Ekka 2023 reaches a record-smashing conclusion

Brisbane’s iconic Ekka has well and truly shaken off the post-pandemic blues, with its final day underlining its record appeal.

Caleb, 4, Lara 18 months, and Kate Schipper, 7, enjoy strawberry sundaes on the hill on the last day of Ekka. Picture: Steve Pohlner

• Mega gallery: All the Ekka action

Records were smashed on the final day of the Ekka as organisers hailed monster attendance figures over the duration of the show as a triumphant return to pre-Covid-19 popularity.

More than 400,000 people attended the Ekka over 10 days this year making it among the most successful shows yet, while the record for the number of iconic strawberry sundaes sold was broken, with up to 150,000 dished out to hungry patrons.

And to top it off, the world record for dagwood dog eating was broken on Sunday.

Ekka organisers said the figures were a promising sign that the show had truly come back to Queensland and had been embraced once more. “I would really like to thank Queenslanders for supporting the show, it’s made up of volunteers, people who are judges, stewards, they work hard for the show and it’s great to see Queenslanders coming along and supporting the show,” Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association President David Thomas said.

“We had over 50,000 people yesterday (Saturday), it was quite amazing, everyone was happy, they all had a great day.”

Along with the usual attractions, the last day of the 2023 Ekka featured record-breaking strawberry sundae sales.

By Saturday night, 136,000 sundaes had been sold, trumping last year’s total by 9000.

With a day of sales remaining, it was expected by the end of Sunday more than 150,000 sundaes would have been sold, smashing last year’s record of 127,000.

The proceeds will go to silicosis research, an occupational lung disease typically hurting tradies who have inhaled silica dust.

In pictures: All the colour from the Ekka on Saturday

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The Common Good general manager Chloe Nguyen said she had received great feedback by people wanting the $6 treat.

“I think people are connecting with the fact that it’s something supporting tradies,” Ms Nguyen said.

“They see it as a way that’s great for their Ekka trip but also means something more than just buying an ice cream.”

By the end of Sunday it was expected the funds raised would have supported 3800 hours of disease research.

“It would be great to also acknowledge we had about 1750 volunteers out on site, so that’s an incredible amount of volunteers and that equals nearly 8000 hours of volunteering that was contributed to making the sundae stalls run,” Ms Nguyen said.

This year about 7.2 tonnes of strawberries were used – the most organisers have used in the past decade.

Along with increased attendance and record food sales, Ekka organisers said they would continue to support Queenslanders by considering the cost-of-living crisis when pricing the show in the future.

“Two-for-one rides, it’s a great idea and I think we should keep doing that, we are always trying to make sure the Ekka is affordable and we have done that by discounting our tickets and our rides and doing two-for-one on food today,” Mr Thomas said.

BY THE NUMBERS

Ekka attendance: 400,000 over 10 days

Strawberry sundaes sold: 136,000, expected to jump to 150,000

Dagwood dog record: 20 eaten in 4min 51sec