Event Wrap Up: Ekka attracts 400,000 for the third year!

After kicking off with a visit from Australian of the Year and Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush, the 2012 Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) will close tonight with a performance by multi award-winning rockers Eskimo Joe.

For the third year in a row, 400,000 people have made their way to the Ekka since opening day to visit 10,000 animals and experience this unique once a year city / country get together.

RNA Chief Executive Brendan Christou said the association was thrilled with the response from the community who came out en masse to celebrate all that is great about their state.

“We had the perfect forecast for the full 10 days of show and we can’t thank the public enough for their support,” he
said.

“This really is the people’s show, they came out in droves to support it and we’re humbled to stage it on their behalf.”

Mr Christou said the RNA was honoured to host the Australian of the Year Geoffrey Rush and Young Australian of the Year Marita Cheng on opening day, Brisbane born twins Jessica and Lisa Origliasso from The Veronicas plus world-class performances by the Ten Tenors and Eskimo Joe who take to the stage tonight.

For the first time in Ekka history, families and visitors to this year’s show were able to purchase the one ticket which gave them entry, food and rides.

Mr Christou said ticket pre-sales tripled this year compared to the 2011 Ekka.

“This shows that Ekka fans responded to the great value ticket bundles on offer this year, including one package which saved 50 per cent off food and 30 per cent off entry,” he said.

Ekka 2012 visitors were also the first to walk through the newly transformed Royal International Convention Centre (formerly the Industrial Pavilion) which was home to The Royal Queensland Dog Show proudly sponsored by Advance, the Brisbane Markets Agricultural Hall and Horticultural Exhibits.

The ever-popular night time program, including a fireworks display twice in length, plus Eskimo Joe’s only Queensland show will farewell Ekka 2012 tonight.

Planning is already underway for the 136th Ekka as Queenslanders restart the countdown. Ekka 2013 will run from August 8 – 17.

BY THE NUMBERS – Ekka 2012 Fun Facts*
* 89 lambs born in the Little Miracles Newborn Corner including 12 sets of twins and 1 set of triplets. More are still on their way!
* 90+ chickens hatched
* 130,000 + people visited the RACQ Insurance Animal Nursery
* 100,000 + Ekka Strawberry Sundaes sold
* 20,000 + Coon Cheese toasties sold