Riverfest is not just a celebration, it’s also a chance to reflect on how we care for the Birrarung, including the impact of stormwater on the health of our rivers.

Riverfest 2025 will run from 6 to 28 September along the river from Warburton to Westgate Park, and will culminate with a celebration at Federation Square on World Rivers Day. Following the success of last year’s festival, which featured 46 events and welcomed over 2,000 participants, Riverfest 2025 is shaping up to be the most impactful and inclusive yet.

Who can apply

The festival is a grassroots celebration of the Yarra, Birrarung, and we invite community groups, individuals, artists, educators, local businesses, and organisations to be part of the program. Events can take many forms – from guided walks, clean-ups and workshops to performances, talks, art installations and more.

If your idea helps connect people with the river and promotes a healthy, protected and loved Birrarung, we’d love to hear from you. We invite you to join us to help grow this festival into an iconic feature on Victoria’s event calendar.

How to apply

If you’re interested in hosting an event, please read the following guidelines:

Then, submit your application online by Wednesday 18 June.
Successful applicants will be advised by 25 June.

If you’d like to discuss your event idea before submitting your EOI, please email [email protected].