It has been held each year since with breaks for World War I, the 1919 influenza epidemic and World War II.

[1] With improvements to the showground and expanded entertainment, the show crowds in 2008 were up by 50 per cent.

[2] The show comprises a ring show with livestock parades, show jumping and various attractions such as speedway cars, marching bands or fireworks; an agriculture pavilion with displays and judging of livestock and produce; commercial stands and exhibits; a Hall of Industry with art, photography, handcrafts, cookery etc.

There is also live entertainment, a showbag pavilion, a sideshow alley with amusement rides, shopping, food courts, etc.

[3] Newcastle Show Day was formerly a public holiday which usually applied to the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie local government areas, however from 2012, the local government deemed the public holiday null and has only been a local event day only available to a very few number of people, including people like council staff.