Ekka

The Ekka is the annual agricultural show of Queensland, Australia, first being held in 1876. Its formal title is the Royal Queensland Show, and it is held at the Brisbane Showgrounds. It was originally called the Brisbane Exhibition, but it is more commonly known as the Ekka, short for exhibition. It is run by The Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland (RNA). The Ekka is Queensland's largest annual event, which welcomes an average of 400,000 visitors each August. The show welcomes 21,000 competition entries, 10,000 animals, and family entertainment, including a night program. The Ekka features a sideshow alley, showbag pavilion, and nightly fireworks displays. The significance of the first exhibition held in 1876 was described by locals as the most important event since the separation of Queensland from New South Wales in 1859. In 2009 as part of the Q150 celebrations, the Ekka was announced as one of the Q150 Icons of Queensland for its role as an "event and festival".