Ekka Rna Showgrounds

The Ekka has arrived for its 137th year, meaning it’s time yet again to scream the lungs out from inside the Zipper, kick back with a Dagwood Dog and watch the wood chop, have a beer at the Cattleman’s Bar, hang out with chickens, ride the rollercoaster, gorge on fairy floss and battle the show bag pavilion crowd. And while this much anticipated annual event is all about wandering around and losing yourself (but preferably not the children) in the fun of the fair, here’s a bit of  rundown on this year’s show for those who like to be prepared: 

Families with children Under 7:

Head for the section featuring the Toontowns Childrens Area down near Gregory Tce – in one compact zone are all the littlies’ favourites. Kids’ rides include tea cup rides, slides, carousels, dodgems, pony rides, mirror maze and the disabled-friendly 4-in-1 bungee trampoline.

Other interest points are the RACQ Animal Nursery come petting zoo, The Milking Barn,  and the Feline, Fish and Puppies Pavilion.

Look out for the Chillout Zones – these are self-contained areas for parents to get a decent coffee and children to hang out and slow down with a free activity between gigs.

Foodwise, follow the tradition - Dagwood Dogs, strawberry and cream ice-creams, choc-dipped strawberries and fairy floss, otherwise the Gourmet Harvest precinct has sushi, yum cha, pasta or steak.

Kids can play detective and follow the Thiess Ekka Learning Trail. Starting at the Thiess Discovery Hub, Learning Trail HQ or BCC stand, pick up an activity booklet then go on the lookout for dinosaurs, whales, farmers and giant Lego displays along the way. 

Live shows and favourite characters to look out for include Goldie the Clown, Elmo and Friends, the Ronald McDonald and Friends friendship adventure show  and master puppeteers David Hamilton's puppet shows as well as Meet and Greet opportunties with a whoile bunch of TV and story book characters.

Amongst the gazillion show bags for the younger ages are the ABC Kids bag, Sesame Street, The Smurfs, Pretty Pony and Puppy Love. As the show bag pavilion can be a nightmare for even the sanest of cool, calm and collected adults, it’s best with children to pre-order on line and go and pick up.

Everyone else aged 8-100:

Aside from the Kids Rides, some of which, like the Fungee Bungee, Euro Slide and water balls appeal to older children, the rest are divided into Family Rides and the not-for-the-faint-hearted Extreme Rides. This year’s line-up includes all the old favourites -  the Zipper, Dodgem Cars, Euro Slide, Hollywood Horrors, Giant Wheel, Roller Coaster and Mirror Maze, the Rockstar - a giant guitar that swings from side to side up to 25m high, changing patterns and colours as it goes, and Australia’s only spinning roller coaster and the latest Extreme ride too, a ride that spins, turns and whips in a whole new way. And for all ages there’s the 9-D cinema, an explosion of the senses that includes rain, snow and wind.

Highlights from the rest of the show are some of the things that generations have enjoyed at the Ekka - the Animal Arena with sheep shearing, horseshoeing and dog discipline, the Beef Pavilion, Animal Boulevard and Competitions. And no visit to the Ekka is complete without seeing Queensland’s biggest pumpkin or the stunning fruit and vegetable artworks in the Brisbane Markets Agricultural Hall.

While on the topic of food, by all means have a Dagwood Dog but check out popular foodie venue, Woolworths Fresh Food Pavilion for daily cooking shows and demos hosted by foodie Dominique Rizzo and well-known beer supremo Matt Kirkegaard. Local chefs Jocelyn Hancock, Shaun Malone and Josh Okorn will be offering tips and tastinga at Chef's Table and Master classes. Tucked away in here there’s also a seafood and wine bar, featuring oysters and hot smoked salmon, while fresh juices are to be had at the Brisbane Markets Agricultural Hall. And  show favourite Gourmet Harvest Precinct will also be peddling its variety of delicious eats, or taste some of Australia's finest award-winning foods in the Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show Deli.

There’s a spot of shopping to be had at the John Reid Wool Pavilion, Bushmans Trading Post and Home and Outdoor Living Pavilion and knowledge to be had from the government precinct and Lifestyle and Leisure pavilion. And for the fashionista check out the Commbank Natural fibres fashion parade.

By day there's entertainment in the form of The Ekka Extreme High Dive Show, Mind Reader Anthony Laye, Illusionist Brendan Mon Tanner, Those Tap Guys, Crazy Comedy Sports Juggler James BuSTAR and Australia's 'Houdini' Arthur  Coghlan.

In the evenings the new spectacular EkkaNites 360 show runs from 5-8 nightly, featuring fireworks including a new fountain design, laser light shows, fire dancers and speed bike riders and The Voice star Prinnie Stevens and mega country and western star Troy Casssar-Daly.