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Great Barrier Reef Festival

Great Barrier Reef Festival

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Whitsunday Coast Airport Fireworks on the Foreshore
Whitsunday Coast Airport Fireworks on the Foreshore
Whitsunday Coast Airport Fireworks on the Foreshore
Whitsunday Coast Airport Fireworks on the Foreshore
Whitsunday Coast Airport Fireworks on the Foreshore
Whitsunday Coast Airport Fireworks on the Foreshore
Fireworks on the Foreshore
Cruise Reverse Logo - Black & White
Fireworks on the Foreshore
Cruise Reverse Logo - Black & White
Fireworks on the Foreshore
Cruise Reverse Logo - Black & White
Fireworks on the Foreshore
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Immerse
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Family Fun Day
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2025 Great Barrier Reef Festival

Welcome to the Great Barrier Reef Festival – Where the Reef Meets the Shore

The Great Barrier Reef Festival, proudly presented by Cruise Whitsundays, lights up Airlie Beach with three unforgettable days of celebration. It’s where the reef meets the streets, showcasing the Whitsundays’ coastal culture through colour, creativity, and community spirit.

From the dazzling Friday Night Fireworks and live music to the buzz of Saturday’s Street Parade, the Revvin’ the Reef Car Show, and the much-loved Family Fun Day, the program is packed with experiences for every age and interest.

Stroll the foreshore and discover Immerse, a striking reef-themed art installation created entirely from recycled materials, bringing sustainability and marine life to the forefront in a vibrant, creative display.

Whether you’re drawn by the entertainment, the art, the family fun, or the reef itself, this is Airlie Beach’s premier festival. A celebration that belongs to locals, welcomes visitors, and captures the heart of the Whitsundays.

Be part of something great.

Download our 2025 Festival Program

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🪸 Save the Date! The Great Barrier Reef Festiva 🪸 Save the Date! The Great Barrier Reef Festival returns in 2026, Friday July 31 – Sunday Aug 2✨
Three unforgettable days of live music, dazzling parades, reef-inspired art, family fun and fireworks over the Whitsundays. Don’t miss the weekend that celebrates the heart of the reef!💛💚 💙 

#GreatBarrierReefFestival #GBRF2026 #ReefFestival
What a sight! The Immerse Art Installation was spe What a sight! The Immerse Art Installation was spectacular, with coral bommies, marine animals, and scuba divers all celebrating the vibrant life of the Great Barrier Reef.

Crafted entirely from recyclable materials with sustainability at the heart, this installation showed how art can inspire wonder and care for our oceans. 💛♻️
A huge thank you to Tassal for sponsoring this masterpiece and helping bring the reef to the foreshore! 🐠🌿

@tassalseafood
From stage to street, the entertainment didn’t s From stage to street, the entertainment didn’t stop! Live acts, fire, dance and acrobatics kept the energy soaring all weekend 🔥🎤

2025 @cruisewhitsundays Geat Barrier Reef Festival

#GreatBarrierReefFestival #GBRFestival #AirlieBeach #Whitsundays #FestivalVibes #LiveEntertainment #CoastalCulture
We still can’t get over those mascots at Family We still can’t get over those mascots at Family Fun Day! They jumped, high-fived, and even hula-hooped like pros!
Next time, should we see them try a limbo or have a dance-off? 🤔🕺
What 👏 a 👏 weekend 👏 From glowing lantern What 👏 a 👏 weekend 👏 From glowing lanterns to reef art, live music, fireworks and family fun on the foreshore. The 2025 @cruisewhitsundays Great Barrier Reef Festival lit up Airlie Beach in the best way! 💙🐠

#GreatBarrierReefFestival #AirlieBeach #Whitsundays #LoveWhitsundays #ReefFest
🎶 Big thanks to our friends at @airliebeachfest 🎶 Big thanks to our friends at @airliebeachfestivalofmusic  for supporting us behind the bar during the Great Barrier Reef Festival! Your crew brought so much energy and smiles to the foreshore, we couldn’t have done it without you. 🙌💛

While you’re riding the festival vibes, don’t forget their own amazing event is coming up!

Latest Posts

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Great Barrier Reef Festival are calling for new volunteers In celebration of Volunteering Australia and volunteer week 2023, we are

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Festival events at the heart of conserving our Great Barrier Reef Festivities and fireworks aren’t the only side to the

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Great Barrier Reef Festival experiences you won’t want to miss Behind the scenes a team of volunteers has been busily

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Immerse Yourself in the Great Barrier Reef

Festival’s callout to community and creators for visual arts events There will be plenty of ways to ‘immerse’ yourself in

Learn From The ‘Masters’

Festival Experience A ‘First’ For Great Barrier Reef  The Whitsundays’ annual Great Barrier Reef Festival is renowned for being a

The Comedy Gala is a Go !

It will be all laughs at the Reef Gateway Hotel on Thursday, September 23, when the venue finally gets to

Creating an underwater marine wonderland

The community is being invited to be involved in an art installation project to transform a large fig tree in

Anything Environmental Recyclable Regatta

Get ready for Recyclable Regatta

IF YOU want to be involved in this year’s Recyclable Regatta as part of the Great Barrier Reef Festival, now

Immerse

Art project to be part of 2021 reef festival

An art installation project will be a feature of this year’s Great Barrier Reef Festival to be held in August.

Volunteers Great Barrier Reef Festival

Call for Volunteers

Would you like to become involved in the community and learn new skills?   The Great Barrier Reef Festival is looking

Putting the ‘great’ into Great Barrier Reef Festival

When the inaugural Great Barrier Reef Festival started on Thursday, a team of volunteers held their breath. Although this was

Take an exclusive tour to the Whitsundays’ underwater art

Be a part of something unique – the first and only artist talks and tours to the Whitsundays’ Ngaro Underwater

Festival fever hits Airlie Beach

For six solid months a small but merry band of volunteers has been working hard on the Whitsundays’ favourite Great

View all Posts

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