Rides, live entertainment and traditional country show favourites will bring the community together when the annual Katanning Agricultural Show returns on Saturday.

The show will be at the Katanning Leisure and Function Centre, with gates opening at 8.30am and free entry for all attendees.

The official welcoming ceremony will begin at 11am.

Katanning Agricultural Show president Mark Patterson said the event relied on the efforts of the community.

“There’s over 100 people setting up stalls, shearing and in the committee, so it’s a big effort and hopefully the weather is good,” he said.

“There’s a lot of people putting a lot of effort into this.”

Among the usual rides and entertainment, Mr Patterson said there are two new attractions that are set to draw crowds.

“A new thing we have is a helicopter simulator, which is huge,” he said.

“You get inside and it’s like you’re in a real helicopter and it’s amazing.

“We also have Bootscoot’n Betty and Outback Friends joining us — they’re professional actors who come dressed as different mascot characters.

“They have been a real hit everywhere they have been the last 12 months, so we are super excited about it.

“They are going to be on stage at 11.30am and then again at 2.30pm.”

Mr Patterson said they will have all the traditional country show events, with a big emphasis this year on horses and sheep.

“We have all the normal things like shearing and stuff like that,” he said.

“We are trying to get focus back on a couple of older things and putting more emphasis on horses and wool.”

Mr Patterson said free admission has been made possible through the support of the sponsors and was a major drawcard last year.

“Having free admission is an enormous thing — last year we had about 9000 people,” he said.

“It was superb last year.”

Mr Patterson said country shows remained an important opportunity for families and the community to come together.

“Everybody loves the country shows — life is too serious nowadays and they just love country shows,” he said.