Quickie,

Is the EKKA worth a visit with two little ones?

Cheers

It's one of those things that if you don't go to, you will always wonder. However as far as I'm concerned once is plenty. It's very very busy and it depends on your kids. My girls were 12 and 14 and we weren't impressed but then we don't do transportable fairground rides - look way too flimsy and dangerous. The animals are cute enough. The bags 'tent' is a complete nightmare unless you know exactly what you are going to get in which case, you grab children's hands tight, rush to the stall you want and rush away out of the building as fast as you can.

Saying that, some people love it and go year after year. Personally I'd prefer to poke a stick in my eye

I was going to ask the same thing today. Heard about it for the first time a couple of weeks ago and bought our tickets online but since yesterday, I've heard nothing but Ekka this, Ekka that. If it's not the radio, it's the TV. If it's not the TV, it's the newspapers. Just wondered if all the hype was actually worth it or not.

You hit the nail on the head MP. I've been once and that was plenty.

Pay $20-$50 for a couple of bits of tat and a few chocolate bars in a branded bag? No thanks.

Last year the Health Minister was even warning people to stay away as it's notorious for the spread of heavy duty flu (they made everyone entering use anti bacterial hand stuff to rid the germs because it is so virulent).

If the girls ever want to go, their dad takes them ... one of the joys of being divorced

I'd say go, but don't expect too much from the day. Its worth seeing once but I doubt you would rush back again.

Another vote here for been once and never went again! Seems to be a common theme.

The whole showbags thing is completely lost on me....people going nuts over bags of crap no-one else wants.

The trouble is that the stuff is the same every year. First year we were here I went and got the more expensive showbags - full of trinkets the kids then got for Christmas. They thought they were great tocking fillers, stuff like scooby doo pencil cases. But the following year the stuff was all the same, which kind of took away the point of going!
Compared to some of the shows like the Bath and West or the South of England its tat, which is a shame as they could make a lot more of it, instead of which it ends up being like a secoind ate fairground

Been here coming on 3 years and have had no desire to go as yet...saying that my eldest came and asked if she could go with her pals and i said yes, she then came back next day and said she was not gonna waste her money, she certainly doesn't take after me!!

Suzanne

Gold Coast show is vaguely more preferable. At least the showgrounds themselves are nicer and it's more open. I have to go to that because Tiddler performs there. Show bags are still crap though Never mind, a day off is a day off

For those of us gazing longingly, but not actually there yet, what is it?

Ekka is short for exhibition. I guess it started as largely an agricultural show, and there are a lot of animals on show. But it's also quite commercial too, I remember a lot of car dealerships, companies selling spas etc. Then there is a fairground with rides. And then, the big dark sheds housing the infamous showbags - the locals will be salivating like Pavlov's dogs over these and if there is anything worth buying it will be sold out pretty quick.

Thanks. So is a show bag like a party bag?

Nah it's crap. Pay $20 to get in , then $5 each ride + show bags and other rubbish the kids will want.

Works out to be an expensive day, goto Dream world instead

http://www.ekka.com.au/home/showbags...269&mainID=181

Bewildering!

In short, its a crock.

The Ekka Flu's just starting to catch hold also . . . both of mine off school yesterday, one a genuine casualty, the other just AWOL.

Nothing else to report.