EKKA SHOWBAGS REVIEW: Ekka Showbag Guide 2021
We’ve spent hours pouring over all the Ekka Showbags (they used to be called ‘Sample Bags’) and have put together a guide to help you determine how to get the biggest bang for your EKKA buck, regardless of your child’s individual interests.
Let’s be honest, kids all over Brisbane can be divided into two categories, simply send them off to the Ekka Showbags Pavillion without a plan and they will either:
(a) beg you to buy the first show bag that slightly appeals to them. If your child falls into this category and you haven’t planned ahead, please make sure you walk them out the same entrance and aisles you used to come in, to avoid buyer’s remorse.
(b) walk the aisles 50 times each, and end up in a never ending loop of indecisiveness.
In an effort to avoid both of the above, read our Ekka Showbags Guide for 2021 to determine what “category” of showbag you’d like them to buy and steer them in the right direction!
Ekka Showbags Guide Overview
We believe that kids Ekka showbags fall into one (or sometimes two) of the following categories. The first decision to be made is which type of show bag you’d like your child to “invest” in, prior to even starting the selection process.
There are no wrong decisions to be made as far as categories go, only wrong showbag choices within the categories i.e. when looking at value for money. Our guide is to help to steer you towards the best choices within each of the following categories, we’ll explain each of them below.
- The Cheap Showbags
- The Food Showbags
- Branded Useful Showbags
- Costume Showbags
- Cheap Toy Showbags
Secondly, after selecting your showbag choices, the next thing to look at is whether there are any ride vouchers inside. If there are, your next decision is whether you purchase your showbags at the start of the day (and carry them around or put them in a locker), or buy them towards the end of the day (with the constant worry of “what if they sell out”).
Finally, if you’re heading to the fireworks and plan on arriving early in order to get a great seat, you’ll need to decide whether it’s worth while taking some of the contents along with you in order to assist with the fireworks wait time (perhaps this won’t be such a big issue this year with the earlier / family friendly fireworks!)
The Cheap EKKA Showbags
The cheap EKKA showbags are the ones that are available for under $5. Within this category, you’re either looking at the cheapest of the cheap, which is the $2 Blue Bertie Beetle Showbag….
…or a $3 – $5 showbag that has the biggest quantity of items in it (and perhaps a novelty item), so the kids think they are getting a fantastic deal.
Our picks for the under $5 showbags which have a good quantity of items in it are shown below. Note, we’ve included these based on the lollies being a mainstream brand name and the number of items in the showbags, but we’ve excluded the bags that are likely to blow your head off (the warhead style bags… as they are not for everyone :).
- Chuppa Chups – $5 – has 22 lolly items and a pop toy.
- Fizzer Showbag – $5 – has 28 lolly items plus a blow up hammer.
- Cadbury Furry Friends– $5 – 8 small chocolate bars and a pack of playing cards.
- Trolli – $5 – Lots of gummy lollies!
Don’t forget to check for multi-buy offers – some of the cheap food showbags are 3 for $8!
We thought the following show bags deserved a special mention as they could come in useful on the day!
- Bubs & Tots Showbag – $26 – Snacks and treats for little ones, plus lots of useful things for parents – over $120 value!
- Country Women’s Association Bag – $18 – Snacks, hand sanitiser, vouchers – and a percentage of proceeds donated to the CWA. Over $170 value!
One final thing to note, when you arrive at the Showbag Pavilion and head to the “cheap food show bag section”, you’ll always find that there are specials e.g. 3 for $12, something along those lines. If you have multiple children, this is usually a fantastic way to save some money (don’t worry if the contents aren’t equal, you can always dive your hand in when they are on a ride and quickly redistribute the contents).
The Food Showbags
- Old Style Licorice Showbag – $10 – 7 big bags of licorice favourites.
- All American Showbag – $25 – Popular American snacks and drinks.
- Best of British Bag – $25 – British confectionery and drinks.
