99 free things to do at the Ekka 2023
Feeding and patting more than 500 adorable farm animals is just one of the many free things that can be done at the Ekka this year. See the full list.
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Feeding and patting more than 500 adorable farm animals is just one of the many free things that can be done at the Ekka this year. The Courier Mail has compiled an ultimate list of 99 free things that can be done at the Ekka.
1. Watch the Bertie Beetle themed baked goods being judged in
the Cookery Competition.
Where: Channel 7 Pavilion
2. Find out what it takes to be a farmer at the Australian Young Farmer
Challenge delivered by Domino’s.
Where: Main Arena
3. Gain insight into the world of felines at the Cat Breed Showcase.
Where: Sushi Hub Cat Precinct
4. Sing, play and dance with JJ from CoComelon.
Where: Main Stage
5. See what prize-winning fish made a splash in the Pisciculture Competition.
Where: Ag Education Hall
6. Witness the close working relationship between the entrants in the
Sheep Dog Trials and their furry best friends.
Where: Main Arena
7. Let the Woodchop and Sawing Competition hack onto your must
visit list while at the Ekka.
Where: Woodchop Arena presented by AAM
8. Watch two of Australia’s best magicians go head-to-head in a magic
showdown.
Where: Main Stage
9. A sweet addition to your Ekka itinerary is checking out the Apiculture
Competition entries.
Where: Ag Education Hall
10. Feed and pat more than 500 adorable farm animals in the RACQ
Animal Nursery.
Where: Expo Place
11. Leap off your seat watching horses compete in the Showjumping
Competition.
Where: Main Arena
12. Watch the sheep sheering demonstrations.
Where: Sushi Hub Cat Precinct
13. Watch the hypnotist show by Shane St James.
Where: Main Stage
14. Join Farmer Dave and The RuffTrack Kids in the ultimate dog high
jump competition.
Where: Show Ring
15. Watch the Farmyard Friends dance in a street parade three
times a day at Ekka.
Where: Gregory Terrace
16. Cradle a chick at the Animal Pavilion.
Where: Large Animal Pavilion (ground floor)
17. Watch men and women take on the Australian Strongman Alliance competition.
Where: XXXX Stockmen’ s Bar and Grill
18. Watch up to 20 utes compete in the Beaut Ute Display & Parade.
Where: Main Arena
19. Entertain yourself at Karaoke with Live Band and Host David Eastgate.
Where: XXXX Stockmen’ s Bar and Grill
20. Get in the running to win a price by helping Milo find his lost sheep.
21.Entertain yourself ay dairy farm at Norco Grass to Glass.
Where: Large Animal Pavilion (ground floor)
22. Watch the PAW Patrol mission.
Where: Main Stage
23. Watch community dance groups get together at the show and perform.
Where: Main Stage
24. Watch as kids and adults put on an energetic clogging show.
Where: XXXX Stockmen’ s Bar and Grill
25. A bearded men will take on a floral facial fuzz transformation in the Flower Beard Competition.
Where: Flower and Garden Precinct
26. Watch the Fireworks Spectacular display.
Where: Main Arena
27. See the beef cattle at the animal pavilion.
Where: Main Arena and Large Animal Pavilion
28. Watch pythons at the Venomous Snake and Reptile Show.
Where: King Street
29. See more than 500 of the Ekka’s best animals in the iconic Grand Parade.
Where: Main Arena
30. Make a flower crown.
Where: Flower and Garden Precinct
31. See vintage showbags at the Heritage Display.
Where: Channel 7 Pavilion
32. Learn how to lasso with an Aussie expert.
Where: XXXX Stockmen’ s Bar & Grill
33. Compare your winter woollies to the prize-winning wool and alpaca fleece on display.
Where: Ag Education Hall
34. Be educated on the natural materials used to create garments at the ‘Nature’s Gifts’ Natural Fibres Fashion Parades.
Where: Main Stage
35. See metal being shaped into horseshoes over hot flames at the Farriers and Blacksmiths Competition.
Where: Stockman’ s Rest
36. Join in the speed dating fun at Singles Mingle Monday.
Where: XXXX Stockmen’ s Bar and Grill
37. Snap a photo under the neon Ekka Love sign.
Where: Gourmet Plaza
38. Plant seeds, harvest veggies and collect eggs at Little Backyard Farmers.
Where: Flower and Garden Precinct
39. See the cream of the crop showcased in the Dairy Cattle Competition.
Where: Main Arena and Large Animal Pavilion
40. See the canines being judged.
Where: Sushi Hub Canine Precinct
41. Get involved with a Line Dancing Hoedown.
Where: XXXX Stockmen’ s Bar and Grill
42. Milk a cow by hand at the Norco Milking Barn.
Where: Large Animal Pavilion (ground floor)
43. Be dazzled as the Queensland Country Life Showgirl Awards are presented.
Where: Main Stage
44. Meet some well-known retired racehorses and see what they’re still capable of at the Horsing Around Show presented by Racing
Queensland.
Where: Show Ring
45. Grab your passport booklet and follow the Ekka Learning Trail for an
ag-ucational experience.
Where: Around grounds
46. Vote for your favourite quilt to win the Viewer’s Choice Award in the
Quilts Across Queensland Competition.
