The 'Ekka'

Today is a public holiday for Queensland’s ‘Ekka’ festival. Its official name is the Royal Queensland Show, though like many Australian words was shortened to ‘Ekka’ from its original title, the ‘Queensland Intercolonial Exhibition’, which dated back to 1876.

It’s principally an agricultural show and was, and to some extent remains, an opportunity to demonstrate new technologies and inventions. Lasting a week and held on Brisbane’s showgrounds, it’s the annual chance for many Queenslanders to visit the ‘big smoke’, many of whom will travel distances over 2,000km to get here (and that’s just within the state).

I went along last night and it was quite an experience (and good fun). It was full of people donning cowboy hats, sheepskin jackets and leather boots. Entertainment included rodeo, wood chopping, monster truck driving, various agricultural prize shows, and a laser and fireworks show sponsored by the Dairy Farmers union. Not much more to add really, but thought as it's such an iconic Queensland event I couldn’t not add something on it.