EKKA 2017 Read this guide in conjunction with our article (URL below). Use the blue check boxes to tick the activities that sound appealing (to remind you on the day!) DOWNLOAD & TAKE IT WITH YOU! www.familiesmagazine.com.au/ekka-guide
1. Showbag Pavilion 2. Rides 3. The Old Museum 4. Agricultural Education Hall 5. RACQ Animal Nursery 6. Woolworths Fresh Food Pavilion 7. John Reid Pavilion / Ekka Emporium 8. Main Arena TIP... In regards to the closing times, this is the closing time for the PAVILION, not the attractions / shops within the pavilion! A lot of shops and free fun activities close at 5pm, so be careful!
Showbag Pavilion 9PM TIP... before you go... check to see if your chosen showbags have ride vouchers. This will help you to determine whether to buy the bags at the beginning or end of the day! Use the tick box below to indicate which bags have vouchers. Visit Showbag Pavilion Showbags to buy... Check out our detailed showbag review: https://www.familiesmagazine.com.au/ ekka-showbag-guide/
Rides LATE TIP 1: Look for bulk tickets to save (e.g. 3 tickets for $12) 2A Sideshow Alley TIP 2: Check your showbags for discount vouchers Most of the rides in this section are suitable for kids aged 3 to 8 years old. There are some fantastic offers in this section, e.g. the teacups, swing and dodgem cars have a "buy 6 tickets for $30" offer. The Euroslide (i.e. giant slide) has 3 slides for $10! 2B Sideshow Alley TIP 3: Download the "Zippy" app. it contains some Ekka special coupons! This is the "main" ride section and has a lot of the thrill seeker rides. It does have a few rides for younger kids, so it's worth a look. 2C Sideshow Alley This is a hidden gem and has shrunk a little since last year. It's a great place to visit with kids aged between 3 and 8! The Fun House is a favourite! and the operator of the Angry Birds sideshow game was very "generous" with his scoring i.e. counting points even when items weren't knocked over. TIP 4: Not all sideshow games are created equal. Check the prices and ask "do all participants win a prize?"... a lot of them do (which will help avoid meltdowns with very young children!)
The Old Museum 5:30PM TIP: Inside the museum - has things for grown ups to look at. Outside the museum - has free activities for kids. Free play on the grass e.g. put put, the grass throne and bed. Make a free flower headband Play with a robotic ball / augmented reality colouring in / get a free wrist band / play with virtual reality glasses Mini maze Plaster Painting (costs money) Explore the gardens, look at the scarecrows etc.
Agricultural Education Hall & Entertainment & Fashion Precinct 6PM Agricultural Education Hall (Downstairs) Bananas in Pyjamas Live Show TIP: DO NOT MISS THIS! Make sure you look downstairs AND upstairs in the Agricultural Education Hall (most attractions will close at 5pm). Agricultural Education Hall (Upstairs) 1. Go to the room containing the school kids art and collect your EKKA LEARNING TRAIL Guide. 2. Go to the Police display and pickup your passport - then start the police adventure (collecting stamps, freebies and having fun along the way!) 3. Make sure you pickup your Nature Play passport just inside the door (Commonwealth Games display) Agricultural Educational Play e.g. science experiments, play with remote control diggers in dirt, technology based interactive fun. Fashion precinct (free bananas) 10am - 10:30am 11am - 11:30am 12pm - 12:30pm Farmyard Friends Stage Show 9:30am - 10am 11:30am - 12pm
RACQ Animal Nursery 5PM BUY FOOD FEED THE ANIMALS! $2 per cup or 3 for $5 Legendairy Milking Barn 9:30am - 10am 10:30am - 11am 11:30am - 12pm 1:30pm - 2pm 2:30pm - 3pm 3:30pm - 4pm Sheep Shearing 10am - 10:30am 11am - 11:30am 12pm - 12:30pm 1pm - 1:30pm 2pm - 2:30pm 3pm - 3:30pm Pat-a-pig 9:30am - 10am 10:30am - 11am 11:30am - 12pm 12:30pm - 1pm 1:30pm - 2pm 2:30pm - 3pm 3:30pm - 4pm 4:30pm - 5pm Cradle-a-chick 9am - 5pm
Woolworths Fresh Food Pavilion LATE TIP - It's near impossible to get a table at lunchtime, the food here is fantastic and reasonably priced... try to eat outside of peak times! Visit Brisbane City Council Display & get free photos in front of a green screen (just inside the pavilion, on the left) Live 7 News Experience Free Photos taken on the Hell's Kitchen Set, on the set of The Chase, Summer Bay and more! Free Food tasting at the from of the Woolworths Pavilion $2 Cheese Toastie ($5 including a Breaka Milk) Gourmet Pizza down the back left (perfect to take to EkkaNITES.. they are easy to carry! NOTE RE: OPENING HOURS - a lot of the stalls inside the Pavilion shut at 5pm!
John Reid Pavilion / Ekka Emporium 6PM TIP: These Pavilions are mainly shops... however, some of them have activities for the kids. (The activities are limited) On the way to the Pavilions, there is a hat (caps) shop that sells amazing hats for $10. A great idea for cheap b'day / christmas presents. Have a turn at the remote control diggers If you're considering purchasing "Claytastic" or Soy Candles, make sure you check the Zippy app. first, it contains a discount. Ride on mechanical animals (for young kids) - costs money! If you forget your jumper, there are a couple of stalls where you can purchase warm clothes (limited) Discounted / Ekka specials on some unique kids toys / costume shops for book week!
Main Arena EkkaNITES (Every night) 5:30pm - Ride, Drive, Chop (wood chopping) 5:45pm - LED Sheep Demo 5:55pm - National Anthem 6pm - Children's Fireworks 6:05pm - Roman Riding High Speed Stunt Challenge 6:20pm - Topsy-Turvy Sideways Car with Beno the Clown 6:25pm - Horse Archery Combat Show 6:35pm - Jaws of Death Straight Jacket Escape with Sam Powers 6:45pm - Coca - Cola Faces in the Crowd 6:50pm - The Rooftop Express Brumby Muster 7:10pm - Holden Precision Driving Team 7:20pm - Monster Trucks & RACQ Lifeflight Helicopter 7:25pm - Showtime FMX - Battle for the Golden Helmet 7:40pm - 7:55pm - Ekkanites Fireworks Spectacular 7:55pm - Meet the stars of EkkaNites and get autographs