It’s been another huge day at the RNA Showgrounds for me, taking in as much of the Ekka as I possibly can.
Today’s trip was all about soaking up all the wonder of sideshow alley and the family fun of the Outdoor Children’s Carnival by day.
If I told you about all of the rides and experiences I took in today, this blog would be fifteen pages long. So what I will do is tell you about my four favourites – you will just have to come along and experience it all for yourself, and I can tell you, you won’t regret it!
I don’t know about you, but I think there is nothing more thrilling than a ghost ride, so naturally, I had to check out the Spook Castle in Sideshow Alley. It is Australia’s biggest ghost train which was developed by The Events Company owner Trent Woodall and built in Italy across six months before being shipped Down Under ready to deliver suspense, thrills and screams to show-goers across the country.
I gathered up all of my courage (and my camera gear) and ventured aboard, and I can tell you, for lovers of frights and thrills, this ride delivers – and it is just one of a list of exciting rides on offer in Sideshow Alley this year.
The Woodall family are also the ones behind the iconic Sky Wheel, with Trent’s great-grandfather responsible for putting up the original version nearly 90 years ago.
Today’s incarnation of the much-loved ferris wheel stands at 28 metres tall and features 20 carriages, all providing a perfect vantage point for taking in the sights of Sideshow Alley.
After checking out the sights of the surrounding festivities from the lofty heights of the Sky Wheel, it was time for some more thrills with ‘The Hangover’. This crazy experience suspends you upside down to see all the blood rush to your head, before swooping you down at startling speed to do it all over again!
The Children’s Outdoor Carnival area is another must-see corner of the Showgrounds to visit as part of your Ekka trip. Located on the other side of the Main Arena, the area is absolutely packed with rides and activities which are very successful in evoking wide-eyed reactions from the little ones.
As a kid at heart, my favourite by far was the ‘Magic Circus Fun Factory’.
They tell me that this is the biggest and most beautiful fun factory in Australia, and I have hard time arguing with them on either of those points – my camera certainly loved it.
It stands more than 16 meters tall, boasts more than 10,000 dazzling lights, and three levels of obstacles and entertainment. If you are anything like me, you won’t ever want to leave!
After such fun and frivolity taking in all the rides, I was excited to sit back and watch the late afternoon and evening action unfold in the Main Arena ring-side with EkkaNITES – but that is a story for another day!
