Your mega guide to Riverfire 2021
Here’s your full guide to the best spots to watch the fireworks, where to grab a bite to eat beforehand, all the Covid rules in place and road closures to avoid on the night.
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Night skies will explode with colour and sound on Saturday night September 25 when the dazzling spectacle of RiverFire marks the end of the Brisbane Festival.
Revellers are expected to pack every possible vantage point along the Brisbane River for the aerobatics displays and the 20-minute fireworks extravaganza, returning for the first time since 2019.
Everything you need to know to plan your night of festivities can be found below.
But don’t worry if you can’t make it, all the fun can be enjoyed from your own lounge room with coverage by Channel 9 and Triple M.
RIVERFIRE PROGRAM AND FIREWORKS TIMES - Saturday September 25
4pm: Yuggera and Turrbal man Shannon Ruska opens the event with a smoking ceremony
5.10pm: C-17A low altitude passes over the South Brisbane and Town Reaches
5:30pm: Army Aviation helicopters demonstration
6:45pm -7.05pm: RiverFire ignites, featuring more than two tonnes of fireworks, launched from five barges, eight rooftops and two bridges, co-ordinated by 25 pyrotechnicians and more than 50 production staff.
BEST VIEWING SPOTS
Enjoy from the comfort of your own lounge room via Channel 9 and Triple M soundtrack,
Controlled outdoor viewing sites:
Bring your own picnic or purchase food and drink from on-site suppliers.
No glass allowed – only cans or plastic.
South Bank is alcohol free.
No pets allowed. No bikes or scooters allowed.
SPECIAL EVENTS
HOWARD SMITH WHARVES
Stanley Restaurant
RiverFire Cantonese banquet – 5pm-7.45pm - $149.00
Standard dinner bookings from 8.15pm
Ph 3558 9418
Mr Percivals
Music, cocktails and good times from noon
Bookings only from 5pm
Bookings: 3188 9090
Felons Brewing Co
Bookings for indoors, outdoor walk-in only from 11am
Live music from 6pm
felonsbrewingco.com.au/
Ciao Papi
RiverFire Feast (antipasti, pasta, pizza and sides) – 5pm-7.30pm - $159pp
A la carte bookigns from 7.45pm
ciaopapi.com.au/
Fiume
Riverfire on the Rooftop – 5pm-8pm - $220pp
Canapes, beverage package, live DJ
Non-ticketholders noon-4pm, and from 8pm
https://www.crystalbrookcollection.com/vincent/offers/riverfire-2021
Greca
Feast on classics such as smoked oysters, charcoal chicken, oven-baked lamb shoulder in an extensive menu and three-hour drinks package.
$180pp
Yoko Dining
Feast on classics and new dishes, with three-hour beverage package.
$180pp
3236 6582
EMPORIUM HOTEL
Riverfire at the Terrace $299pp
Canapes, fork dishes and late night bites, accompanied by four-hour beverage package, 5pm-9pm
www.emporiumhotels.com.au/whats-on
BRISBANE DISTILLERY – Qld Maritime Museum
Canapes and three-hour beverage package, 5pm-8pm
Two packages available, from $130pp
4243 4101, bstill.com.au
WET DECK - W BRISBANE
$229 via Eventbrite, 6-9pm
Make It Pop! With bold bites, live chef stations, drinks, entertainment and DJs.
FEAST AND FIREWORKS - W BRISBANE
Four Blue Ducks, W Hotel, $250 per adult
Four-course feast and two-hour drinks package, staggered seating from 5pm
Bookings: Essential via https://www.opentable.com.au/r/w-brisbane-three-blue-ducks-brisbane-city
THE FOX
Rooftop Cocktail Party, 5pm-7pm
Two-hour beverage and canapes, entertainment $49pp
https://thefox.com.au/riverfire/
THE PLOUGH INN
Three hours live entertainment, food and drinks, 6pm-9pm
Tickets from $85pp via trybooking.com
Ploughinn.com.au
EAGLE ST PIER
George’s Paragon
Three-course set menu $120pp, for bookings 5.15pm-7.30pm
Half-price a la carte menu from 8pm
3211 8111
Rico Bar & Dining
Three-course set menu $120pp, for bookings between 5.15pm to 7.30pm.
