Rides, fireworks and festivities in full swing for a Covid-safe Ekka

Unsure about tickets? Curious if your favourite rides will be on? Everything you need to know about the Ekka 2021 is right here.

Will all my favourite rides still be there?

Absolutely. In fact, this year’s show will feature not one but two amazing sideshow alleys. Our traditional kid’s carnival area has been expanded and will now feature extreme and adrenaline rides as well, plus it will be 20 per cent bigger. So, there are now two amazing sideshows for people to enjoy.

Is sideshow alley still going to operate the same as before?

Yes. The Ekka’s adrenaline-charged carnival precincts – Sideshow Alley and Kids Carnival – will once again be packed with amusement rides and games.

A crowd is seen at Sideshow alley during the Ekka in 2019. Picture: AAP Image/Jono Searle

Will there be capped numbers on how many people can enter?

Yes, as part of the Covid-safe measures the Ekka will run at limited numbers with 45,000 tickets available for sale each day. This is to ensure indoor restrictions of one person to every two square metres are met. There are no restrictions for outdoor areas. This capped daily number may vary closer to show depending on restrictions in place at the time.

Where can I get a ticket?

Visit ekka.com.au to purchase your tickets for Ekka. For early access and great discounts sign up to the Ekka emails and save!

How will the ticketing system change from previous years?

For contact tracing purposes, the public must nominate the day they wish to come to the show, buy tickets online and disclose contact details. There will be no gate sales. With limited tickets available and to avoid missing out, the public are urged to go to ekka.com.au sign up and enjoy discounted pricing now.

What personal information will I need to provide for contact tracing and how?

When purchasing your Ekka ticket online at ekka.com.au you will be required to fill in the following details for all ticket holders including children: full name, phone/mobile, email or residential address.

Josiah Howe and Wilder Howe posing at the RNA showgrounds with a dagwood dog and Ekka Strawberry Sundae. Picture: Josh Woning

Are all the same events going to be held or will it be scaled back?

At this year’s comeback Ekka all the unique show traditions the public know and love such as competitions, animals, food, fashion parades, strawberry sundaes, sideshow alley, kids’ carnival, showbags and entertainment will be on offer once again. This year’s Ekka will open on a weekend in a new nine-day format running from Saturday August 7 to Sunday August 15.

Will there still be night-time entertainment?

The Main Arena will come alive each night of show with the spectacular EkkaNITES powered by MG. This year’s theme is ‘it’s time to celebrate.’ After a challenging 2020, the people of Queensland will enjoy coming back together again to celebrate our great state and enjoy an action-packed program of entertainment including the famous Ekka fireworks spectacular.

Will there be fireworks?

For sure, the MG Fireworks Spectacular will light up the Main Arena at 7.50pm each night of show. This year, the fireworks display will feature an Ekka first and an Australian first …you will love it!

The 2020 EKKA Fireworks display pictured from Ascot. Picture: Josh Woning

Will masks be mandatory?

No, face masks will not be mandatory at Ekka, this is line with advice from Queensland Health.

Will my kids still be able to pat the baby animals?

Most definitely. Visit the RACQ Animal Nursery from 9am to 5pm at Expo Place every day of show. Enjoy patting, feeding and taking photos with around 550 cute and cuddly animals including pigs, lambs, goats, chickens, ducklings, working dog puppies, alpacas, llamas, miniature Highland cattle, donkeys and ponies. Also enjoy many other animal adventures at Ekka such as the sheep shearing show, Norco Milking Barn experience and cradle-a-chick presented by Australian Eggs.

EKKA: Mia Plucknett has attended the Ekka every year since she was 3. Pictured with 'Jazz'. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

How is the Ekka making it Covid-safe?

To keep you safe at the show a series of Covid-safe measures will be introduced. The following measures comply with current Queensland Health regulations and requirements for major events.

•Capped daily numbers

•Comprehensive contact tracing

•Physical distancing measures for indoor pavilions

•Real time app monitoring – A camera-based counting system will be in place in major indoor pavilions to ensure the one person to every two square metres requirements are met. The monitoring will be available for the public to view in real time on screens and on an app. This system will advise the public of capacities inside pavilions to assist with customer experience. There are no restrictions in outdoor areas. More than 70 per cent of the Ekka is outdoor, so these restrictions only affect indoor pavilions.

•Roving Covid-safe Marshalls – Marshalls will rove throughout indoor pavilions to assist with physical distancing measures. This is not required in outdoor areas.

•Increased hygiene and cleaning measures – Increased hand sanitisation stations and hand washing facilities will be in place around the showgrounds, together with round the clock cleaning of high touch surfaces.

•Digital ticketing