Riverfest
20–28 September 2025
Riverfest is the Parramatta River Catchment Group’s annual, premier community event – celebrating the Parramatta River and surrounding creeks and environment!
This year’s festival is being held from Saturday, 20 September (World Clean Up Day) to Sunday, 28 September (World Rivers Day).
Expressions of interest are now open for Riverfest 2025. We invite you to share creative ideas to help the community care for, connect with, and reimagine the future of the Parramatta River.
Previous events held as part of Riverfest include community bush care and clean-ups, webinars, panel discussions, sustainability workshops, art, trivia, walks, talks, swims, paddles, and more.
To register your expression of interest, click here and complete the form. All expressions of interest will be reviewed by the PRCG, and responses will be provided by early August 2025.
This year’s Riverfest program offers a wide range of events and activities for you to connect with the Parramatta River and its surrounding creeks and environment and help make a difference. More events will be added in coming weeks, so check back regularly to see what’s on!
DURING RIVERFEST
National Biodiversity Month
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.
SATURDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER 2025
World Clean Up Day
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.
SUNDAY, 28 SEPTEMBER 2025
World Rivers Day
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.
A key aim of Riverfest is to create opportunities for the community to connect with their local waterways, environment, and each other – and volunteers are essential to making this happen.
Volunteering is a great way to meet like-minded people, have fun, and support a cause you care about while learning more about your local area.
There are many ways to get involved, from citizen science and litter clean-ups to helping at community events. Every contribution, big or small, helps make Riverfest a success and encourages more people to discover and connect with the Parramatta River and its surrounds.
If you would like to learn more about ways you can volunteer for Riverfest, please contact the PRCG Coordinator Alexi Gilchrist at: alexi.gilchrist@innerwest.nsw.gov.au.
Riverfest is an opportunity for community groups, councils, state government agencies and other organisations to showcase the work being done in the Parramatta River catchment to improve the health of our local waterways and provide opportunities for the community to connect with and support their local environment.
Expressions of Interest
Event submissions for this year’s Riverfest have now closed.
We encourage you to explore the program and take part in the events and activities on offer.
For more information about Riverfest, please contact the PRCG Coordinator Alexi Gilchrist at: alexi.gilchrist@innerwest.nsw.gov.au.