Action Packed Program Released for Bravus Rockhampton River Festival
Published on 05 October 2021
Rockhampton Regional Council has today announced some of the highly-anticipated attractions at this year’s Bravus Rockhampton River Festival.
Mayor Tony Williams said this year’s festival will bring Aria-award winning dance music group ‘Sneaky Sound System’ and much loved indie folk duo ‘The Dreggs’ alongside festival favourites ‘Jackson Dunn’ and ‘Aspy Jones’.
“Revellers can once again expect to see some great local talent with free acts, roving performers, art activities, family fun and one of a kind entertainment, including Bearded Bingo – see bingo battles and bearded beaus taking stage in Customs House,” Mayor Williams said.
Advance Rockhampton Executive Manager Mr Greg Bowden said the River Festival has become part of our community life and we are ecstatic we can deliver such a full program expanding our entertainment options in the region.
“I’m particularly delighted with this year’s offering and huge credit must go to the Advance Rockhampton Events team and the entire Rockhampton Regional Council team in pulling together this program,” Mr Bowden said.
“We’re extremely thankful to our event naming rights sponsor Bravus Mining and Resources and for new sponsors this year including Acciona, Fitzroy Partnership for River Health and Mr Real Estate for helping us deliver another outstanding festival for Central Queensland.”
Bravus Mining & Resources Head of Communications and Community Kate Campbell said it is exciting to see the return of the event in 2021 with a wonderful program of events.
“We are delighted to extend our sponsorship of River Festival for a third year and play a small part in delivering an event which really has something for the entire community,” Ms Campbell said.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE
Erth River Fish Puppet Workshops sponsored by Fitzroy Partnership for River Health
Drop in and join puppeteers from Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo to create a school of life-size barramundi puppets. Using recycled materials, get in and get crafty as we construct these giant river fish together. Help us recycle and bring along a washed 2L milk bottle from home to contribute. The delightful illuminated River Fish will parade along the river each night during the Festival.
Fireworks proudly sponsored by Mr Real Estate
Crowds will be treated to fireworks displays each night of the festival at family friendly timeslots of 7.45pm on Friday and Saturday and 6.45pm on Sunday.
You Should be Dancing by Everybody NOW!
You Should Be Dancing is a shiny, glittery, mega mix of the ultimate dancing moves, bought to you by performance collective Everybody NOW! Totally participatory, inclusive for all ages and abilities, the show opens with a short ‘learn the moves’ class following by 90 minutes of dancing. This is your invitation to party, feel the rhythm, embrace the romance and dance, dance, dance.
Wheel of Oz
Take in the views of the festival and the beautiful Fitzroy River (Tunuba) on the Wheel of Oz Ferris Wheel. At an elegant 26 metres tall, take a ride in one of the eighteen open air gondolas and be awe inspired by the 360˚ panoramic views. Tickets are $5pp and available at the festival box office. Companion Cards and children under 3 years are free.
Erth's Dinosaur Zoo
Meet an amazing menagerie of dinosaurs that once roamed free across Australia. Learn how to feed and interact with Erth’s dinosaurs in a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Children can watch wide-eyed from a safe distance or dare to get right up close to these prehistoric creatures.
Bearded Bingo – tickets on sale soon!
A fabulous new take on a beloved ball-based classic. Brisbane’s notorious boylesque stars Briefs are back to satisfy your thinly-veiled gambling addiction with a high-key, low-stakes drag circus bingo extravaganza! Grab your buddies, down a few chardies, and have your bingo blotter at the ready if you want a shot at the hilariously miscellaneous prize table! It’s a day of kind-hearted, PG-ish entertainment guaranteed to leave you feeling a little light in your loafers.
Waka Gulbugarngu Tunuba | All the tribe coming to the Big River (Fitzroy River)
A meeting space nurtured by Darumbal Enterprise. Gather with Traditional Custodians the Darumbal people on the banks of Tunuba for a program of ceremony, workshops, listening, learning, dancing and yarning. Come with respect, ready to engage, dance and be enriched by the oldest living culture on earth.
"Culture is the heart of our identity and without it we would be lost" Darumbal Enterprise
Waka Gulbugarngu Tunuba program is for all ages.
Program includes:
- Welcome to Country
- Ceremony
- Fire & Darumbal Stories with elders
- Didgeridoo Performance
- Story Time
- Craft Sessions
- Weaving & Dilly bag workshops
- Artefact displays
- Cultural performance from The Australian South Sea Islander community
- Cultural performance from Tu Te Awaroa showcasing Maori Culture
- Bush Tucker yarning
Walter Reid Cultural Centre Exhibition and Open Day Tours
Enjoy the Exhibition in the Gallery from 5pm-7pm Friday night, 10am-5pm on Saturday and 10am-5pm on Sunday or pop into the Walter Reid on Saturday for their open day including guided tours of the basement, historical features and visits to the many working groups within the Centre. Studios are also open for viewing at various times throughout the festival with drop in activities for a creative mind.
CapriCon Pop Culture Experiences
Rockhampton’s favourite pop culture convention CapriCon is making a guest appearance at the Bravus Rockhampton River Festival. Not only will festival attendees be able to enjoy food, arts and music they will also be delighted by CapriCon’s signature Cosplay Competition on the Shipyard Stage and a visit to some of the unique vendors located in Pop Culture Alley behind Customs House on Sunday 24 October. Need to get out of the heat? Pop into the Walter Reid Cultural Centre for our Anime Cinema on the Saturday and Sunday.
HOT AUGUST NIGHT performed by The Good Band
Turn up the heat with Neil Diamond’s iconic Hot August Night played by The Good Band in this outdoor concert special. The year is 1972 and Neil Diamond gave us hit after hit on Hot August Night with tracks such as; Cherry Cherry, Sweet Caroline, Kentucky Woman and Cracklin’ Rosie giving us one of the best-selling albums of all time that went 10x platinum here in Australia. Move forward to 2021, and The Good Band will be bringing their flavour to these legendary tracks in Saturday night party not to be missed. The Good Band is made up of members from Queensland’s very own chart toppers George and local party starters The Cheap Fakes featuring; Hayden Andrews, Benjamin Hack, Geoff Green, Ben Mackay, and Liam Kirk.
Entry to the Bravus Rockhampton River Festival is free.
Want to make sure you see everything at River Festival? Download the free mobile app Rockhampton Events to check out the full program, add events to your personalised program, and plan your days at the festival! Download the app from Google Play or Apple Store or visit www.rockhampton.eventapp.com.au
Thank you to our sponsors Bravus Mining and Resources, Acciona, Fitzroy Partnership for River Health, Mr Real Estate, CQ Today, Seven Network, WIN Network, Triple M, 4RO.
The Queensland Government is proud to support the Rockhampton River Festival through Tourism and Events Queensland’s Destination Events Program and it is a feature on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.