The spirit of the Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) was kept alive this year with a re-imagined version bringing a taste of some of Ekka’s unique traditions, following the cancellation of Queensland’s largest event due to COVID-19.
Ekka 2020 Online presented by RACQ offered a 10-day program showcasing the Ekka’s farmers, competitions, traditions, animals, food, entertainment and agricultural education in an exciting and interactive format.
The public was also given a taste of the iconic Ekka Strawberry Sundaes and Dagwood Dogs with a special drive thru at the Brisbane Showgrounds and several pop-up sites across the city.
RNA Chief Executive Brendan Christou said while the show couldn’t go on in its normal format, Ekka 2020 Online was about paying tribute and homage to an event that had united more than 32 million Queenslanders from the country to the city since 1876.
“It brought people together online to interact, educate, engage and share memories in a year that will go down in history,’’ he said.
“Only twice before in the Ekka’s 144-year history has the show been cancelled – in 1919 due to Spanish Influenza and in 1942 – due to World War 2.
“When we announced the cancellation of the show, we wanted to ensure people could still get a taste of the show not just through online engagement but also ensuring our iconic strawberry sundaes were available.”
Queenslanders embraced the Ekka spirit with more than 175,000 people visiting ekkaonline.com to view the 10 unique channels, plus an XP Esports league city versus country Young Farmers Challenge, which brought interactive content to life.
From a virtual baby animal nursery streamed daily to fireworks to meeting farmers to learning top tricks from some of Ekka’s most successful exhibitors, it offered a smorgasbord of show staples.
Meanwhile more than 53,000 sundaes and 31,000 Dagwood Dogs were consumed at the Brisbane Showgrounds over the 10 days, along with 1,300 tasting plates of award-winning beef and lamb from the Ekka and Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show competitions. To view the Ekka TV episode on the show’s popular drive thru please click here.
Ekka 2020 Online also featured several competitions that had been modified due to COVID-19, offering insight into how competitors achieved the best of the best. More than 3,300 competition entries were received across eight sections.
To view a wrap up of Ekka 2020 Online, please watch the Ekka TV ‘Thank you Queensland’ episode by clicking here.