Fun Pass app outage causes chaos at Sydney Royal Easter Show

Thousands of children have been left unable to enjoy rides at the Sydney Royal Easter Show after the popular “Fun Pass” app went down on opening day.

Families flocking to Sydney Olympic Park for the annual Sydney Royal Easter Show were met with unexpected frustration on Thursday, as the digital “Fun Pass” app used for ride access stopped working.

A post on a Sydney Reddit thread warned parents and visitors the ‘Fun Pass’ app was down at the Easter Show and “may not get working again”.

“Anyone with added money to the app is unable to use it. Thousands of kids are unable to get on the rides,” the post read.

“Don’t add money to the app but give them cash and you can buy a physical card at the show.”

In a statement on Thursday afternoon, a spokesperson said they were aware of the issue.

“The Royal Agricultural Society, organiser of the Sydney Royal Easter Show, is aware of an issue with the Carnival Fun Pass and its associated app that’s preventing showgoers from using it to get on some rides in the carnival area,” the spokesperson said.

“We are working to fix the issue as quickly as possible and apologise to our valued patrons for the inconvenience caused.

“We will update the situation as soon as we can.”

Frustrated attendees described long waits as a result.

“Fix your app, absolutely ridiculous. The line for ride tickets is hours long,” one visitor posted.

The Easter Show, one of Australia’s most iconic events, draws more than 850,000 visitors annually.

It offers 12 hours of family-friendly entertainment, including farm animals, rides, showbags, live performances, and diverse food experiences, bringing a slice of the country to the city.

A number of new rides and activities have been added this year, with budget-friendly options available for families mindful of cost-of-living pressures.

The event runs from Thursday, April 2 until Monday, April 13, with gates opening at 8.30am daily and most pavilions opening from about 9am. Each night will end with a fireworks display at 8.50pm.

More to come.