The EKKA
- brutalnerd
- Aug 13
- 5 min read
My support worker and I had such a fantastic time yesterday at the Ekka! I had not been since probably my late teens, so I was a little dubious how much value for money it would be now that I am in my 40's. We found so much to do and see. We really enjoyed our day immensely.
Going on a Tuesday surpassed my expectations - it was much quieter than I expected. Without huge crowds, we could relax and explore at our own pace.
We made our first stop at the showbag pavilion whilst it was quiet (and it was!). We could leisurely find the bags on our lists with no line up at all. We then hired a locker and set off to check out everything else on our itinerary! (I am so excited to have a Lego day with my bricks showbag)
I absolutely love the My EKKA app you can download. You can add beforehand all the things you want to see and do, and at what times. You can add your showbag and rides list. I even added the cheap eats deals and where they were on the map. The inbuilt GPS will also help you find where to go on the day. We did end up using the physical map more though, as the GPS wasn't great with orientation of where you were facing. A great extra tool though!
Our second stop was all the competition displays. WOW. There is so much insane talent. The photography so stunning. The paintings and drawings blew my mind. Especially the young adult/kids entries. I also loved the cake decorating and sculptures. Now I am older, I guess I really appreciate more the time and effort that goes into such beautiful creations.
We then grabbed our cheap eats for lunch and headed to the main arena. The motorbike chariots and FMX were a massive highlight to the day! I was so happy I got to see them. I had decided not to attend EkkaNITES, due to my anxiety getting back to parking safely at night time. I was a bit sad I'd miss fireworks, but was overjoyed I still got to see the FMX. I'm glad they put on some midday entertainment.
The kids on school excursions screaming and cheering, really added to the energy of the atmosphere. I had a blast!
We then made our way to the animal nursery. This was the only line up we had all day - haha. The line moved quickly, and it was worth it to pat some tiny goats and see other small animals.
They had a pony, donkeys, piglets (my fave!), puppies, sheep, goats, cows, chickens and more! This highland cow was so beautiful and looked like it was from a movie set.
Lastly we headed to the Channel 7 Pavilion again for some entertainment. I of course had to get my iconic strawberry sundae on the way. They actually do live up to the hype. The ice cream is delicious and tastes homemade from real strawberries. There's even chopped up fresh strawberries in the bottom of the cone - YUM!
The dance performances were in my Top 3 of being at the Ekka. The kids put on energetic, well choreographed, and mind blowing routines. The under 8yo's were so impressive too. How they memorise a fairly long routine so well and give it their all was inspiring.
There were a few dancers who for such young ages really stood out. They had such performative stage faces with big smiles and dynamic movements, just phenomenal. I also loved that so much of the music was what I danced to in my teen to early adult years, like Missy Elliot and Fatman Scoop. I was bopping along, LOVED it!
It was such a treat to end the day on a high note full of positive energy. I found the Ekka to have a lot more on offer than I realised - for any age group.
I found it to be great value for money. You get a lot of culture, entertainment and fun for a decent ticket price. Hunt the bargains for food or BYO and it can be a well budgeted day out. I also bought my ticket on a presale so I got 50% off and there was free entry with my Companion Card for my support worker - AWESOME!
Did you go to the Ekka or planning on going this week, and what did you think? Let us know in the comments!
Accessibility
Cost
Ticket price on a normal day. Be sure to grab super saver days and 20%-50% off sales if you can!
Adult: $40.95.
Concession: $30.95.
Child 4-15yo: $26.95.
Child 4yo & under: Free.
When
Annually in August.
Where
Brisbane Showgrounds. 600 Gregory Ter, Bowen Hills QLD 4006.
Companion Card Accepted
Yes! Free entry for your support person.
Ease of Companion Card Use
Very easy. You just show your Companion Card at the gate.
Customer Service
We found everyone very friendly.
Wheelchair Access/Friendly
Yes.
Drop off/pick up zones.
Mostly cement paths.
Accessible toilets/lifts.
Distance From Parking to Venue/Parking
We parked at "The Yard" in King Street Parking.
Lighting was good in the parking areas.
Parking was $37 for the day, a flat rate for the Ekka.
There is a drop off point if needed at the gates.
Parking was just a short walk to the entrance. It was up an incline to the gate. I was grateful it was downhill back to the car park after a long day of walking!
Catching the train is of course another option, at a low cost of 50c fares each way for the Ekka.
Security
We went day time only and felt very safe.
It was a very family friendly event.
There were a lot of staff/volunteers about with very approachable friendly faces.
First Aid was easy to find.
There were police and security around as well if needed.
Pet Friendly
Certified guide, hearing and assistance dogs are permitted entry to the Ekka, owners must carry their identification card and ensure their dog is wearing the correct badge accreditation.
Quiet Spaces
No.
You can find many places that are quieter to rest and recuperate though.
Food Options
Plenty of food trucks!
You can take your own food.
You can take in a sealed water bottle.
Great food deals you can view on the Ekka app.
Crowds
There were a lot of people in attendance, but we never felt jammed in with people or found it hard to walk through anywhere on the day we went (Tuesday).
It felt very relaxing and enjoyable on a Tuesday.
I hope this information helps you plan your visit and encourages you to experience this wonderful event for yourself. If you think anything needs to be added regarding your disability, please feel free to CONTACT ME
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