The fireworks display will now take place on September 3, during the opening weekend of Queensland’s biggest cultural event.
A scene from the 2021 edition of Riverfire. (Courtesy of Brisbane Festival)
Sydney might be known the world over for its extravagant New Year’s Eve fireworks, but that event is by no means the only must-see pyrotechnics show in Australia. International travelers considering a vacation in Queensland this September should time their visit for the start of the Brisbane Festival, when one of the country’s largest fireworks displays will usher in three weeks of art, dance, music, theater, cabaret and more.
Scheduled for Saturday, September 3, Riverfire promises to kick off the most significant event on Brisbane’s cultural calendar with a bang. Australian company Foti Fireworks will once again design and deliver the show, setting off more than two tons of pyrotechnics from bridges (including the heritage-listed Story Bridge), barges, and rooftops of high-rise buildings along the Brisbane River. Those viewing the spectacle from vantage points farther away from the riverside can tune in to Triple M Brisbane at a frequency of 104.5 to hear its soundtrack. People in other parts of Australia will still get to watch the display through a live broadcast on Channel 9.
Officially named Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust, the extravaganza previously acted as an exclamation mark on the final night of the Brisbane Festival. Municipal authorities have backed the organizers’ decision to bring the date forward, as that would give local families the option of seeing the fireworks before leaving town for the September school holidays. Notably, international acts and revelers will be able to join the 23-day celebrations for the first time since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Brisbane Festival was cancelled entirely in 2020, while Queensland’s tough border restrictions during the 2021 edition meant that few visitors from outside the state, particularly those in New South Wales, could attend. Blockbuster events are planned for the closing weekend (September 23–24), and details will be announced further down the line.
More information here.
