Riverfire: Brisbane's Fireworks display

Riverfire 2016

Riverfire is Brisbane's own yearly fireworks display. This year it took place on September 24th as the end to Brisbane Festival. Brisfest is a month long celebration with various cultural events. Before the fireworks display, helicopters and fighter jets from the Australian Defense Force flew overhead. 


The fireworks can be seen from many different points throughout the city including Kangaroo Point Cliffs, Victoria Bridge, South Bank, the Botanic Gardens and Riverwalk, Riverside Centre, Eagle St Pier, Captain Burke Park and Wilson's Lookout. We chose to watch from the Botanic Gardens so that we would have a view of the display over Story Bridge.


Many restaurants near these locations offer special Riverfire multiple course dinners for around $100 per person. We chose to picnic instead and spent the afternoon in the park, along with Australian and foreign families.


The fireworks are timed to music from one of the local radio stations. The display lasts about 20 minutes. While the fireworks themselves were nothing too special (especially considering that I am used to pretty epic 4th of July fireworks), I enjoyed seeing the fireworks over the bridge. At one point, fireworks streamed off of the bridge and into the water, as if the fireworks were made of water themselves.


If you're ever in Brisbane at the end of September, definitely check out RIVERFIRE!