Riverfire

Overview

Brisbane Festival is back for 2024 throughout September — kicking off on Friday, August 30 this year, in fact — and it's returning with a big bang. After moving the sky celebration to the beginning of its annual run in 2022, the citywide arts event is again brightening up the heavens to start things off. Get ready to look up on Saturday, August 31.

The fireworks display has now settled into its new slot after a chaotic few years, which saw it scaled back in 2019, then replaced with a light and laser show in 2020 due to the pandemic, and finally returning in 2021. Initially, Riverfire moved dates to shift out of school holidays. No matter when it's held, more than 500,000 people usually attend.

If you've been to South Brisbane when it's on — even hours earlier — you will have seen the masses of people to prove how popular it is. Head anywhere with a decent vantage over the river and crowds await. This Brisbane tradition will start its entertainment at 4pm this year, with the fireworks blasting from 7pm.

Need a few recommendations? River Terrace at Kangaroo Point is the number-one spot to hit up for the best panoramic view. There's also South Bank, of course, as well as the Kangaroo Point Cliffs, Captain Burke Park and Wilson's Lookout — plus the Riverside Centre and the City Botanic Gardens, too.

Even if fireworks aren't usually your thing, you might still be interested in the Riverfire shindigs that always pop up on the night, with bars around town usually throwing plenty of parties with quite the lit-up backdrop.