gauge the public's opinion of the show was published in The Royal Gazette after last year's exhibition and a number of responses were received.

Exhibition Secretary Anne Cherry said: "It seems as if we are doing things right.'' This year the Bermuda Regiment will be on hand to perform with their traditional pageantry and Governor Thorold Masefield is set to arrive at 1 p.m. on April 27.

Returning to the exhibition will be a costume parade that will take place on April 28 at 11.30 a.m.

The Canadian Super Dogs from last year's show have been replaced by the Mapapa Acrobats from Kenya who will be tumbling their way through all three days of the exhibition.

The six strong group of acrobats have wowed audiences all over the world and perform a mix of traditional Chinese acrobatics with high paced African styles to the time of a raucous East African "Benga'' beat.

Another new event in this year's Exhibition is a relay race involving a horse, a dog and a bike which will raise money for charity.

Each relay team will wear a coloured T-shirt that corresponds to each different charity's concession stands around the Exhibition.

There are two heats on April 27 and 28 and the monetary prizes for the charities will be awarded to the first three teams after the April 29 final.

Other changes include moving the woodcraft exhibition, which will also be scaled down, to the second floor of the Arrow Root Factory behind Camden House.

And a series of lectures and demonstrations, which used to be a regular feature of the Agricultural Show, will be held again.

There will also be the usual exhibits of flowers, food, vegetables and animals, including the petting zoo.

Admission for each day of the event will be $5 for adults and $2 for seniors and those under the age of 16. Children under the age of five will be admitted free.