- New Zealand Favourites Showbag – $25 – Lollies, chips and drinks.
The Branded Useful Showbags
A lot of the branded showbags actually contain “useful” items, which is a great thing for you, but can often leave the kids disappointed (if they haven’t really looked into what’s inside). I remember buying the Hot Wheels showbag one year for my 4 year old twins (they chose it BTW), but when we got home, it was full of novelty items… they thought they would be getting actual Hot Wheels cars!
Basically, a lot of these showbags contain a few of the following items and sell for around $25 – $30:
- backpacks
- caps
- cups
- key rings
- t-shirts.
In the scheme of things, the contents can actually be quite useful (and pretty good value for money!) and the kids will get a lot of use out of the contents in the future. Just make sure the kids realise they aren’t full of toys!
There are HEAPS of these types of bags, here are a few of our favourites, though these are probably more suited to older kids:
- The Simpsons Showbag – $28 – The T-shirt, cap, socks, coffee mug … the contents will hang around for a long time.
- The Child Showbag – $28 – T-shirt, cap, drink bottle, poster and novelties.
- Black Panther Showbag – $28 – Backpack, flag, socks, hat and novelties
- Pac-Man Showbag – $30 – Backpack, bucket hat, cooler bag and many more items.
- Brisbane Lions Show Bag – $25 – Sportsbag, cap, cooler bag and novelties.
- Boxing Kangaroo Showbag – only $20! – Tote bag, drink bottle, toy, tumbler and novelties.
- NRL Brisbane Broncos – $25 – Backpack, coolerbag, socks, stationery and more.
- State of Origin – $25 – QLD or NSW themed with backpack, frisbee, travel mug and more!
- Paw Patrol Team – $30 – Backpack, ball, cap, lunchbox, novelties.
- Paw Patrol Skye– $30 – Backpack, bucket hat, jewellery box, skirt and more (alternative Skye showbag also available).
- Bluey Showbag – $30 – Backpack, cap, drink bottle, stationery and more. Alternative Bluey bag also available.
- Where’s Wally – $30 – Backpack, beanie, glasses and novelties
- Jojo Siwa Bag – $28 – with a backpack, hat, lipgloss and more!
- Peppa Pig – $30 – Peppa Pig Mermaid backpack, ball, hat, activity tea and more.
- Butterbeans Cafe – $30 – Tote bag, apron, baking set, activity set and more.
- Minnie Mouse – $30 – Backpack, slippers, skipping rope, skirt and headband.
- Moana Showbag – $30 – Bag, costume and soft toy.
- Frozen II Bag – $30 – Dress up set and light up wand (alternative Frozen II Showbag also available).
- Harry Potter Classic Show Bag – $30 – Duffle bag, drink bottle, stationery and novelties.
- Peter Rabbit Showbag – $30 – Backpack, bucket hat, drink bottle and more.
- Cocomelon – $30 – Backpack, ball, bucket hat, learning cards, and so much more!
- Disney Princess – $26 – Bags, stationery and accessories
- Hey Duggee -$30 – Backpack, activity set, cooler bag, toys and puzzles.
- Emma Wiggle – $28 – Dress ups and doll kit.
- The Wiggles – $28 – Inflatable instruments, stage curtain, torch, puzzles and carry bag.
- Thomas The Tank Engine – $30 – Backpack, drink bottle, lunch box, bath toys and more!
- PJ Masks – $30 – Backpack, basketball ring, cap, sunglasses and novelties.
- Baby Shark – $28 – Backpack, hat, toys – and bonus earworm!
Other brand show bags include:
- Sonic the Hedgehog – $30 – Backpack, drink bottle, toys and novelties.
- Hot Wheels Monster Trucks – $30 – With toy cars, cap, novelties and more.
- Spirit Riding Free – $30 – Backpack, diary and stationery.
- Nerf Falconfire Showbag – $30 – Falconfire Accustrike, plus a hat, water bottle, key ring and target (alternative Nerf Showbag also available).
