Embark - Queensland Rail

The Best
10 Days
in August
Royal Queensland Show (Ekka)
8–17 August 2013 at the Brisbane
Showgrounds
The state’s largest, proudest and most loved community
event, the Royal Queensland Show, fondly referred to by
Queenslanders as the Ekka, is almost here. Now in its 136th
year, around 400,000 visitors will come together from
August 8 to 17 to enjoy an experience unlike any other.
The Ekka continues to capture the attention and involvement
of show-goers with more than 10,000 animals, 23,000
competition entries, a smorgasbord of award-winning food and
wine, hundreds of rides and showbags, and hours of free family
entertainment on offer.
Located just 1.5 kilometres from Brisbane’s CBD, this once a
year get-together is truly unique in the Australian landscape
and epitomises city meets country. Not too many events can
say they target all tastes and ages, but Ekka is the exception.
The show has evolved to become much more today than simply
cows, rides and showbags. There is a sophistication, in parts, to
the Ekka, so the question is... what’s your perfect Ekka day out?
For Ekka 2013, show-goers can customise their very own show
experience. Whether you’re a show tragic from way back or are
coming along for the first time to see the best of Queensland,
this year offers more Ekka than ever.
Our message is... plan ahead, buy your tickets now to capture
real savings and use the Ekka website to build your own Ekka
itinerary.
Showtime Ekka
For the Ekka traditionalist with comfy walking shoes there’s all
your showtime favourites including all new shows and outdoor
stage entertainment, extreme rides, showbags, dagwood dogs,
strawberry sundaes, cattle and horse pavilions, showjumping,
sheep dog trials and more than 10,000 animals competing for
that coveted champion blue ribbon.
Ekka IgNites 360 presented by B105... Energex Community
Arena night show
The atmosphere in the main ring at night is explosive and
should not be missed. This year’s night program is completely
new and will incorporate world-first technology to captivate all
your senses. The producer tells us you can expect to see some
very special guests, but that won’t be revealed until closer to
showtime!
Sophisticated Ekka
Relax and indulge. Enter through Gate 1 on Gregory Terrace,
head straight to the upper level of Brisbane’s new Royal
International Convention Centre and you need not leave until
nightfall. Here, in the brand new state-of-the-art building
located in the heart of the Brisbane Showgrounds, you’ll find
entertainment and Ekka’s signature fashion parades produced
by Lindsay Bennett; alongside celebrity TV chefs, jazz artists,
fine food, wine and dining. And right outside, if you want to
venture out, you’ll catch the canine competition with those
beautiful pooches vying for the title of Best in Show. Ekka done
in style!
Fresh Ekka
Also in this prime location, just a stone’s throw from the upper
level of the Convention Centre, is the Woolworths Fresh Food
Pavilion which you can’t beat for delicious samples, fresh
produce and oh so fresh strawberries dipped in chocolate. And
downstairs on the lower level of the convention centre you’ll find
Queensland’s best fruit, vegetables and flora in the agricultural
pavilion.
My first Ekka
When it’s all about the kids and creating those Ekka memories,
you can combine the ‘Showtime Ekka’ experience with the
biggest classroom of them all. Best spots for the kids include
the iconic RACQ Insurance Animal Nursery, kids’ rides zone,
Learning Fun Pavilion, Heritage Bank Community Stage
and Streets Ice Cream Chill Out Zone with sand sculpturing,