Despite the warm weather and wind, 8000 people had already turned out by lunchtime yesterday to enjoy the rides, sideshow games and entertainment.

Mr Nichols said he was “quite happy” with how the day was turning out and expected a bigger crowd in the afternoon.

“We have had ideal weather, the wind has kept the temperature down, and lots of families have turned out for the day,” he said. “The last three years have been incident-free which I think is because we don’t have a beer tent.

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“This creates more of a family atmosphere,” Mr Nichols said.

Families lay out their picnic rugs in Memorial Park to take advantage of the free kids rides and 77 stalls while schoolkids tried their luck in the sideshow alley. Proud mothers entered their 6 and 12-month-old infants in the Baby Show and young beauties competed for the Pageant crown.

The picnic is held yearly at Memorial Park and Oval.