Brisbane celebrates Ekka opening

Queensland's biggest and most loved event opens in Brisbane today (8th August) with more than 400,000 people expected to attend the extended event.

Now in its 137th year, the iconic Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) will feature more than $2 million in free entertainment alone ensuring families can enjoy a great value event.

RNA Chief Executive Brendan Christou said the show had been 11 months in the making and will offer visitors world-class entertainment, 10,000 animals and some of the nation’s finest food and wine.

Christou explains "the Ekka is all about celebrating Queensland’s best on show through recognition and reward.

“The heart of the show is in our traditions and this year features 21,000 competition entries across 11,000 classes in 42 categories.

“It’s about bridging the city / country divide and creating those great childhood memories that last a lifetime.”

For the first time in Ekka’s history visitors can enjoy two full weekends of fun from today until Sunday 17th August. The night program will also run for the full 10 days of show.

This year’s Ekka will feature:

Australian first million dollar night program, EkkaNITES
Headline acts include Australian pop sensation Prinnie Stevens and country music legend Troy Cassar-Daley, the show will be produced once again by entertainment extraordinaire Jack Ellison and there will be a whole new design with more lasers, water fountains, fireworks, new routines, daring FMX riders and monster trucks.  

Non-stop entertainment
International celebrity mind reader Anthony Laye will unlock the minds of the Ekka audience while Brendan Mon Tanner, an illusionist and Guinness World Record holder for the fastest fire-eater, will stun the crowd. Australia’s ‘Houdini’ Arthur Coghlan, who is in his eighties will attempt a world record stunt while  world-class divers will display their mid-air talents at the Extreme High Dive Show before splashing into a tiny tank of water, right before the crowd. 

Ekka’s Country Music Showdown
This year the Ekka welcomes amateur country music artists who will be performing live to take out the top gong. The junior winner will receive the coveted Troy Cassar-Daley Ekka Junior Country Music Scholarship at the Tamworth Academy of Country Music and the prize for the open section will be a recording session in a recording studio. 

Showbags and rides
Still an Ekka favourite, rides and showbags will be top of mind for many visiting the Ekka this year. There are more than 300 showbags and more than 40 rides to choose from across the showgrounds. 

For more information go to www.ekka.com.au

18th July 2014 - HISTORIC INVESTMENT PRECEDES 2014 EKKA