Tips for Attending the Ekka as a Family

As the longest running and largest public event in Queensland, the Ekka is the highlight of the Brisbane calendar. And why wouldn’t an occasion that involves rides and attractions, cute and cuddly animals, shows and showbags be something to look forward to?! Kids especially await this must-visit annual event with eager anticipation and excitement, so, to help you get the most out of this awesome experience, we’ve come up with our top tips for attending the Ekka as a family.

Image courtesy of ekka.com.au

Before you go

Make things easier and due to COVID restrictions, tickets are only available online book your 2021 Ekka tickets here.
Get the kids to choose their showbags in advance. This will not only save you time at the show, but also help to avoid the temptation of the kids seeing and wanting everything on offer.
Plan your day before you go. You don’t have to plan every single stop throughout your day, but having a rough idea of what you want to see and do can help to ensure you don’t miss out on anything.
If the kids are allowed to go on rides, let them know how many or which ones they can go one before you set off to avoid any meltdowns or over-spending when you’re there.
Put safety first by coming up with a family action plan to keep kids safe amongst the crowds of attendees, and ensure everyone knows what to do in case they get lost or separated from the group. This great article is packed with information on keeping kids safe in a crowd.
Print this awesome map to help you find your way around all the fun attractions at the show!

[button link=”https://brisbanekids.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/EKKA-MAP-FINAL-A4.pdf”]Print your copy of the Official Guide to a Child Friendly Ekka here[/button]

What to take

Bring your own food and water if you want to save money on refreshments in the Ekka.
Bring baby wipes, as the Ekka Strawberry Sundaes and fairy floss are bound to leave the kids a little sticky!
We all want to avoid coughs and colds that are common in the cooler months, so be sure to bring disinfectant or antibacterial hand gel to help prevent the spread of germs and keep little ones clean.
If your kids aren’t too big for a pram or buggy, be sure to bring it! Little legs get tired quickly on such a big day out, and being able to give them a rest in their stroller is way easier on parents than having to carry them around all day!
If little ones are sensitive to loud noises, make sure you remember to bring ear protectors for watching the EkkaNITES show in the evening.

Getting there

Check out our guide to getting to and from the Ekka with minimum stress and maximum fun.
If you’re travelling from far away, be sure to pack snacks, kids’ CDs, and other things to help keep the kids amused on the journey.
Our top tip is to catch a train to the Ekka if you can. It is much easier to park at a station near home than to find a parking spot near the showgrounds. Bowen Hills and Fortitude Valley railway stations are both less than a ten minute walk from the Ekka. (See Google maps.)

When you get there

You can head straight to the police stand (see map) when you arrive at the showgrounds. Here, you can find free ID bands to put on all the kids, and chat to the police about what to do if someone becomes lost. Brisbane Kids has also written this guide to keeping kids safe in crowds, which gives you lots of ideas to implement on your Ekka visit.
Make the RACQ Animal Nursery the first stop on your visit to the Ekka to enjoy lots of feeding fun and cuddles with the cutest baby animals before this area gets too busy.
Remember there are self-service, key-operated lockers outside the Showbag Pavilion in case you bring or buy things that you don’t want to carry around all day. Plus, they only cost $2!
Get a pass out so you can go home for little ones’ naps in the middle of the day, or for dinner between all the daytime fun and the evening EkkaNITES show and fireworks. It can be a long day for little ones, so a break may be just what you need in order to last the distance.
Let out your inner child! Have fun with the kids by reliving all your favourite Ekka memories from days gone by. They’ll love finding out what you enjoyed most about visiting the Ekka as a child, and will love it even more to share those experiences with you.