How to do Riverfire, and the best free things at Brisbane Festival

Brisbane Festival brings hundreds of performers to town, but this year random locals can also grab the limelight.Visitors to the Festival Village in South Bank will find a forest of 32 microphones, a large karaoke screen, and a playlist of evergreen hits to sing, from Taylor Swift and Katy Perry to ABBA, Queen, Cold Chisel and yes, Dolly Parton too.The Giant Sing Along last appeared in Queensland at Surfers Paradise beach in 2018 during the Commonwealth Games.Daily Tous Les JoursIt’s the Giant Sing Along – a free installation by Canadian design studio Daily Tous Les Jours that invites passers-by to sing their hearts out.“Unlike karaoke, you’re not alone performing in front of everybody. The crowd is the performer, and everybody gets a microphone because there’s so many,” said co-creator Mouna Andraos.The machine operates for three-hour sessions most mornings and selected evenings during the festival, with a slight vocoder effect that helps crowds of strangers harmonise.Andraos said the Giant Sing Along was the result of research into crowd behaviours.“It’s a way of getting out of our bubbles and interacting with the world again.”Daily Tous Les Jours“There’s science around how these moments of collective singing release happiness hormones in our brains and help us connect with each other,” she said.“Our objective is to generate conversations between people, get strangers to connect and ultimately generate more trust within communities.”The Giant Sing Along is one of many free events happening at the Festival Village in South Bank and at locations around the city. See below for the highlights.Boeing C-17 Globemaster III taking part in the flyover ahead of Riverfire.Jeremy CaldwellRIVERFIREBrisbane CBD, river and surrounds, Saturday, September 5, 4-8pm (flyover 4.45-5.30pm, fireworks 7pm)Riverfire is now a more popular tradition in Brisbane than the New Year’s Eve fireworks, with an estimated half-million visitors to the city to watch the show.The 15-minute display has more than 30 pyrotechnicians shooting several tonnes of fireworks into the air, preceded by ear-splitting Australian Defence Force (ADF) flyovers featuring C-17 Globemasters and F/A-18s.Fireworks explode from bridges, rooftops and barges, with a sixth barge added to the network in 2026 directly between the Victoria Bridge and Neville Bonner Bridge, creating a bigger bang for the city centre.Free viewing spots are at Festival Village, South Bank, Queen’s Wharf, Kangaroo Point Cliffs, City Botanic Gardens, Mount Coot-tha Lookout, Highgate Hill Park, Captain Burke Park, Wilson Outlook Reserve and Howard Smith Wharves. Arriving early to reserve a spot is essential.Riverfire has an extra barge shooting fireworks his year.Paul HarrisVenues with river views and rooftops such as Hotel Terminus, Brisbane Quarter, Brisbane Jazz Club, Fiume Rooftop Bar and The Plough Inn are selling party packages for the cashed-up.Bright Nights by ANZBrisbane River, September 4-26, 6pm, 7.30pm & 8.30pm (9pm on Sep 4)The festival is debuting a 15-minute fountain and laser show on the water. Bright Nights features an audio story told by traditional owner Shannon Ruska, and a soundtrack by the Veronicas. Recommended viewing points are Festival Village, Victoria Bridge, Neville Bonner Bridge, Bicentennial Bikeway, Wheel of Brisbane and The Star Sky Deck.Giant Sing AlongVillage Green, Festival Village, September 4-26, Tue-Sun, various timesSet to be the festival’s centrepiece of fun, Giant Sing Along invites you to join in singing popular tunes in an open-air field of 32 microphones. Belt out some Chappell Roan, Men at Work, Joan Jett, John Farnham and much more.The Knock ’Em DownsFestival Village, September 4, 7pm; September 5, 8.30pm; September 6-26, 7pmDevious swindlers Bernie & Roach invite you to “win big prizes” with old-school sideshow games that are rigged against you. At least they’re honest about it.Living Sculptures: How the Birds Got Their Colours Village Green, Festival Village, September 5, 1pm & 3pm; September 6, 3pm & 4pm; September 8, 4pm; September 9, 3pm & 4pmThis 30-minute outdoor performance tells a First Nations origin story through circus.Piano ManSouth Bank Town Hall, Festival Village, September 9-26, various timesTrevor Jones plays recent pop hits, jazz standards, show tunes and piano bar classics.Pasifika Made Festival Village, Saturday, September 19, 3.30-8.30pmThe final Saturday of Brisbane Festival turns the festival village into a Pacific cultures hub. Highlights include an opening ceremony; Oceania Rising concert featuring Aaradhna, Jungali and JSQZE; artist talk Fale Moana in the South Bank Town Hall; and Maketi, the Pasifika Marketplace with food and craft.Family Fun Day supported by Brisbane AirportFestival Village, Sunday, September 20, 9am-4pmWith 13 different performances and workshops taking place across the day, there is bound to be something for your kid. Highlights include puppet making, Queensland Ballet workshop, and a K-pop performance. All are free, some require pre-registration.Pasifika Made is a Pacific cultures hub on Saturday, September 19, with music, workshops, food and craft.Nikita PereFESTIVAL VILLAGE: FREE EARLY MORNINGWake Up and SingVillage Green, Festival Village, September 5-26, Tuesdays and Saturdays, 7amKickstart your day with music by Blue Sky Harmony (Sep 5), Toowong State School Choir (Sep 8), Cheep Trill Choir (Sep 15), The cast of Shel We (Sep 19), One Voice Brisbane (Sep 22) and Latin Choir Brisbane (Sep 26).Musical Mantras with Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber OrchestraVillage Green, Festival Village, Sunday, September 6 & 12, 8am & 9.30amThe festival tests the theory that Brisbane is an early-to-rise city with “soul-nourishing” morning concerts by the state’s admired chamber orchestra.Sunrise Ceremony: Bikki WantimaaFestival Village, Friday, September 11, 18 & 25, 7amThe Sunrise Ceremony: Bikki Wantimaa acknowledges and gives thanks to the lands on which the festival takes place.Warm-up with QLD Con Village Green, Festival Village, September 8-24, Tue-Thu 8amQueensland Conservatorium faculty and students give behind-the-scenes glimpses of their morning routines.Queensland Conservatorium musicians are performing on early mornings at the Festival Village.Greg HarmFESTIVAL VILLAGE: FREE WORKSHOPSDance with TomVillage Green, Festival Village, September 17 & 18, 10.30amThomas E.S. Kelly invites children and families to connect with Country through dances inspired by the land, animals and natural elements.Dead Puppet Society: Puppet Construction WorkshopSouth Bank Town Hall, Festival Village, September 20 & 23-26, 10amLearn to make puppets in a free workshop with the acclaimed Dead Puppet Society team. Pre-registration essential.QAGOMA Public Program: The Pop-Up Sock Puppet StudioSouth Bank Town Hall, Festival Village, Sunday, September 6 &13, 9amLearn how to make your own Muppet-like character in a workshop inspired by the Jim Henson exhibition. Pre-registration essential.Physical Movement Workshop Arts Workshop with the cast of ESCAPEVillage Green, Festival Village, Saturday, September 26, 10amThe festival’s headline international performers show how they blend dance, stunts and circus arts in a family-friendly workshop. Registration is essential.Organist David Bailey.J RuckliFREE: CITY HALLLord Mayor’s City Hall Concerts: Buster Keaton’s The General with David BaileyBrisbane City Hall, Tuesday, September 8, 12pmCelebrate the centenary of Buster Keaton silent comedy The General with a free screening soundtracked by organist David Bailey performing on a historic Wurlitzer pipe organ. Seating is first in, best dressed.Lord Mayor’s City Hall Concerts: East of WestBrisbane City Hall, Tuesday, September 15, 12pmBalkan/Mediterranean music trio East of West features Bosnian-born Goran Gajić on double bass, Philip Griffin on oud and laouto, and Malindi Morris on percussion. The concert is free and unticketed.Lord Mayor’s City Hall Concerts: UQ Music GalaBrisbane City Hall, Tuesday, September 22, 12pmThis one-hour performance spotlights University of Queensland musicians including the UQ Brass Ensemble and opera from the UQ Singers. Be early to get the best seats.Lord Mayor’s Children’s Program: TheatreDome!Brisbane City Hall, Wednesday, September 23, 10am & 1pmTheatresports for kids, TheatreDome! brings Nine’s improv comedy challenge to the stage. There are two sessions, and seating is on a first-come basis.Moorooka Block Party is now in its fifth year.Brisbane Festival FREE CONCERTS: ELSEWHERELive at Melbourne Street GreenMelbourne Street Green, QPAC, Friday, September 4, 11, 18 & 25, 5.30-7.30pmGrab a drink and a bite from Storytellers and enjoy music, dance and eclectic performance.St Lucia Block PartyGreat Court, University of Queensland, Sunday, September 6, 12-4pmThis family-friendly festival in the stately Great Court has music by Feelin’ the Groove with the UQ Saxophone Ensemble, folk-pop duo Cali Rd, and singer-songwriter Sue Ray. Food trucks are on hand and museums and libraries are open for demonstrations and workshops.Manly Serenades George Clayton Park, Friday, September 11, 6-9pmThe park by the water is hosting funk-soul band Thunder Fox, acoustic pop performer Eli Wan, and inclusive dance company Bring A Plate, whose mission is to get people dancing. A laser show will conclude the evening.Moorooka Block PartyPeggs Park, Saturday, September 12, 3-7.30pmFunky music and food truck flavours return to Peggs Park for a free open-air concert headlined by Jason Heerah and the African Diaspora (featuring Gervais Koffi).The Complete Bach Catalogue for OrganConcert Hall, QPAC, Sunday, September 13, 6am-10pmOrganist Calvin Bowman will be toning up his glutei maximi to spend 16 hours sitting at the pipe organ playing the complete organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach (with breaks, he’s only human). Audiences are free to come and go throughout the day.The Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts: Community ShowcaseJudith Wright Centre, Thursday, September 24, 12pmStudents of ACPA demonstrate their skills in acting, dancing and singing in a showcase of short pieces developed under professional guidance.One of the artworks in Metro Arts exhibition Night Moves: (In)Sight.Niru MendisFREE: METRO ARTSChoral CthonicsMetro Arts Gallery 1, August 27-September 26, Tue-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 2-6pm, Sun 9am-12.30pmThis group exhibition brings together eight artists to explore the voice as “instrument, threshold and collective force”, with artworks spanning sound, installation and text.Night Moves: (In)SightMetro Arts Gallery 2, August 27-September 26, Tue-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 2-6pm, Sun 9am-12.30pmArtists Kuweni Dias Mendis and Grant x Wilkes have created an installation of mirrors, screens and handmade objects, testing “what it means to see and be seen”.Get alerts on significant breaking news as happens. Sign up for our Breaking News Alert.From our partners