FAQs

The next Rockhampton River Festival is on 25-27 July 2025.

Stay tuned to our Facebook page for announcements. 

The festival is a free event for all ages, however entry fees apply to specific ticketed events throughout the festival.

Hard copies of the program will be available from accommodation providers and visitor information centres within the region. Digital programs will be available on the website closer to the event.

The Rockhampton Events mobile app will also be released with program information and can be downloaded at www.rockhampton.eventapp.com.au. Specific event information will not appear until approximately 6 weeks prior to the event. 

Rockhampton River Festival is held along Quay Street and the Riverside Precinct. The program will also include a map of the event. 

What is a festival without people, and with people comes cars and parking. For everyone who is attending there is ample parking available, however it may involve just a little bit of a walk. But hey, its the perfect way to work off all the wonderful food and drinks that you will consume while at the festival! Car parks are available at:

• * Lower Victoria Parade Car Park

  *Rockhampton Regional Council Car Park corner Derby and Alma Streets

  *Throughout the CBD

   

There are several options for accommodation in Rockhampton including boutique, family, budget and luxury hotel apartment stays. Find out more here!

There will be limited ATMs available within the festival site. There is however a number of ATMs located within the CBD including: 

• The Capricornian (Cnr East and William Streets)
• NAB ATM (Cnr Fitzroy and Bolsover Streets)
• Bank of Queensland ATM (Bolsover St)
• Bendigo Bank ATM (William Street)
• Westpac ATM (Denham Street)
• Inside the Criterion Hotel (Cnr Quay and Fitzroy Streets)
• Inside the Heritage Hotel (Cnr Quay and William Streets)

Security will be onsite throughout the event 24/7 to ensure the safety of all participants. 

Make sure you have your camera ready for all the great entertainment and activities and remember to use our hashtags when sharing on social media.

#rockhamptonriverfestival #myrockhampton #explorerockhampton #thisisqueensland

We have licensed bar areas within the event precinct.  You must have a photo ID to purchase or consume purchased alcohol and can be refused service if too intoxicated by law.

We encourage the responsible consumption of alcohol and have zero tolerance to inappropriate or unlawful behaviour with the consumption of liquor.

No BYO alcohol is permitted within the event precinct or licensed areas.

Toilets will be located across various areas of the festival.

There will be toilets located at:

*Flavours of the World Precinct opposite the Criterion

*Rod Laver Plaza underneath the Boathouse

*Shipyard Precinct opposite food vendors

* Quay St near Derby Street

*Neon Alley

Accessible toilets are located at:

• Rod Laver Plaza (under The Boathouse)
• Rockhampton Museum of Art
• Walter Reid Cultural Centre
• Flavours of the World Precinct opposite the Criterion
• Quay Street near Derby Street

With 300 days of sunshine per year in Rockhampton it is hoped that the three days of the festival will be clear and sunny. Please ensure you slip, slop and slap as there are parts of the festival that are not undercover.

In the event of inclement weather festival organisers will communicate any program changes through this website, Facebook and the FREE event app. 

The event has been designed with accessibility/mobility in mind. The entire festival is accessible via wheelchair, mobility scooters and prams.

If you’d like to be involved in Rockhampton River Festival visit the food and retail page for more information.

Tickets for ticketed events during River Festival will be made available closer to the event on this website.

Stay tuned for program and ticketing announcements. 

If you require medical assistance make your way to the First Aid area shown on the program map. You can also report to any of our information booths or speak to our friendly staff and volunteers who can call for assistance.

IMPORTANT EVENT ROAD CLOSURE INFORMATION

Planning for Rockhampton’s signature annual event is now underway. A mix of art exhibitions, cultural activities, entertainment and market vendors will be located across Quay Street and Quay Lane.

For the safety of the community and event organisers, a number of road closures and traffic management changes will be required ahead of, during and after this year’s Festival.

To minimise inconvenience to businesses and residents, road closures will be in effect for the minimal amount of time as safely possible, with roads closed and reopened in stages.

To facilitate installation of infrastructure on Quay Street, between Denham and William Streets, Traffic Control will be in place from 4:00AM - Wednesday 23 July. The car parks located between William St Round-about and Rockhampton Museum of Art (RMOA) will be unavailable from 4:00AM - Wednesday 23 July to 4:00PM - Monday 28 July 2025.   

*while every effort will be made to achieve reopening on schedule, this may not always be possible due to unforeseen logistics/other circumstances.

EMERGENCY SERVICES WILL HAVE 24/7 ACCESS DURING ROAD CLOSURES AND CHANGED TRAFFIC CONDITIONS

We appreciate changed traffic conditions affect businesses and residents in the Festival area. Council apologises for any inconvenience caused and our personnel will work closely with the community to minimise this.

Motorists and pedestrians are asked to exercise caution and observe all signs and traffic directions.

For any road closure queries, please contact the Advance Rockhampton Team by email advancerockhampton@rrc.qld.gov.au or by phoning 1300 22 55 77.