The Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) is the largest and most loved annual event in Queensland, attracting on average 400,000 people to the Brisbane Showgrounds over the 10 days of the show.
The show celebrates agriculture in the region and features competitions for animals from cows to cats and for prize vegetables and traditional skills like wood chopping. There is also a popular fun fair with a Ferris wheel. Visitors can be seen snacking on Dagwood Dogs, a corn dog or buying bags of candies and treats called showbags.
The show began back in 1876, which was a public holiday, and has taken place each year since with the exception of 1919 (Spanish Flu) and 1942 (World War II).
The first ‘Royal’ Show took place in 1921 after the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland was granted the Royal prefix under a warrant from His Majesty King George V.
The name ‘Ekka’ is a shortened version of the Queensland pronunciation of ‘Exhibition’.
The public holiday always takes place on a Wednesday. This is at the request of the RNA who organise the Show Day.