A la carte menu from 8.15pm
3188 1444, ricodining.com.au
The Bavarian
Special event menu including housemade pretzel, chicken schnitzel, pork belly and haus sausages for $79, with drink on arrival
3608 5870 thebavarians.com
Naga Thai
Seven-course shared banquet, 2.5 hour beverage package for $195pp
https://www.nagathai.com.au/
Coppa Spuntino
Three-course menu with complimentary glass of prosecco on arrival, $125pp
Mr & Mrs G Riverbar
Canapes, four-hour beverage package and live entertainment, $200pp, including gift voucher
3221 7001 mrandmrsg.com.au
BALFOUR KITCHEN AND BAR
Two courses, 5pm - $75
Three-course dinner, 7pm - $115
thebalfourkitchenandbar.com.au
Three course menu, three hour drinks package $185pp
OAKWOOD HOTEL
Four-hour food and drinks package, $199
RIVERBAR & KITCHEN
Live entertainment, canapes and charcuterie stations, $135pm
From 5pm
STORY BRIDGE HOTEL
AFL Grand Final Carpark Party from 4pm, $20
View of fireworks, game, entertainment, food and beverage
Book online: storybridgehotel.com.au
COVID RULES
ROAD CLOSURES
via brisbanefestival.com.au/whats-on/2021/sunsuper-riverfire
Kangaroo Point Cliffs Service Road (6am-9pm)
Lockerbie St (6am-9.30pm)
Paton St (6am-9.30pm)
Llewellyn St (6am-9.30pm)
Walmsley St (6am-9.30pm)
Bell St (6am – 9.30pm)
Holman St (6am-10.30pm)
Kent St (7am-8.30pm)
Harcourt St (7am-8.30pm)
Russell St (7am-11pm)
Ann St (3pm-11pm)
Shire Road (3pm-9pm)
Victoria Bridge – cycleway closed (3pm-10pm), busway operational
William St (3pm-11pm)
Adelaide St (3pm-11pm)
Fish Lane (3.30pm-11pm)
Little Dock St – limited access 4pm-5pm
Goodwill Bridge (4pm-10pm)
Victoria Bridge Monumemt (4pm-9pm)
Leopard St (4pm-9.30pm)
River Tce (4pm-9.30pm)
Vulture St (4pm – 9.30pm)
Bell St (4pm-9.30pm)
Anglesey St (4pm-9.30Pm)
George St (4pm-9.30pm)
Main Stret (4pm-9.30pm)
Paton St (4pm-9.30pm)
Tribune St (4pm-11pm)
Colchester St (4pm-11pm)
Melbourne St (4pm-11pm)
Merivale St (4pm-11pm)
Ernest St (4pm-11pm)
Stanley Place (4pm-11pm)
Grey St (4pm-11pm)
Hope Street (4pm-11pm)
Scenic Drive (4.30pm-9.30pm)
Sir Samuel Griffith Drive (5pm-9.30pm)
Story Bridge (6.15pm-8pm)
Kemp Place (6.15-8pm)
Bradfield Hwy (6.15-8pm)
Gipps St Lane closure (6.15-8pm)
Shaftson Avenue (6.15-8pm)
Bowen St 6.15-8pm
Malt St (6.15-8pm)
Bowen Tce – Story Bridge to Bowen S (6.15-8.30pm)
Martin St, at Harrison lane 6.15-8.30pm
New Farm River Walk, Moray St – Howard Smith Wharves (6.30-7,15pm)
Ernest St, Merivale to Grey St (6.30-11pm)
Glenelg St, merivale st to little Stanley st (6.30-11.30)
Captain Cook Bridge, controlled vehicle movement (6.45-7.15pm)
Elizabeth St off-ramps (6.45-9.30)
Elizabeth St, William to George St (6.45-9.30)
Anderson St, no access to Holman St (7pm-8.30)
Vulture St, Ernest st to Tribune st (7pm-9.30pm)
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Patrons are encouraged to use public transport. Additional train, bus and ferry services will operate on the night.
Free rail/bus services transport will be available 7.30pm-9.30pm from the following stations:
RAIL: South Bank, South Brisbane, Roma Street and Central stations
BUSES: Woolloongabba, Mater Hill, South Bank, Cultural Centre, Queen Street, King George Square and Roma Street busway stations.
Plan your journey via translink.com.au
CITYCAT/KITTYCAT: Additional CityCat services will operate on the day and cease operations between 6:30pm and 7:30pm, except for the QUT CityCat terminal which closes at 4:00pm and remains closed until the resumption of services on Sunday 26 September.
KITTYCAT: the Holman Street – Riverside and the Inner CityFerry (CityHopper) services will cease operations between 6:30pm - 8:00pm
CityHoppers will not stop at South Bank from 4:00pm till 9:00. Passengers wishing to travel South Bank at that time should disembark at Maritime Museum to enter via the Stanley Street entrance or at North Quay and enter via the Victoria Bridge.
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