Agricultural shows are an annual tradition for many regional Australian towns — but would you still go to one that did not have rides, spinning lights and an iconic dagwood dog?

In central Queensland, a showdown between carnival workers and an agricultural society might just have proven that you can't have the show without showbags.

The Rockhampton Show at its peak in 2017, before it split from the Showmen's Guild. ( ABC News: Jacquie Mackay )

For many years, the Rockhampton Agricultural Show had been a well-loved institution at the Rockhampton Showgrounds blending cattle judging with the bright lights of the so-called Sideshow Alley.

But this year, relationships broke down at the 11th hour between the Rockhampton Show Society and the Showmen's Guild, which organises the carnival workers, along with their rides, games, showbags, and food trucks.

The feud saw the Showmen's Guild pull out of the event entirely.

To make matters worse, the Guild also announced it would set up a rival event, Rocky Super Fair, on the very same days, on the other side of town.

So how did the two rival shows go?

Tracie Walker took her son to the rival Rocky Super Fair for a go on some rides and also for a dagwood dog.

The Rocky Super Fair organisers claimed they got close to 30,000 people at their rival event. ( ABC News: Rachel McGhee )

Despite the carnival food, she said it was not as good as having both the rides and the agricultural component in one place.

"We're a bit disappointed this year," Ms Walker said.

On the other side of town at the 'real' show, Rockhampton local Jo Howard also left feeling disappointed.

"We won't be going next year, that's for sure, not unless something happens," Ms Howard said.

"We always go, we enjoy it [but] every year it seems to be getting worse. [It was] just disgusting, there was nothing there. It's very sad."

The Rockhampton Show was noticeably quieter this year. ( ABC News: Rachel McGhee )

People exhibiting their animals and goods at the show were also muted about the event. For many, the show is an important aspect of agricultural growth and marketing for the region.

"Without publicity or marketing, you don't have anything," said Desley Barlow, who was exhibiting her alpacas.

Kasey Davies, a local student showing cattle, said she noticed smaller crowds this year.

"Even at this time of day, you [usually] see people passing through a lot but we haven't really had anyone."

So what numbers did both events get?

During more united times in 2017, the show attracted 24,000 people through its gates over three days.

This year, Showman's Guild president Luke Hennessy claimed their new Rocky Super Fair attracted almost 30,000 people through the gates over three days.

"Initially we were just hoping for the best," Mr Hennessey said.

"We're blown away by the support that was received."

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The Show Society could not provide formal gate numbers by this weekend. However, its president Robert Smith admitted this year was tough without the Showmen's Guild organising their rides, showbags and festival food.

"It was quiet. There's no doubt about that," Mr Smith said.

"There's no comparing this year's show with previous shows. That can't even be part of the equation.

"We recognise that there was no activity down the bottom of the show [without Sideshow Alley]. It was basically half a show."

Mr Smith said some traders had told him it had been great to have an agricultural-focused event — but others had been asking for a refund of their fees, due to disappointment about crowd numbers.

"Some were very happy, some were happy, and some were unhappy," he said.

Can the show go on next year?

The town's mayor, Margaret Strelow, said the situation had been disappointing for many.

"The impact of having two separate shows has been quite dramatic," Councillor Strelow said.

"This can't be allowed to happen again."

The whole split-show saga started because the Showmen's Guild felt it was being pushed aside by the Show Society to an unsuitable location at the Rockhampton Showgrounds, that would make it unprofitable for its workers to set up their rides, stalls and games.

Cr Strelow said the council — which owns the Showgrounds — could potentially split the lease so both parties could come again next year.

However, the two parties had a post-show debrief on Friday, and they still could not come to an agreement.

The Show Society wants the agricultural roots of the event to be reinvigorated. ( ABC News: Rachel McGhee )

Mr Smith said the Show Society would push ahead with its dream to reinvigorate the agricultural focus of the show, and that if that did not attract the numbers, that was Rockhampton's problem.

"People have to decide if you want a show or a fair that they can go to most weekends," he said.

Meanwhile, the Showmen's Guild's Mr Hennessey said he would be "working tirelessly for a resolution" by 2019 — but stopped short of promising that they would not hold another rival event again.

"If we're pushed into that corner, we will," he said.