Riverfest

Biodiversity is often described as ‘the web of life’, encompassing all living things and their ecosystems. This event is held each year to help promote the importance of protecting, conserving and improving biodiversity. Unfortunately, there are many threats to Australia’s biodiversity, including habitat destruction, introduced species, poor fire management and climate change.

You can help protect Australia’s biodiversity in lots of ways, such as by taking part in National Wattle Day and National Threatened Species Day. Find out more.

Date: Saturday 19 & Sunday 20 September
Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Location: Wistaria Gardens, Parramatta Park
More information: Weekend in Wistaria | Greater Sydney Parklands

Celebrate spring at Weekend in Wistaria, a free two-day festival in Parramatta Park’s Wistaria Gardens, held in collaboration with Riverfest 2026. Enjoy colourful spring blooms, nature play, eco-art, guided walks, workshops, live music, community stalls and family-friendly activities celebrating the park, river and local wildlife.

Time: 10:30am – 2:00pm
Location: Kissing Point Wharf, Putney
Contact: Same Park, FITA Coordinator, 0452 466 156
Registration: Not required

Join the passionate volunteers from FITA (Fraternity in Truth Association) as they clean up popular Kissing Point Park. The group has cared for this stretch of river foreshore for more than 20 years! All equipment is provided. Please wear covered shoes and a hat and bring a water bottle.

Time: 2:00pm – 3:30pm
Location: The Bay Run, Lilyfield
Meeting Point: End of Maliyawul St Carpark, Lilyfield
Registration: events.humanitix.com/riverfest-silent-disco-walk

Pop on your wireless headphones and join a free Family Silent Disco Walk along the Bay Run! Enjoy music, dancing, games, and plenty of fun by the water. Everyone’s welcome ‒ no dance skills needed. Just bring comfy shoes, water, sun protection, and your best moves!

The World Clean Up Day annual event unites volunteers, governments and organisations in 191 countries to tackle the global waste problem and help create a more sustainable world.

Check this page for clean-up events being organised across the catchment. There will be groups in every part of the catchment, volunteering to help protect habitat. Find out more.

Time: 9:00 – 11:00am
Location: Bedlam Bay Oval, Campbell Drive Gladesville
Meeting Point: Near toilet block
Find out more: Bedlam Bay Swim Site Clean-up

Join us for a clean-up at the new Bedlam Bay swim site. Equipment and gloves are provided ‒ come along even if you can only spare an hour.

Limited parking is available on Campbell Drive via Punt Road. Alternatively, park at the end of Punt Road and walk 10 minutes through Parramatta River Regional Park, or catch a 500-series bus along Victoria Road.

Time: 10:30am – 12:00pm
Location: Kissing Point Wharf, Putney
Registration: Riverfest Dragon Boating Come and Try Session – Ryde Dragon Boat Club

Come and try dragon boating at Riverfest! It’s a fun way to get active, work as a team, and enjoy some friendly competition on the water. It’s open to everyone aged 10 and over, with no experience needed.

Time: 10:00am – 11:00am
Location: Lake Parramatta swimming area
Registration: Comics by the River

Love drawing and exploring nature? Join illustrator and environmental communicator Jess Harwood for a fun, hands-on cartooning session inspired by the natural world at Parramatta Reserve.

All materials are provided, so just bring your curiosity! The session will be held indoors and outdoors, and children must be accompanied by a ticketed parent or carer.

Time: 10:00am – 10:30am
Location: Online
Registration: RiverFest Online 2026 – Virtual Excursions Australia

Explore how waste travels through our catchments and affects estuaries, wetlands, and coastal areas. Join us for World Rivers Day to learn how we can all help protect our waterways. This event is hosted by Australian Environmental Education.

Time: 11:00am – 11:30am
Location: Online
Registration: RiverFest Online 2026 – Virtual Excursions Australia

Follow water’s journey from the catchment to the sea and learn how land clearing, agriculture and urbanisation affect our waterways and limited freshwater resources. Hosted by Australian Environmental Education.

Time: 1:00pm – 1:30pm
Location: Online
Registration: RiverFest Online 2026 – Virtual Excursions Australia

Test your environmental knowledge and compete against classmates, colleagues or family during this fun 30-minute midday quiz. Everyone is welcome! This event is hosted by Australian Environmental Education.

Time: 2:00pm – 2:30pm
Location: Online
Registration: RiverFest Online 2026 – Virtual Excursions Australia

Discover what makes water so unique and essential to life. This online session explores its remarkable properties and ability to exist as a gas, liquid and solid. Hosted by Australian Environmental Education.

Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm
Location: Pittwater Rd, Gladesville
Meeting Point: Field of Mars Reserve car park in East Ryde
Registration: events.humanitix.com/cumberland-bird-observers-club-bird-walk-and-talk

Join expert birdwatchers for a relaxed Bird Walk and Talk from Field of Mars Reserve to the Lane Cove River. Learn to identify local birds and discover the area’s birdlife – beginners, experienced birders, and all ages are welcome.

Time: 7:00pm – 7:45pm
Location: Online
Find out more: Powerful Owl Webinar

Discover the secret lives of Sydney’s Powerful Owls with BirdLife Australia’s Powerful Owl Project and the Parramatta River Catchment Group. Learn how these impressive urban predators live, hunt and raise their young, how to spot signs they’re nearby, and what we can all do to help protect their habitat.

Time: 9:30am – 12:30pm
Location: 235 Briens Rd Westmead
Find out more: Clean up Toongabbie Creek for Riverfest

Roll up your sleeves and join Friends of Toongabbie Creek for a community clean-up at a spot where volunteers have already removed over 2,000 kg of litter.

All gear is provided – just wear sturdy shoes, long pants and a hat, and bring a refillable water bottle. Great for adults and kids aged seven and over. Register on the day using the QR code.

Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Location: International Peace Park, accessible via Rowley Street or Jean Street, Seven Hills
Registration: Riverfest 2026 Spotlight on Biodiversity Tour – Blacktown City

Explore Blacktown Creek and discover the plants, animals and habitats that make our local waterways so important. Through hands-on activities, you’ll investigate waterway health, spot wildlife and learn how healthy creeks support people, wildlife and the Parramatta River catchment.

This free Riverfest 2026 event is hosted by Blacktown City Council and is open to council residents only. Registration is essential and places are limited.

Time: 1:00 – 2:30pm
Location: Palace Norton Street Cinema 2, 99 Norton St, Leichhardt
Registration: events.humanitix.com/riverfest-river-documentary-screening

Join us for a special screening of River, a visually stunning documentary narrated by Willem Dafoe that journeys through the world’s waterways and explores their beauty, power and ecological importance.

This is a free event. Registration is essential as places are limited. 

World Rivers Day celebrates the world’s waterways, highlighting the many values of our rivers and encouraging greater public awareness and improved management and protection. It started in Canada, where community action has restored rivers to help the salmon run free. Find out more.

Time: 9:30am – 12:00pm
Location: Gallery Garden, 83 Picasso Cres, Old Toongabbie
Registration: Art Gallery Gardens

Celebrate 30 years of bush regeneration in Old Toongabbie with a creative morning at Gallery Gardens. Local artists will draw inspiration from the bush, with a pop-up gallery, art demonstrations, and nature-based activities for all ages. Artists are also welcome to bring their own materials and sketch, paint, write, or create outdoors.

Expressions of interest to host an event at this year’s Riverfest have now closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted an idea.

Riverfest is the Parramatta River Catchment Group’s annual celebration of the river and its catchment. The festival brings together events that inspire people to connect with local waterways and take action to care for them.

Riverfest events can be large or small, in person or online, and designed for different ages, interests and abilities. Activities may include:

• Bushcare, tree planting, and clean-up events
• Guided walks, talks, and heritage tours
• Kayaking, paddling, swimming, and other water activities
• Citizen science and wildlife discovery events
• Sustainability workshops and educational sessions
• Art, music, and creative activities
• Family fun days, markets, and community gatherings
• Webinars, panel discussions, and presentations
• School and youth activities
• Health and wellbeing activities such as yoga or fitness by the water

Event hosts play an important role in creating a vibrant program that strengthens the community’s connection with the Parramatta River and its surrounds.

Explore what’s happening at this year’s Riverfest in the Event Program.

For information about Riverfest or future opportunities to participate, contact PRCG Riverkeeper Marion Huxley at: marion.huxley@innerwest.nsw.gov.au.

A key aim of Riverfest is to bring people together to connect with local waterways, the environment and each other – and volunteers are a big part of making that happen.

Volunteering is a great way to meet like-minded people, have fun, support a cause you care about and learn more about your local area.

There are plenty of ways to get involved, from citizen science and litter clean-ups to helping at community events. Every contribution, no matter how big or small, helps make Riverfest a success and inspires more people to enjoy and care for the Parramatta River and its surrounds.

If you’d like to learn more about volunteering for Riverfest, please contact PRCG Riverkeeper, Marion Huxley, at: marion.huxley@innerwest.nsw.gov.au.