Ekka 2025 – A Day Full of Fun, Surprises, and Memorable Moments

Today was one of those days that I’ll remember for a long time. My support worker, Rhyley, picked me up right on time at 9 am. On the way to the Ekka, we chatted about all the things I was most excited to see—from the animals to the showbags, the Seven Pavilion, and of course, the evening show and fireworks.

Morning at the Ekka

We arrived around 10 am and entered through Gate 4. The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement, the smell of food in the air, and colourful displays all around. Our first stop was to see the cows and horses in their stables—there’s something so calming about being around the animals.

Not long after, Rhyley’s stomach started rumbling, so we stopped for food. He grabbed a burger, while I treated myself to some hot chips. Fuelled up, we wandered around checking out all the agricultural exhibits and managed to score plenty of freebies along the way.

Exploring the Seven Pavilion

We headed upstairs to the Seven Pavilion, which had a lively stage with different acts performing throughout the day. I loved looking at the displays of baking, photography, and artwork—some of the talent on show was incredible. There were also games where you could win prizes, so we had a go and scored a little reward.

We visited the Seven News Pavilion, where we explored their Sunrise set, posed for photos, and even tried the football target game—another little prize won! From there, we checked out all the Queensland-themed exhibits: education, police, nurses, infrastructure, and more. We had fun collecting stickers and plenty of handouts before continuing our wander through the shops and rides.

Meeting Firefighters and Enjoying Sweet Treats

One of the highlights was visiting the Fireman’s Calendar stall. I bought a calendar, and three of the firefighters signed it for me! They were so friendly. I celebrated with a coffee and a pistachio doughnut, which was delicious.

At 1 pm, we lined up to meet the Seven News team. I met Katrina Blowers and Max Futcher—they were both so lovely. After a little wander, we came back at 2 pm to meet Tony Auden and Marlena Whop. They signed cards for me, wrote personalised messages, and we had a great chat. I even told Marlena how much I enjoy her political reporting. The best moment? Katrina smiled and said, “Nice to see you again—we follow each other on Instagram, but you’ll have to remind me of your name.” That absolutely made my day.

Showbags, Rest, and Unexpected Encounters

We browsed the showbags next, picking up a few for my family and some for Rhyley’s family as well. Feeling like we needed a break, we found a cosy coffee spot in the Ekka, where I enjoyed a coffee and a scone while we relaxed.

Later, we spent two hours watching 4BC’s Gary Hardgrave live broadcast. While there, I had two surprise encounters—first, I met Farmer Dave (from Big Brother), who was hosting the Ekka Nights. He kindly took a photo with me. Then, Pauline Hanson walked by, and I grabbed a selfie with her too!

Food, The Main Arena Show, and Fireworks

We made our way to the Woolworths Pavilion, where I had gnocchi with bolognese sauce, and Rhyley had a toasted sandwich. After another wander, we tried to get seats at the main oval for the evening show, but it was packed. We ended up standing until, luckily, a seat became available just before the fireworks.

From 6:15 pm to 8 pm, the entertainment was non-stop—monster trucks, horse riding, motorbike stunts, live music from the Smashing Bumpkins, and an amazing energy in the air. The fireworks finale was breathtaking, lighting up the sky and wrapping up an incredible day.

Heading Home

After the fireworks, we strolled around a bit more, grabbed one last coffee, and then decided it was time to call it a night. We walked back to the car, and Rhyley drove me home, both of us tired but happy after a huge day.

Final Thoughts:
Ekka 2025 was everything I hoped for and more—fun, laughter, memorable meetings, delicious food, and a spectacular finale. Sharing it with Rhyley made it even better, and I’m already looking forward to next year!