Rides, show bags, dagwood dogs: Everything you need to know about 2021 Gold Coast Show
From new rides, to show bags, to dagwood dogs, here’s everything you need to know about this year’s Gold Coast Show.
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THE country’s only major show to escape the clutches of Covid lockdowns is coming to the Glitter Strip.
In what will be a major drawcard for Queensland tourists and a welcome boost for businesses, the 2021 Gold Coast Show will go ahead at the Broadwater Parklands Southport from Friday, August 27 to August 29.
Here’s your ultimate guide to everything you need to know about the show.
GOLD COAST SHOW 2021: MOST POPULAR SHOWBAGS
ENTERTAINMENT
– Opening Ceremony 11am Friday
– Showgrounds open from 9am to 9pm each day
– Free family fireworks from 6.45pm Friday and Saturday night
– James Blundell concert from 5.45pm to 6.45pm Friday
– Show bags, rides and sideshow alley
– Equestrian (show jumping ring from 8am)
– Show dogs (judging starts from 9am Saturday)
– Wood chop (competition starts from 9am Saturday)
– Animal nursery
– Pony rides
– Humphry B Bear Show from 11am until noon Sunday
– Meet Scrap Boy and Dirt Girl Show from 9.30am to 10.30am Saturday
– Farmers market from 9am to 2pm Friday
– Show bars and show food
– Roving entertainment
– Show train
FOOD
– All your favourites available including dagwood dogs, strawberry sundaes and fairy floss
– The show bars will be open from 10am to 9pm Friday/Saturday and 10am to 7pm Sunday
– Farmers market from 9am to 2pm Friday
– Meet our Beekeepers and Taste the Honey 9am to 5pm Friday/Saturday and 9am to 4pm Sunday
– Daffodil Day Breakfast from 8am to 9.30am Friday
NEW ATTRACTIONS
– Farmland pony rides and animal nursery each day from 9am to 4pm
TICKETS
– Free entry for all ages
GETTING THERE
Light rail: Use the TransLink Journey Planner to find out which scheduled bus, train or tram services travel to and from the Broadwater Parklands.
Light rail services are available on each show day (9am to 9pm) at regular G:Link travel costs. The best light rail stop to disembark for the Show is Broadwater Parklands.
Parkwood Light Rail Station is a designated park n ride location for the light rail service. Parking is free-of-charge with standard G:link travel costs applicable. For more details on public transport options, visit the TransLink website.
Parking: Available at Carey Car Park, accessed via Marine Parade, Southport. The rate is $10 per vehicle per visit – cash payment preferred. Accessible parking is also available at no charge to users.
Parking is also available at Australia Fair, as per standard car park rates.
Taxi/Uber: The pick up and drop off zone is located on the Gold Coast Highway between Marine Parade and Ada bell Way.
10 rides you must try at the Gold Coast Show
AUSTRALIA’S newest thrill ride will return to the Glitter Strip for its second appearance at the Gold Coast Show.
Show organisers have revealed the biggest rip-roaring rides coming to the Broadwater Parklands at Southport for three days starting this Friday.
A 40m-high thrill ride will light up the Coast as one of the top attractions at this year’s show.
The Beast is a pendulum ride that swings riders almost 40 metres high and 47 metres wide and has been billed as “the largest transportable ride to ever come to Australia”.
But if that’s not your jam, thrillseekers can take their pick from plenty more hair-raising rides including the Speed and Freak Out.
Those looking for some tamer options will be not be short of entertainment with the Waltzer, Cyber Party and the Whizzer.
Families can look forward to classic rides for all ages including the ferris wheel, dodgem cars, sea circus and a giant slide.
Teen performer’s incredible journey
MUSIC can be a powerful thing capable of inspiring, uplifting and healing.
No one knows this better than Gold Coast teen Mikky Whalan.
Mikky lives with autism, low vision and a rare overgrowth disorder, making everyday communication a struggle.
But as soon as the 15 year old has a microphone in his hand, he can belt out a tune as good as any professional singer.
With his dad Bruce Whalan, he started the band “Mikky and the Other Guy” and they have been performing together for almost 10 years.
Mikky and the Other Guy is just one of the many bands playing the main stage at this year’s Gold Coast Show.
Mr Whalan said he first noticed his son’s musical ability at age three.
“I was mucking around on the computer at home doing a bit of singing, and I noticed he had a bit of a voice,” he said.
“He couldn’t really talk but he could sing the word hallelujah and he was singing it in tune.
“He started singing with me when he was about six and then I started teaching him guitar at 10.”
The duo have previously performed at the Nerang Celebrates Christmas event.
They scored a spot on the Gold Coast Show main stage line-up after the Triple M Gold Coast team put a call out to local musos encouraging them to register for a chance to take part.
Triple M’s Sean ‘Flan’ Flanagan and his band Sugar Game will play at the Triple M Live and Loud Entertainment Stage at 4.45pm Friday.
BB Factory, Sam Mooney Band and Runes Band will also play.
The Gold Coast Show will be held at the Broadwater Parklands Southport from Friday, August 27 to August 29.
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