From 6 to 28 September, more than 3,000 people came together across 76 events spanning the full length of the river to celebrate, care for and reconnect with our beloved Birrarung. Even more remarkable: 68% of attendees were experiencing Riverfest for the very first time!

Presented by the Yarra Riverkeeper Association, Birrarung Riverfest brings to life their vision of a healthy, protected and deeply loved river.

Burndap Birrarung burndap umarkoo and Melbourne Water were proud major partners for 2025 – championing the Birrarung’s status as one living, integrated natural entity.

Festival voices and highlights

A festival full of connection, culture and action, Birrarung Riverfest 2025 delivered an incredibly diverse program including:

• Restoring Birrarung Country – Led by Yarra City Council, volunteers came together at Quarries Park in Clifton Hill to heal Country through infill planting. This hands‑on activity helped strengthen local bushland, improve wildlife habitat and deepen community connection with nature.
• The Floating Youth Summit – Convened by Regen Projects, this inspiring gathering invited university students from many cultures to share bold ideas, fresh energy and hopes for the future of Birrarung.
• Wurundjeri Art Activity – A school‑holiday favourite that welcomed families into a space of culture, creativity and connection to Country through hands‑on art-making guided by Wurundjeri knowledge.
• Paddle Power – Children aged 7–13 learnt essential water safety and paddling skills through this fun, confidence‑building program delivered by Paddle VIC in partnership with Manningham City Council.
• Threading the Waters – Held at Abbotsford Convent, this creative workshop series invited artists to explore their relationship with water and place, inspiring new ways of seeing and creating.
• Planting Days at Coranderrk Station – Across three special days, Uncle Dave Wandin welcomed community members from all walks of life to learn, plant and honour the deep history and ongoing stewardship of First Nations people.

Together, these activities inspired more young people and families to spend time outdoors, deepen their connection to the natural environment, and play an active role in caring for Country.

Participant feedback included:

Stormwater Story: turning concern into community action

Birrarung Riverfest 2025 also shone a spotlight on stormwater – one of the biggest pressures facing the river – through a series of events led or supported by Regen Melbourne, the Swimmable Birrarung initiative, Melbourne Water and BBBU.

Across 13 events, community members, government and industry came together to learn about stormwater pollution and explore what we can each do – individually and collectively – to protect Birrarung.

These sessions helped shift the conversation from problems to possibilities. Participants imagined how Melbourne could design and fund a climate‑resilient, swimmable Birrarung where people and nature thrive together.

As one attendee put it:

World Rivers Day: a joyful finale

The festival closed on a high with a vibrant celebration at Federation Square on World Rivers Day.

The day began with the Flowtilla for the Future, a colourful on-water flotilla accompanied by the Riverfest Festoons and the Climate Choir. On land, the Djirri Djirri Dancers and Uncle Ron Murray brought dance, culture and the sound of didgeridoo to the heart of the city as Prayer for a River was shared with the crowd.

• Dr Mandy Nicholson, Wurundjeri woman, artist and educator
• Brendan Condon, Co-founder and Managing Director, Australian Ecosystems
• Chris Chesterfield, Chair, Birrarung Council
• Sophie Hart, wildlife and conservation student and emerging activist

It was an inspiring and thought‑provoking close to a festival defined by hope, creativity and community spirit.