Spend Your EKKA Holiday at The Barracks
The Ekka offers all of the excitement and bright lights that you’d expect when the country meets the city. However after comparing a day out at The Ekka to a relaxing day at The Barracks, you may find yourself reconsidering how you’ll spend your RNA Show Day on the 11th of August.
Getting There
Your day out at The Ekka begins with packing a bag with the day’s necessities and making your way towards your local bus or train station. A short drive away lies The Barracks, with ample undercover parking (free for the first 2 hours) and hardly a line in sight.
The Day Begins
With your wallet in hand, where it will spend a good portion of your day, lining up to get through the Showground gates. Mentally preparing yourself for the mayhem that is the Ekka, running through your days schedule and hoping your carefully selected Showbags aren’t sold out. Meanwhile, at The Barracks you could be sitting down to a cup of coffee and decadent pastry at French Twist.
The Strawberry Sundae
There aren’t many people, young or old, who can get through a day at The Ekka without buying at least one of the infamous Strawberry Sundaes. While Movenpick Ice Cream may not be able to rival on the basis of nostalgia they can definitely compete on taste. Their Strawberry Sorbet combines pureed strawberries with delicate morsels of strawberry flesh to create a creamy textured natural-fruit sorbet with no artificial additives or colours.
Lunch
While the novelty of eating a Dagwood Dog for lunch has a certain amount of appeal it won’t offer you the same satisfaction as a sit-down meal at one of The Barrack’s fine dining options. With The Ekka in mind you may choose a gourmet burger at FAB Fish & Burgers, a wood-fired pizza at Pizzeria 1889 or a mouth watering steak at Hogs Breath Café.
Showbags
The Showbag Pavilion transports you to a world of overpriced novelty toys and treats that could be found in your local Coles supermarket. While The Barracks can’t offer you Bertie Beatles we have created our very own showbag. We are giving away 10 in our next newsletter, valued at over $100 and including an indulgent selection of Bittersweet Chocolates, you definitely won’t find these in your average Showbag. Sign up to The Barracks eNews now for details on how to win a very exclusive The Barracks Showbag.
The Evening’s Entertainment
The smartest move after lugging around oversized soft toys and a few kilograms of candy for the best part of the day is finding a seat in the Community Arena and settling in for cowboys, monster trucks and fireworks. While it’s unlikely there will be a slightly bewildered cowboy wandering around The Barracks, we can promise authentic Australian entertainment. The Palace Barracks Cinemas is currently showing two Australian films, The Waiting City and Animal Kingdom.
Winding Down
On the way home from The Ekka, most people find themselves crammed into some form of public transportation congratulating themselves for making it through the day. Alternatively, after a relaxing day at The Barracks you can head home at your own leisure without having to take a precautionary cold and flu tablet.
E – Expensive
K – Kids kicking and screaming
K – Knowing you can’t evade crowds
A – Avoiding the ill
or the Barracks, hmm decisions decisions
Excellent idea. I live at Paddington and it is only a comfortable stroll to all the outlets that The Barracks provides. I little bit of the Ekka but much more classy, relaxing and cost effective. I also work near by – I love the Barracks anytime of the year.
Barracks food is way more yummy!
Hi
I think that going to the Barracks instead of the ekka is great – you have a variety of movies – not as many people pushing and shoving and with a rewards pass and plenty of food options and discounted parking it is a cheap and great day out
Ekka – frantic, get flu, dirty shoes and substandard strawberries.
Barracks – relax, get good coffee, a movie and great food.
Give me the Barracks every time!
I’m a 15 yo, sophisticated, girl about town who appreciates the finer things in life. Barracks it is for me. Ekka is sooooooo last year!
I’d rather hang out at the Barracks because I’d get my money’s worth….I don’t have to pay an entry fee and nothing is over the top price wise!
I love the Ekka, fairy floss, strawberries, dagwood dogs, but the coffee is better at the Barracks and dad says it is better value too!!
OMG, this sounds divine where the EKKA is just a huge headache that I have to have the privilege of paying for.
I’d much rather spend the day at the Barracks – the food, atmosphere, entertainment and parking all beat the Ekka. Did I mention value for money too?!
I would like to spend a day at The Barracks over the EKKA as I do not like the pushing and shoving to enjoy a day out. The Barracks offers a range of experiences which I enjoy at a relaxed pace, not to mention the dinning is second to none.
I would much rather spend my Ekka Public Holiday at The Barricks than be looking for parking, queing up for toilets and food, bumping into people, standing all day and picking up the latest flu bug. Relaxing,catch up with friends over coffee and lunch, taking in a movie, quietly shopping while parked on site is a much preferred option indeed!
It’s the Barracks over the EKKA as the place to be
I get great facials, watch films, relax, and time for me!
I would much prefer to spend my Ekka holiday at The Barracks enjoying the great atmoshphere, fabulous food, shops & cinema right on my door step – without having to que or catch the flu! No reconsidering for me – you will find me at The Barracks on the 11th for sure.
I love the ekka so much..every year I spend a days salary paying for entry alone…however like clockwork I am always confronted with everything I seem to forget from one year to the next …the smell of cow poo…everywhere….not to mention watch where you step…the sound of screaming two year olds who have OD’ed on fiary floss and freddo frogs and are wearing some ridiculous head piece mum and dad have forked out way too much for…
The elbow in the ribs you are sure to get from some old biddy who wants to see the grand show winner of the crochet section first…the belly ache from the dagwood dog you just had to have…and the flu which will no doubt like spring follows winter you are forced to endure the following week…
For a lot less dosh and I whole lot less hassle bring on the barracks any day…
I would much rather be at The Barracks – more civilised, less people, lovely environment, beautiful food, luxurious cinema – no competition it wins hands down!
