The Birrarung Riverfest is back this September school holidays, with over 60 events across 23 days, stretching along the entire Yarra, Birrarung River.
In just three years, the festival has grown into one of Melbourne’s major cultural and environmental events, inspiring connection to Country, action for the river, and collaboration across communities.
Kicking off Saturday 6th September and closing on World Rivers Day, Sunday 28th September, the festival is hosting events from platypus spotting and sunset paddles, to gig nights and art-led sensory walks, plus a variety of family-friendly activities.
“After a cold Melbourne winter, Riverfest comes at the perfect time to spring us back to life,” says Janet Bolitho, President of the YRKA. “From educational and cultural events to outdoor adventures, the Riverfest program has something for everyone”.
Riverfest is presented by the Yarra Riverkeeper Association (YRKA), a major community voice for the Yarra, Birrarung for the past 20 years. Now in its third year, the Birrarung Riverfest has doubled in scale and tripled in attendance. In 2025, the YRKA has convened over 200+ event hosts and volunteers across diverse sectors and is expecting more than 2,000 participants.
By supporting education and stewardship along the river, Birrarung Riverfest is helping to create a more liveable, climate-ready city. Events include:
- Numerous Wurundjeri led events centering First Nations knowledge and culture around the Birrarung, such as ‘Bushfood and Bush medicine’ in Abbotsford.
- A sensory sunrise walk over the Birrarung, led by artist Kate Gorringe-Smith at Dights Falls.
- Planting habitat for Victoria’s critically endangered Helmeted Honeyeater and the Lowland Leadbeater’s Possum at Yellingbo Nature Conservation Area.
- A morning gathering at the Liwik Barring Landscape Conservation Area, including morning tea and guided walk to learn the history, native revegetation, biodiversity and management of the land.
- World Rivers Day Finale. A major community celebration at Federation Square, with a flotilla of boats along the river, music, art, ceremony and culture.
This year, the festival aims to raise awareness of stormwater pollution and its threat to the health of the river. “Birrarung is under pressure from city growth, climate change, and stormwater pollution. Now more than ever, it needs our care,” says Janet Bolitho. “With everything that washes down our street drains ending up in a local waterway, it’s important that we understand and reduce the impact of litter and pollution on our beloved river.”
Major partners for the 2025 Birrarung Riverfest are the Burndap Birrarung burndap umarkoo collaboration and Melbourne Water, sharing YRKA’s vision for a healthy, protected and loved river.
Together, they are helping protect the single living entity and amplify the community voice for the Birrarung. “Everyone can be a Riverkeeper,” says Janet Bolitho “and it’s up to all of us to help the Yarra.”