THE Brisbane Festival kicks off on Saturday, with the spectacular Riverfire set to light up the night.
The program begins at 4pm with Australian Defence Force flyovers including C-17 Globemasters, F/A-18s and helicopters, before the fireworks launch at 7pm to a synchronised soundtrack broadcast live on Triple M.
The pre-show also features a moving performance by First Nations group Tribal Experiences, incorporating traditional dance and song.
For the first time in Queensland, heavy payload pyrotechnic drones will be deployed as part of the display in a never-before-seen concept.
Three specially made pyro drones will launch nearly 600 effects and combine to create thrilling formations, marking a defining moment in Australian fireworks history.
Brisbane Festival Artistic Director Louise Bezzina said Riverfire was more than a fireworks show – it was a celebration of creativity, community and the city itself.
“Riverfire is the perfect way to kick off the festival and welcome everyone to be part of the magic as the skyline is painted with a kaleidoscopic display of colour and light,” she said.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the event was one of the biggest nights on the city’s calendar, delivering a major boost to local venues, hotels and restaurants.
“Riverfire puts Brisbane on the national stage and reinforces our reputation as Australia’s lifestyle capital,” he said.
Crowds are expected to flock to vantage points across the city including Queen’s Wharf, South Bank, Kangaroo Point Cliffs, City Botanic Gardens, Victoria Park, Mt Coot-tha Lookout, Highgate Hill Park, Captain Burke Park, Wilson Outlook Reserve and Howard Smith Wharves.
As part of the city-wide spectacle, three bridges will be transformed into bright installations.
The Story Bridge will be closed to traffic from 6.30-8.30pm, while northbound lanes on the Riverside Expressway will close from 7-7.30pm, with southbound lanes remaining open at reduced speed.
Riverfire has been a highlight of Brisbane’s cultural calendar since 1998 and a centrepiece of Brisbane Festival since 2009, and attracts more than half a million people each year.