Where: Channel 7 Pavilion
47. See the exquisite birds in the Poultry, Pigeons, Birds and Eggs Competition.
Where: Large Animal Pavilion (ground floor)
48. See which scarecrows were outstanding in their field in the School Scarecrow Competition presented by Brunnings.
Where: Flower and Garden Precinct
49. Watch as 20 large bison, usually only seen on TV screens, make a spectacular entrance to the night show.
Where: Main Arena
50. Watch the Dagwood Dog Eating Competition.
Where: XXXX Stockmen’ s Bar and Grill
51. Meet Spuddy and Scoot in a musical early-learning show encouraging healthy eating and mindful habits.
Where: Ekka Education Stage presented by Podsquad
52. Watch the search for Queensland’s next country music star at the Country Music Showdown.
Where: XXXX Stockmen’ s Bar and Grill
53. Check out the entries in the School Garden Competition.
Where: Flower and Garden Precinct
54. Watch the Opening Ceremony.
Where: Main Arena
55. Learn how to eat and taste test.
Where: Woolworths Fresh Food Pavilion
56. Join the Podsquad mascots to learn about nutrition, how to become more physically active, and improve sleep habits.
Where: Ekka Education Stage.
57. Watch circus performers balance atop rotating steel pendulums standing three storeys tall.
Where: Main Arena
58. Experience the excitement of the Led Steer Auction.
Where: Main Arena
59. See some cracking routines at the 2023 AWPA Australian Whipcracking Championships.
Where: Woodchop Arena.
60. Watch as Super MotoX riders launch motorcycles an incredible 15 metres into the air.
Where: Main Arena
61. See the Horse Competition judging at the main arena.
62. Listen to the many musical styles of the Band of Blue (Queensland Police Service) including rock, jazz and blues.
Where: Multicultural Plaza Music Stage
63. Snap a selfie with Ekka’s very own Farmyard Friends.
Where: Gregory Terrace
64. Listen to passionate poets belt out bush ballads in the Bush Poetry Competition.
Where: Stockman’ s Rest
65. Be drawn to the Painting and Drawing Competition display.
Where: Channel 7 Pavilion
66. Learn what types of flowers to plant in your garden to attract bees by
visiting the Sensory Garden.
Where: Flower and Garden Precinct
67. Move in tune with Music on the Move.
Where: Gregory Terrace
68. See Ekka’s most stylish men and women compete in the Fashions on the Field Competition.
Where: Main Arena
69. Play a round of the oh-so-fabulous Drag Queen Bingo.
Where: XXXX Stockmen’ s Bar and Grill
70. See produce of all shapes and sizes on display in the Youth in Agriculture Competition.
Where: Ag Education Hall
71. Sample some of Queensland’s delicious produce in the Queensland Government Precinct, with their display ‘where does our food and fibre come from?’
Where: Channel 7 Pavilion
72. Get all the buzz on how bees support our food security from the Queensland Beekeepers Association.
Where: Ekka Education Stage
73. Get some birthday cake inspiration by checking out the Cake Decorating Competition entries.
Where: Channel 7 Pavilion
74. Watch the Queensland Armwrestling Federation Championships.
Where: XXXX Stockmen’ s Bar and Grill
75. Watch Ekka’s Stand-up Comedy Gala.
Where: XXXX Stockmen’ s Bar and Grill
76. Take part in the age old battle between two Australian icons - Ford
and Holden – during the V8 Ute Challenge presented by the Trackskill
Movie Stunt Drivers.
Where: Main Arena
77. See wearable jewellery creations, comics, murals and more by
Queensland students at the Education on Show display.
Where: Channel 7 Pavilion
78. Learn about the different products made from sugarcane at ‘Sugarcane - one plant, many products’.
Where: Ag Education Hall
79. Focus on the visually stunning Photography Competition entries.
Where: Channel 7 Pavilion
80. Take an immersive tour of Australian beef and lamb production through the Australian Good Meat Paddock to Plate virtual reality experience.
Where: Ag Education Hall
81. Find out who will be crowned the Chariot King in the Chariot Motorbike Racing.
Where: Main Arena
82. Look at the masterpieces entered in the Sculpture Competition.
Where: Channel 7 Pavilion
83. Snap a family photo in front of the two metre high EKKA letters.
Where: Gourmet Plaza
84. See aspiring designers showcase their latest creations in the Natural Fibres Make & Model and Wearable Art Competition.
Where: Main Stage
85. Go to the large Animal Pavilion to see the Sheep Competition.
86. Learn some tips for the kitchen at the Royal Queensland CookingStage.
Where: Woolworths Fresh Food Pavilion
87. Cheer on your favourite horse and driver in the nightly harness racing.
Where: Main Arena
88. Look at the eye-catching Horticultural Competition displays.
Where: Flower and Garden Precinct
89. Have a yarn to the talented Queensland spinners, weavers and fibre
artists.
Where: Ag Education Hall
90. See the highest streamed First Nations pop artist in the world, Isaiah
Firebrace, take to the stage.
Where: Multicultural Plaza Music Stage
91. Say hi to your favourite EkkaNITES at Meet the Stars Under the Stars.
Where: Main Arena
92. Breath-in and bleat-out at Goat Yoga.
Where: Stockman’s Rest
93. Get up and dance for the chance to win a Coca-Cola Family prize
pack in EkkaNITES.
Where: Main Arena
94. See jersey dairy cows parade with their beautiful flower crowns to
celebrate Ekka.
Where: Stockman’ s Rest
95. Have a go at finding Rustle the Tree who will be hiding in the Flower
and Garden Precinct.
96. Learn about the amazing science behind agriculture at the Ekka
Street Science Show/
Where: Ekka Education Stage presented by Podsquad
97. Meet fruit and vegetable growers and take part in ‘did you know’ trivia at the Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers stand.
Where: Ag Education Hall
98. Learn about water with Urban Utilities by playing Top Drop - a fourhole mini-golf course.
Where: Ag Education Hall
99. Cheer on local florists as they’re given one hour to construct a display in the Floristry Competition’s Mystery Box Challenge.
Where: Flower and Garden Precinct
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