This year’s Ekka is back and it’s bigger and better than ever! Running from Friday 10 August to Sunday 19 August, Brisbane’s largest cultural festival is held at the Brisbane Showgrounds, just minutes away from your short stay accommodation at Meriton Suites Adelaide Street and Herschel Street. There’s so much to see and do this year, so we’ve put together a handy list of the top attractions to catch once you’ve tired yourself out on the rides and showbags.
The Packer Leather Australian Stockwhip Challenge
Where: Stud Sale Ring
When: 9:00am – 3:30pm, 10 August 2018
Price: FREE
When a problem comes along, you must whip it. Before the cream sits out too long, you must whip it… Queensland’s best and brightest whip crackers are whipping things into shape for the fifth year in the row at the Ekka. With four different divisions available, schools from all around Queensland will be participating to show off their skills and have a cracking good time!
Heritage Bank Racing Pigs
Where: Stockman’s Rest
When: Throughout the day
Price: FREE
They say there’s no chance pigs will fly, but that’s definitely not the case at this year’s Ekka! With four brave and athletic porkers decked out in their racing colours, spectators will marvel at the pigs as they run a race track and fly through the air before diving into a pool of water. These Guinness World Record pigs will be led by 10-year-old Mater Vandeleur, who will make sure this show is anything but boar-ing.
XXXX Stockmen’s Bar and Grill Music Stage
Where: XXXX Stockmen’s Bar and Grill
When: Times vary depending on the performance
Price: FREE
Sit back and relax at XXXX Stockmen’s Bar and Grill as you listen to some of the finest musicians around. Country music lovers will swoon to the dulcet tones of Felicity Kircher and Brooke Schubert, while toe-tapping dancers will enjoy kicking their heels to the music of country rockers, The Smashing Bumpkins. Are you a songbird yourself? Sign up for I-Sing Karaoke on 12 August and show off those pipes in a bid to represent Australia at the I-Sing World Championships in France!
Queensland Young Farmers Challenge
Where: Main Arena
When: 4:30pm – 5:30pm, 11 August 2018
Price: FREE
Who will win: the country kids or the city slickers? This year, Queensland’s finest farmers are competing for the title of Queensland’s Champion Young Farmers. Developed by the RNA Future Directions Committee, this relay-style event includes typical farming activities like carrying hay bales and building portable cattle yards. Make sure you head down to cheer the eight teams competing for the gold medal.
Lone Ranger and Tonto Stunt Challenge
Where: Main Arena
When: 6:35pm – 6:45pm, all days
Price: FREE
Have you ever wondered who the better rider is, Tonto or the Lone Ranger? You finally have the chance to find out as the two go head-to-head in this exciting stunt challenge. Galloping around the Main Arena at high speed, Tonto will race up to the trailer, leap off the horse, and scale a ladder onto a moving rooftop trailer to (literally) beat the clock, before the Lone Ranger decides to test his mettle.
This year’s Ekka is set to be bigger and better than ever, so make sure to reserve your family accommodation in Brisbane today.