For me, its quality food, as well as the style and ambience of The Barracks, wins hands down over The Ekka’s crowds and queues!
Rather spend my $30 cosying up at French Twist with a delicious Italian hot chocolate and a yummy pastry!
I would rather be at The Barracks than the Ekka because The Barracks is really clean, the food is fantastic, and I can always get a park.
Barracks over Ekka anyday, then the flu stays away. Tasty food and treats, that actually contain real meat. Entry’s actually free, Barracks holiday for me!
MY DAY at The Barracks is for savouring fresh coffee aromas, licking Strawberry Sorbet, crunching wood-fired pizza, and indulging with comfy entertainment and Bittersweet Chocolates!
No queues, no flus, no animal poos The Barracks is winner. We avoid the Ekka Show, it’s just a money spinner
I’ll rather sit in a nice & warm cinema, at Palace Barracks, watching a new release film, than at the Ekka. At least, I’ll be out of the cold & freezing wind, out of the way of the crowds and I know that I won’t catch the dreaded Ekka ‘flu!
I’d rather be at the Barracks than the Ekka because you can get away from those Westerly Winds by sitting under those warm and toasty heaters! And avoidong the Ekka crowds.
When I look beyond the differences I realise that great work is done by people who are not afraid to be great= The Barracks’
I’d rather spend a day at Palace Barracks, watching a film, sipping wine and eating popcorn; than a day at the Ekka, avoiding wayward children!!!
I’d rather be at the Barracks as although there will be plenty of people there, there’s no such thing as catching the “Barracks Flu”
The Barracks V. EKKA.
See you at The Barracks!
Divine diverse dining V. Deep fried dagwood dogs,
Classy community V. cantankerous crowds,
The choice is clear
enjoying my day off at the barracks, watching a movie and sipping a glass of wine sounds alot bettter than putting up with such a loud and noisy atmosphere at the ekka.
The Barracks offers everything for a memorable day out! I’d rather be there and avoid parking hassles and exorbitant prices and little in return.
Barracks = shopping, coffee, food, movies, leisurely strolls BUT Ekka = hot crowded spaces, crusty food, and opportunities galore to catch disease.
Simple, the barracks won’t be filled with those who loving cough and share their winter germs with us all!
trudging in sea of human sweat, inhaling body odour and eating fatty food versus good coffee, watch Inception, lunch, a haircut then groceries. Ekka 0 – Barracks EPIC WIN
What more could you want than a Delcious hot chocolate on a winters morning, a divine gelati in the afternoon and a fabulous cocktail at night? Along with seeing the next blockbuster movie, fine dining and buying some gorgeous new lingerie at the same time? The barracks has it all!
The Barracks liberating, the EKKA stifling.
Omigod, The Barracks has got a fabulous cinema with comfy seats, Movenpick for some ice cream, Bittersweet Chocolates for goodies to take home to enjoy later AND an awesome pick of restaurants to dine in! Would have a hard time choosing between The Chelsea and Peasant though.. hmm..
The Ekka to me is spending way too much money that cannot afford and not getting much for your dollar. Whereas at the Barracks, there is great food, movies, parking all for reasonable prices and great quality and with convenient undercover parking. There is no comparison. Barracks every time.
We would rather visit the Barrack Cinema for great entertainment, wine, movies, food, warm and in a very civilised environment. The Movie Club card ensures great value. We will be warm and comfortable.
The Barracks is obviously so so so so so so so much better than the Ekka, it doesn’t even need explaining!!!
Ekka Schmekka, bah humbug!
The Barracks doesn’t have to advertise that it’s classy, it just is….
Um, let me see. I can’t think of any reasons to not go to The Barracks on the Wednesday holiday.
would much rather spend my day at the Barracks shopping,seeing a movie and eating great food instead of the headache that is the ekka.
Honestly the ekka is for children and those who want to be, man up and grow up, go to the barracks where your sure to enjoy finer things in life
mad rush to get in, the barrack be a lot cheaper as well, excellent movies to watch, love to be involved on my day off
My blissful Ekka Day at the Barracks begins:
B ook @ Coaldrakes, for a good read
A lmond cake and
R edbank champers @ The Chelsea, for bubbles and sweet
R oast pumpkin salad @ Libertine, for my health
A nother champagne, perhaps, for no good reason
C offee and croissant @ French Twist, for a buzz
K illers movie @ The Palace, for a laugh
S trawberry sundae @ Movenpick, for a treat
Too be honest have never been to the barracks I have heard friends talk about it and have only just seen it driving past recently I live in the Western Suburbs and would much rather treat my family to this rather than spend an absolute fortune at the Ekka as much as we all love that experience it really is a tiring and expensive adventure.
Going to the Barracks I wouldn’t feel guilty leaving my children at home and I wouldn’t feel guilty sitting in comfort and style.
Make the Ekka Holiday your day to relax and indulge ALL your senses in luxury at the Barracks!
As great as the EKKA is, the BARRACKS offers luxury and relaxation that fits my urban lifestyle. Wuld also be a fanasticly indulgent recovery spot following the St Andrews Crystal Ball on Tuesday Night!