President of the Kiama Show Society Neil McLaren said they were in the same boat as Albion Park and Berry which were also scheduled for summer, and will meet with other societies from Camden down to Milton on Saturday.

Event organisers were struggling with social distancing requirements as well as finding sponsors during a time of economic downturn.

"The community needs events like this, whether it's the show or whatever, just to get people out and be sociable and get some sort of degree of normal back," Mr McLaren said.

"We'd love to do it purely for that reason, but how we can fund it ... is going to be a very big challenge."

The Kiama Show was cancelled in January due to bushfires which ravaged the South Coast, the first time in 80 years the event didn't go ahead.

"The last time [we cancelled the show] it was World War II," Mr McLaren said. "That's the degree of the tragedy of the bushfires and now the tragedy of COVID.

"Given the whole issue with mental health and suicides we've had around this area, we need the community to come together."

Mr McLaren said Kiama - like many other agricultural shows - had struggled to make a profit "even in the good times", but they existed to showcase the best of the community.

He said the committee was tabling ideas such as running events and workshops only for limited numbers, while rides and sideshow alley would not be viable.

It comes after Kiama was the first in the Illawarra to officially have council fireworks for New Year's Eve cancelled.

Wollongong and Shellharbour councils have told the Mercury they are also looking to cancel fireworks at major events in December and January, and were reassessing how Australia Day might look.

Illawarra and South Coast show society presidents will meet with the Agricultural Societies Council of NSW on Saturday, with local committees to discuss options and outcomes next week.

Read More: Cancelled Ag Shows to get government funding to survive