By Jess Baker
When this year’s Brisbane Ekka was cancelled just a few days out from its commencement due to Covid-19, fair operators Jade Evans and Lauren Short were devastated.
They were almost fully equipped for the show, with food, attractions, and staff ready to face thousands.
“I’ve got six kids and Lauren’s got two kids,” Jade said.
“We’ve got families, we’ve got mortgages, and our bills don’t stop. But at the moment, there really isn’t a lot of support in our industry.”
Rather than let all the time and money invested in preparing for the Ekka go to waste, Jade and Lauren and their staff banded together and embarked on a tour of shows, called ‘Weekend Bites’.
The boutique-style event kicked off at the Warwick Racecourse between Friday 13 and Sunday 15 August, with co-organisers Jade and Lauren and staff now on their way to their second location, Toowoomba Showgrounds.
“Normally, in 2019, we might be on the road for 45 weeks of the 52-week year,” Jade said.
“So we definitely live an amazing life travelling the roads of Australia, but now with the changing environment of this new world, we’re just trying to navigate a way to create some fun and excitement.
“We’ll 100 per cent be coming back to Warwick. It’s been such a success. It’s such a nice vibe – the music, the people. It’s just been such a fantastic environment.”
Close to 1000 people visited the Warwick Racecourse over the weekend for the show.
For a snapshot of the fun, check out our pics.
