Friday, September 27, 2013

BRISBANE RIVERFIRE FESTIVAL

September in Brisbane means it's time for the Riverfire Festival.
Like a lot of places all over the world we like to hold our festival in Spring and as we are lucky if we have one month that feels like Spring before Summer comes along in earnest, now is the time.

Just in time I might add as this week has had a couple of record days for Spring heat with the thermometer reaching 33 and 35 .

One of the highlights of the festival is the Laser Light Show where lasers combine with water jets and music to create an extravaganza of colour above the river, right in the centre of the city.

We arrived at about 6:00pm when the light was fading fast and were just in time to see a fly over by some Air Force helicopters.
They came in very low and very fast above the water
and way below the tall buildings of the city.



They were fantastic to watch and dropped so low that the water spray they kicked up travelled right across to the river bank to where the crowds could feel it.


People were arriving in their droves and we ambled along the river bank to the best spot and found ourselves a grassy spot to sit on while we waited for the show.
 


It was a beautiful night after a very hot day with a gentle breeze off the water.


As is the way in sub-tropical places, night falls very quickly and the lights of the city began to glitter and shimmer on the river that is such a muddy brown colour in the daylight.



It is school holiday time here so families were out enjoying the scene.


By 7:00pm it was quite dark and the Laser Show began.



Music blared loudly from loudspeakers along the shoreline

and the light show kept time.


Quite spactacular!


I even managed a little video for you.

 
Once it was all over we made our way through the crowds to a spectacular area of lights which hung from above like icicles...
 
 

and changed colour creating a lovely effect.
 
 Then we were off across the bridge and into the city


where we had a fantastic gormet hamburger for dinner.

The ferries were busy taking people from one side of the river to the other.


and the city was spectacularly beautiful from the back of the ferry as we set off for home.
 


A delightful evening!
Brisbane is truely a lovely modern city.

Cheers.
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15 comments:

  1. WOW! WOW! WOW! That seems to be all I can say. I'm not much for going out but I would walk to see that. Great blog! Thank you very much!

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    1. The setting and the weather help to make it a lovely out too David.

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  2. Helsie, the Storey Bridge looks pretty in purple. The laser show is a nice change to the fireworks. I remember it used to get so packed everywhere along the river for Riverfire. And the reflection of the city in the river ~ I am feeling a little home sick.

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    1. We went in to the fireworks on Saturday night too Carol. It was a wonderful display too but we do miss the dump and burn by the F111s

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  3. Replies
    1. It's a lovely time of the year in Brisbane , Jane.

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  4. what fabulous photos! picture postcard perfect.

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  5. Looks like a fabulous show. I understand there is going to be another wonderful display tonight!

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    1. It was on every night often twice a night so everyone had a chance to see it. Perhaps you can time a visit for September next year, Mang sounds like she has a great vantage point.

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  6. Great photos Helen. We saw the laser show a couple of weeks ago and loved it. I love the new lights on the Story Bridge, the colours are amazing. Each week it's usually lit up a different colour. Last nights fireworks were truly the best fireworks I've ever seen. We had a perfect view of the bridge and the first pontoon, but could also see down the river to Southbank, spectacular. Unfortunately I decided to use my phone instead of my camera to take photos and they were very ordinary, sigh.

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    1. We were there too Marg. On the walkway in front of the Stanford. It was a terrific display and lasted ages too. Loved the involvement of the Storey Bridge too!

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  7. Amazing! I especially appreciated the video clip. It is wonderful that Brisbane's leaders have the vision and the wherewithal to support such a venture - which must be very costly to put on. But what is life if always reduced to cost-benefit analyses? Spectacular!

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    1. Don't know why YP but you seem to be stuttering !!!
      Luckily the event is sponsored by Santos ( I think that is a big mining company ). It's a lovely time to visit Brisbane, the weather is so nice and not too hot.

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  8. Amazing! I especially appreciated the video clip. It is wonderful that Brisbane's leaders have the vision and the wherewithal to support such a venture - which must be very costly to put on. But what is life if always reduced to cost-benefit analyses? Spectacular!

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  9. Beautiful picturing ! ferries look wonderful and all lights reflection are very attractive..
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