It’s show time in Ipswich and there’s heaps to see and do, in fact to celebrate the 150th year there’s a bumper line up of entertainment included with your 2023 Ipswich Show entry.
See the Hot Wheels activation zone
The Hot Wheels Stunt Team is the most thrilling Stunt and Action Sports Team in the southern hemisphere. Leading the way is Australia’s #1 Stuntman himself, Matt Mingay with his 13-year-old son Madzy who is closely following in his footsteps.
When they aren’t busy performing in the Main Arena you can meet Matt and his son at the Hot Wheels Activation Area and Fun Zone. Including massive play tables set up with a number of Hot Wheels track sets for the kids to play, a basketball shootout game, and a colouring-in station. Fans also have the opportunity to get a sneaky selfie with the stars.
Meet the animals
At this year’s show there will be a large dedicated Animal Precinct at the show with alpacas, llamas, horses, large rabbits, hatching chicks, piglets, lambs, chickens and more.
There will also be a large native animals display, view koalas lounging in their tree forks, birds flying around, and resting in their enclosure, as well as non-venomous snakes and lizards.
Plus see daily shows educating about the importance of our Aussie friends. There will also be sheep shearing, cow milking demonstrations and sheepdog trials.
Check out the exhibits
The Ipswich Show runs an extensive competition schedule providing a platform for local community involvement and participation. Each year the show attracts more than 6000 entries and showcases the wealth of talent in our community. Competitions include Fine Art, Photography, Ceramics, Art in Bark, Wine, Woodcraft, Home Cooking, Schoolwork, Apiculture, Farm Produce, Preserves, Horticulture, Patchworking, Needlework, Scrapbooking, Fruit, Eggs, and Hand Embroidery.
Watch an action-packed line up in the Main Arena
Each night during the show there is an amazing evening program lined up.
Starting at 6pm see an action packed spectacle, journey back in time as death defying stunts are brought back from shows gone by, see vintage speedway cars, dazzling acrobatic displays, stunt bikes, the heart-stirring drama of the stockman’s ride, mechanical madness and a spectacular.
The shows include the Rooftop Express Arena Spectacular featuring world first stunts, true blue Australian comedy, awe-inspiring horsemanship, soaring voices and moments shared with that many horses it will make your heart swell. This quintessential Aussie outback experience will get hearts racing and is a show the whole family will love.
There’s also the Human Cannonball. Daredevil Warren Brophy will pack himself into the tight confines of a huge cannon before being launched 40 metres into the air, at 6Gs of force, traveling at 60 kilometres per hour to a safety net on the other side of the Main Arena. This performance has a long history with roots in old-time circuses and agricultural shows across Australia, but the inner workings of the cannon remain an “industry secret”.
The Airtime Freestyle Motocross Team push the limits on what is possible, and their action-packed show will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish! Launching motorcycles 15m into the air while performing some of the most death-defying stunts, it’s an incredible family friendly show for all ages, and one not to be missed!
Extreme motorcycle and trapeze stunts will also be performed high above the ground. Cheer on the daredevil stunt team as they perform aerial handlebar handstands, aerial toe hangs and the 360 Motorcycle Flip 50 feet above the ground on a long steel cable.
See the Wheel of Steel, an 800-kilogram steel pendulum reaching a dizzying 12 metres in height. With no safety nets or wires, a daring stuntman will perform acrobatics, skip, and even walk blindfolded, all while maintaining his balance atop the rotating cage. It’s truly a marvel to witness and an edge-of-your-seat experience.
Then get ready for massive jumps, roaring engines and an explosion of excitement as you watch the heart-stopping action only a Monster Truck can deliver. Keeping fans on the edge of their seats with car-crushing destruction you don’t want to miss this 1500-horsepower, methanol-breathing monster truck.
Cheer on the Strongmen and Women
The 2023 Brisbane’s Strongest Man and Woman is the conclusion of the 2022 South East QLD Strength Series, where some of SE QLD’s best strongmen and strongwomen have their chance of being crowned Brisbane’s Strongest, as well as winning the overall series. This five event competition will test competitors’ strength, endurance, explosiveness and grit in some tough events including carrying sandbags up to 140kg, overhead pressing 135kg and carrying 125kg in each hand. For the first time we are delighted to offer an All Abilities division at this competition, where a number of incredible athletes will try their hardest to get through three scaled events.
The top three places in each weight class will qualify for the 2023 Australian Strongman Alliance Nationals (held in Tasmania later on this year), and the winners of the Open Men and Womens’ classes will qualify for the 2023 Magnus ver Magnusson Strongman Classic Qualifier at the 2023 Ekka, their gateway to some of the most prestigious strongman competitions in the world.
See them on the green located in The Laneway Precinct from 1pm – 4.30pm daily.
Hear bush poetry
The art of bush poetry and yarn spinning is all about entertaining and gives visitors a real taste of the outback through words and song. It is about telling a story and delivering the lines with just the right amount of humor, passion or feeling and sometimes, even with a touch of the theatrical to add to the spectacle. Passionate poets from the aspiring to the experienced will belt out established bush ballads and originals in the Bush Poetry Competition, held each morning of the show. Each afternoon professional singer, songwriter, bush poet and country craftsman, Dennis Dryden, will entertain and enthrall visitors with stories about people, places and situations.
Watch the woodchopping
One of the most popular attractions at the Show, Woodchopping, is an internationally recognised and accredited sport, a test of strength, timing, agility and a good eye. Some of Australia’s toughest axemen and women will test their skills in this year’s events.
In the Sapar Landscaping Supplies Woodchop Arena on Sunday commencing at 9am.
Watch the pig racing
Pig racing is among the many highlights of the Ipswich Show and is back by popular demand in 2023. With their sparkly vests and agile moves, these performers will be ready to entertain and work the crowd.
See them on the Green located in The Laneway Precinct Friday at 9:30am, 10:15am, 12:30pm and 5:00pm; Saturday at 9:30am, 10:45am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm and 5:00pm and Sunday at 9:30am , 12 noon, 1:30pm and 2:45pm.
Wander down sideshow alley
The Ipswich Show is not complete without the atmosphere of sideshow alley, the home of carnival attractions and sideshow games. Sideshow Alley provides hours of entertainment with an abundance of rides to suit all ages and levels of thrill-seeking. It’s free to wander down, but you’ll need some extra cash if you want to participate.
Marvel at the fireworks
Each night the show will wrap up with a huge fireworks display and laser show. Starting at 8.40pm on Friday and Saturday and 6.30pm on Sunday.
