Alternatives to the Brisbane Ekka
Browns Plains Family Fun Carnival
The Browns Plains Family Carnival is a great Ekka alternative for the local community! Visitors will enjoy a great selection of rides, show bags, carnival games and food/drinks.
Entertainment includes daily circus shows, plus monster trucks and fireworks on designated nights.
$2 entry per person
11-20 August, Waller Park
Waller Road, Browns Plains
Forest Lake Community Festival
The 3rd Annual Forest Lake Community Festival will feature rides, show bags, farm animals, reptile display, food vendors and market stalls.
Visitors will enjoy local entertainment, including live music, roving and stage performances. The evening will culminate with a laser light show and fireworks display.
Free entry
26 August, 2-8pm, The Lake Parklands
(Forest Lake Boulevard, Forest Lake)
All the fun of the fair with amusement rides, games, showbags and food/drink vendors. Planned entertainment includes dinosaurs, duck racing, circus and fireworks.
Free entry, cost applies to activities
11-19 August, Mt Gravatt Showgrounds
1644 Logan Road, Mount Gravatt
Treat the family to a great day out at the Redbank Fun Fair. Enjoy amusement rides, games, food vendors, show bags, entertainment and fireworks.
Free entry, cost applies to activities
10-13 and 16-20 August
235 Smiths Road, Redbank Plains
Caboolture Family Fun Day is the perfect cost-effective alternative to the EKKA!
Enjoy FREE RIDES, face painting, children's activities and entertainment!
You'll only need to open your wallet for buying food/drinks, showbags or bargains from the onsite markets.
Free entry
14 August, 10am-4pm, Centenary Lakes
Corner of Elliot Street and Morayfield Road, Caboolture
St Stephen's Family Fun Day
Join in the 20th year celebrations with St Stephen's and the wider community. Event highlights include amusement rides, carnival games (gold coin donation only), pony rides, animal farm, reptile encounters and a circus workshop. There will also be an array of market stalls, a children's art gallery, food/drink vendors and performances.
Free entry
27 August, 10am-2pm, St Stephen's Algester
156 Ridgewood Road, Algester
Expect a laid-back event with all the fun of the fair. Children can enjoy an inflatable slide, jumping castle, Sideshow Alley, show bags and carnival food/drinks.
Bring a picnic blanket and relax with craft beers on tap, Low 'n' Slow BBQ and family-friendly barefoot lawn bowls.
Free entry
16 August, 10am-5pm, Wellers Hill Bowls Club
34 Esher St, Tarragindi
2023 Fete & Festival of the Arts
Support budding artists by visiting the St Hilda's Foundation Art Show with five exciting categories. The event will also offer carnival rides, market stalls, pig racing and amazing food/drink vendors. Make sure to stick around for live entertainment and a fireworks display.
Free entry, pre purchase ride armbands for $40 or $50 at the event
19 August, 12-7pm, St Hilda's School
52 High Street, Southport
This event proudly showcases exhibits from the local agricultural, horticultural and arts community. There will also be amusement rides, carnival food/drinks, animal nursery, pig racing and a reptile demonstration.
Entertainment options include a circus show (featuring the impressive Wheel of Steel and Globe acts), live music and a fireworks display.
Ticketed event
26 August, 8:30am-9pm, Canungra Sports and Recreation Ground
Coburg Road, Canungra
The Nerang Family Funanza features free children's rides, plus an assortment of food/drink vendors, community stalls, live music and entertainment.
Free entry
26 August, 10am-2pm, Country Paradise Parklands
Beaudesert-Nerang Road, Nerang
Technicolour Multicultural Festival
Celebrate diversity and inclusivity at the Technicolour Multicultural Festival. With children’s rides and activities, market stalls, international cuisines and cultural performances, there’s something for everyone!
Free entry, unlimited ride passes for $5 each.
26 August, 9am-4pm, DiverCiti Centre
23 Foster Street, Newmarket
Mini Carnivals / Family Fun Days
Head to VEND Virginia for some great family activities. This includes a jumping castle, free face painting, children's games, colouring in competition and showbags for sale.
Don't forget to visit both the indoor and outdoor market stalls, plus food/drink vendors.
Free entry
12 August, 8am-2pm, VEND Virginia
1768 Sandgate Road, Virginia
A Family Fun Day pass entitles the bearer to one ride on the Funland dodgems, one game of Funland mini golf, a fairy floss and a Bertie Beetle showbag.
$10 per person, bookings must be made online.
16 August, 10am-2pm, Calamvale Central Shopping Centre
662 Compton Road, Calamvale
This event will host a variety of rides, mobile animal farm, face painting, roving and stage performances, competitions and market stalls.
$15 pass includes all amusements and activities, except for the Chocolate Toss.
19 August, 11am-3pm, King's Christian College Pimpama
198 Pimpama Jacobs Well Road, Pimpama
Enjoy a day jam-packed with activities and amusements for children 1-7 years of age. Entry will include access to sensory play stations, mini fitness classes, scavenger hunt, wacky races and a magic show.
Additional surcharges apply for face painting, petting farm, jumping castle, crafts and food/drinks.
Ticketed event
20 August, 10am-3pm, Lawnton Kindergarten
Todds Road, Lawnton
Children can meet Poppy and Branch from the film "Trolls," navigate ride-on plush animals and enjoy beading workshops, live stage shows and glitter face art/tattoos. There will also be various market stalls and food/drink vendors.
Free entry, bookings not required
26 August, 10am-3pm, Coorparoo Square
300 Old Cleveland Road, Coorparoo
Children will enjoy 2 stage shows (10am and 12:30pm) plus face painting, photo booth, balloon artistry, snow cones and fairy floss.
Free event
29 August, 10am-2pm, Redbank Plaza
1 Collingwood Drive, Redbank
Show Season Continues into September!
Gold Coast Show
If you miss out on attending the Brisbane Ekka, the beloved Gold Coast Show will be held two weeks later. This event is also jam-packed with amusements and entertainment.
Visitors can expect a great assortment of rides, games and showbags, plus the exhibition favourites - animal farm, woodchopping, produce and agriculture. The evenings will feature live entertainment, including a fireworks display.
Free entry
1-3 September, 9am-7pm, Broadwater Parklands
Marine Parade, Southport
The Beaudesert Show returns for its 126th year, bringing together old favourites and modern attractions. Families will enjoy rides, farm animals, food/drink vendors, wood chopping competitions and more.
Entertainment includes circus performances, FMX riders, demolition derby and fireworks.
Ticketed event
8-9 September, Beaudesert Showgrounds
43 Albert Street, Beaudesert
Enjoy rides, carnival games, bull riding competitions, fireworks and more (details not yet released).
Ticketed event
23 September, 9am-9pm, Beenleigh Showgrounds
19 Showgrounds Drive, Beenleigh