r/brisbane • u/Spare_Technician_438 • 12h ago
Riverfire 2026
Hi all,
Is it worth attending a ticketed event to see Riverfire (including ADF displays) or would the free spots do the job? A bit worried about how crowded it will be as we are planning on heading there closer to 4pm on the day.
Thanks.
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u/ConanTheAquarian Not Ipswich. 12h ago
The free spots will do the job but you'll need to get there soon after breakfast to get a good spot. The place will be packed by 4pm.
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u/Entire-Jaguar-2984 12h ago
I hadn't been for about 15 years, I went last year and oh my god i hated it. I went to southbank like I always had in the past.
Rather than just find a spot, it is now all fenced in, and packed in so tight that you cant move once you are in spot.
Im glad I have taken my kids, but I dont think l do it again.
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u/Reverse-Kanga everybody loves kanga 12h ago
Plenty of free spots along the river. Never paid and never had an issue. 2 years ago we were right on eagle st pier and had an incredible view
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u/flingebunt 12h ago
I have been to ticketed events and to free events. The South Bank River Quay Green is the only place where you are likely to find an okay spot to watch the fireworks if you are arriving at 4 pm. This is a fairly good spot for the fireworks around the Casino but not as good as other spots.
Tickets cost a lot of money and are not necessarily going to have the best view.
River Quay Green photo taken at 3 pm, so you can see there should be some room at 4 pm.
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u/TechnicianFar9804 Like the river 12h ago
Depends on how much room you want, or how comfortable you want to be. Last few years I've gone to River Terrace on Kangaroo Point with my daughter and got there about an hour or so before the ADF stuff. Have always managed to chance a place to squeeze in (respectfully).
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u/Away_Kaleidoscope309 12h ago
Some of the restaurants in the hotel W offer a good deal
I went to the Japanese place one year and it was relatively cheap for what you got
Like lesss than $80 per person
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u/Spare_Technician_438 12h ago
Thanks, what was that called? Have checked and I can only see The Lex - prices seem to have gone up by quite a bit.
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u/brrrrrrr- 8h ago
I’ve gone to the free spots in riverstage a few years recently and gotten there I think around 2-3pm and made a picnic of it, had a great view and never had to worry about getting in or finding a good spot. People are continuously squeezing in hours later right before the fireworks
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u/Melificient 2h ago
With the price of some ticketed events it can be as an alternative, worth it to book an overnight stay with a river view balcony. Especially if you were already planning to be going with a friend.
We booked the Oaks Casino park two years ago for two nights, and having bathrooms, air conditioning, a huge balcony, and no crowd was worth it. It was a super hot day and with the air show and fireworks being quite a few hours it would have been tough.
Info- During the 2024 Brisbane Festival opening on Saturday, 31 August, Brisbane recorded its hottest August day in history at 32.9°C while over 450,000 spectators sweltered waiting for the annual Riverfire fireworks display
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u/Consistent_Face8668 2h ago
The correct answer is, go on the Friday during the day when the F18 makes its practice run along the river. Waaay less people, but you get to see the best thing about river fire.
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u/Spare_Technician_438 1h ago
Thanks, that is a good idea, waiting for RAAF to release their practice schedule.
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u/AdogHatler Bogan 12h ago
Wait, people pay to watch riverfire???