- Barbie Dreamtopia – $30 – Backpack, skirt, lunchbox and accessories. Alternative Barbie showbag also available.
- My Little Pony Bag – $28 – Metalic backpack, stamper set, lockable diary and soft toy. Alternative My Little Pony showbag also available.
- Hatchimals – $30 – Backpack with wings, socks and novelties.
- Pokemon Go! showbag – $30 – One of two different Pokemon showbags available.
The Costume Showbags
The EKKA is conveniently scheduled just before book week… so plan accordingly!
- Batman Showbag – $25 – Batman costume, kite and grappling hook.
- Spiderman Bag – $25 – Mask, gloves, role play vest, and novelties.
- Wonder Woman Bag – $10 – Costume and shield
- Avengers Showbag – $25 – Novelties plus choose Captain America, Ironman or Thor dress up costume
- Fairy Girls Showbag – $25 – A cute dress up, plus umbrella and toys
- Power Rangers Showbag – $25 – Choice of character dress up plus kite and novelties.
- Knights & Gladiators Bag – $25 – Helmet, breastplate, shield and sword.
- Ladybug Showbag – $20 – Skirt, wings, headband, umbrella and novelties
- Police Action Squad – $25 – Helmet, weapons and accessories
- Army Jnr Bag – $25 – Army vest, helmet, machine gun with sound and field equipment
Other costume showbags include:
- A lot of the “Mega” brand showbags, including: Mega Cop, Mega Builders, Mega Fairy, Mega Doctors, Mega Nurse, Mega Fireman, Mega Pirate, Mega Princess, Mega Swat and other Mega bags – (generally $25 – 28)
The Cheap Toy Showbags
These are the showbags that will last 5 minutes, full of plastic and items will be lost pretty quickly. Don’t expect much from them, but they will offer lots of entertainment for a very short time. Whilst they are full of cheap toys, it’s not to say you shouldn’t buy them, some of them are jammed packed with so many novelty items they can be handy to pull out one bit at a time on a rainy day… then the item will likely be binned pretty soon after the first use!
Our picks are below!
- Dollykins – $25 – Stroller, dolls and accessories.
- Building Bricks – $25 – comes with FIVE sets of “building bricks” (which are basically a cheap version of Lego AND it IS compatible with Lego). We bought this one year for the kids, they really enjoyed building them, then I threw them out as I was sick of the pieces getting confused with the real Lego (they were a little firmer and the kids couldn’t easily pull them back apart). Regardless, I’d do it again; 5 fantastic rainy day activities right here (for only $5 each)!
- Gag Magic Bag – $15 – Chock full of little magic tricks with a magician’s hat and glasses.
- Dinosaur Rules – $25 – Dinosaur toys, hat, watch and choice of a large dinosaur toy
Then, of course, there are all the slime bags…
- Super Slime Zone – $15
- Slime Zone – $10
- Nickelodion Slime – $15
And Squishy bags
- Squishy Squashy Animal – $20 – 6 animals included.
- Squishy Squashy Food – $20 – 7 squishy food items.
Ekka Showbag Guide 2021
I’ll be honest, this started off as a top 10 showbag list but may have got a little out of control. But there’s no “top 10” when it comes to showbags; it’s about choosing a showbag “type” and matching it to your child’s interest… then sticking to a budget!
Bring on the EKKA and all the EKKA Showbags!
To see the whole HUGE range of Ekka showbags for kids and adults, head to www.ekka.com.au
Is there a Pepsi Max showbags. Howmuch is the Lindt showbags. And also the h Moriah nuts showbags
Very disappointed with Women’s Weekly and Better Homes and Gardens showbags. Neither had the magazine advertised. Other magazines substituted not wanted. Should have been available on 13th August surely. 😡👎
Can i have a slime showbag please
can you buy these online
Can I have a slime and Hubba bubba Showbag
Yes!! 😉