If you have a day off this Ekka Show Day holiday (Wednesday August 12) – but don't want to face crowds, come out to Ipswich and see what’s on offer around the heritage city and its country surrounds...

Taste local delicacies

Start your day with a coffee fix by visiting Ipswich Coffee Roasters – to try the city’s own locally roasted coffee in a warehouse at 31 Challinor Street Sadliers Crossing. Pick up a bag of beans or head to Elderflower Cafe, The Old Butcher Shop Cafe or Bootown Espresso to grab a cup and a tasty treat! 

Book in for dinner or lunch at The Q, where you can sample a delicious 250g rump steak for $20!

Tuck into some traditional show food

If you're craving that strawberry sundae flavour hit and don't want to brave the Ekka crowds, head into UB's Milk Bar instead!  They can whip these up anytime, but if you order one on the Ekka holiday it feels extra special!

They've also got great burgers, waffles and milkshakes...

Try a local brew!

Stony Creek Brewing will be open on the Ekka show day.  Enjoy craft beer, food and entertainment with the whole family - even the fur-kids.

Have fun sinking some balls

CU@N8s is offering $15 pool table hire all day on the Ekka public holiday.

Fly high in a hot air balloon!

If you want to feel the wind in your hair and a thrill of going up high, check out Floating Images Hot Air Balloon Flights.

The tranquil flights will take you up, up and away over the Ipswich countryside and back down to earth for a yummy hot breakfast.

They are flying during the Ekka period, including on the show holiday for individuals and groups up to 10, book online.

View some art 

If you love browsing the art entries at the Royal Brisbane Show, why not spend some time browsing the Ipswich Art Gallery and the nearby community gallery, both are free to enter. Right now at the gallery are Ties that bind and The World Came Flooding In.

Play a free game of trivia

General Public are having free trivia from 6.30pm. Enjoy delicious food specials, put your knowledge to the test, and compete for a $100 winning voucher. Gather your team and join us for a great night out!

Have a drink at the bar

It might not be the Cattlemans's bar, but The Rusty Nail makes up for a lack of cowboys with a moody interior and excellent drinks. They will open at 4pm on the Ekka holiday with drinks specials and delicious bites.

Feed a camel

Book in for a camel ride, take a farm tour, stop by the cafe for a camelcino and visit the Summer Land Camels’ farm shop for camel milk infused products and vodka tastings this Ekka holiday.

You can sample award-winning camel milk, camel milk cheese, and camel milk gelato before browsing through the store for camel products and their much-loved skin and hair care range.

In the gardens, you’ll also get a chance to befriend and feed gentle camels and enjoy the breathtaking scenery that surrounds the farm.

And from 8-16 August a special strawberry sundae is available at the cafe. Made with creamy camel milk vanilla and strawberry gelato, topped with fresh strawberries and cream, it's the perfect way to celebrate show week.

Summer Land Camels are open from 9am - 3pm seven days a week.

See who's who in the zoo...

You can also pay a visit to the Ipswich Nature Centre in beautiful Queens Park and meet pademelons, a spotted tail quoll or a rock wallaby to name just a few of the centre's cute and fluffy inhabitants. Entry to the centre is free - but gold coin donations are appreciated - and you can linger at the Queens Park Cafe or wander the historic gardens which includes, vast lawns and playgrounds.

But the show's not over - you'll find even more to explore, any time of the year, in this list: 75 things to do in Ipswich.