Get involved
The Riverfest Committee welcomes anyone who is passionate about supporting their community. Whether you have skills to share, fresh ideas or simply want to lend a hand, becoming involved is a rewarding way to help shape the future of one of the Cassowary Coast’s premier community celebrations. Together, we can continue growing Riverfest and showcasing everything that makes the Cassowary Coast special.
Join the committee
Do you have a passion for your community and want to help shape one of the Cassowary Coast’s biggest celebrations?
Apply to join the Innisfail Riverfest Committee and bring your ideas, skills and enthusiasm to a friendly team that plans the festival throughout the year.
Meetings are held monthly.
Volunteer on the day
Not ready to join the committee? Become an event-day volunteer and play an important role in bringing Riverfest to life.
Whether you’re welcoming visitors, assisting with activities, providing information or helping behind the scenes, every volunteer makes a difference.
Become a Sponsor
Support Innisfail Riverfest by becoming a valued sponsor and investing in the future of our community.
Your sponsorship helps deliver this free, family-friendly festival and provides valuable exposure for your organisation while demonstrating your commitment to community pride.
The history of riverfest
Revived in 2023 with the support of the Innisfail Fitzgerald Rotary Club, Innisfail Riverfest was reimagined from the much-loved Innisfail Harvest Festival, which last took place in 2009. The inaugural Riverfest coincided with Innisfail’s 150th anniversary, providing the perfect opportunity to celebrate the town’s rich history, multicultural heritage and enduring connection to the Johnstone River. Highlights included the Harvest Festival Queen Reunion, bringing together former Queens and nominees from 1954 to 2009, alongside the launch of the Riverfest Queen Quest, introducing a new generation of young community ambassadors. The festival opened with a First Nations Welcome to Country and featured river activities, the spectacular River of Lights flotilla, live entertainment, multicultural performances, local food, and a fireworks finale. More than 28 sponsors and hundreds of volunteer hours helped deliver the event, attracting approximately 4,000 attendees and generating significant economic benefits for local businesses, accommodation providers and the tourism sector.
Since its successful return, Innisfail Riverfest has continued to grow in both scale and reputation. Statewide media exposure has promoted Innisfail as a vibrant regional destination, while the festival celebrates the area’s diverse cultures through music, dance, cuisine and community participation. Attractions such as the restored South Johnstone Sugar Mill locomotive, community displays and family-friendly activities have become festival favourites.
The introduction of nationally recognised Australian headline performers has seen attendance grow to more than 8,000 people, firmly establishing Riverfest as one of the Cassowary Coast’s premier annual events and an important driver of community pride, regional tourism and economic growth.
