Up to half a million people are expected to flood Brisbane tomorrow for the annual Riverfire display.

Today the final touches for the fireworks show were put in place as the city gears up for the massive event.

Tahlia Butler reports.

TRANSCRIPT

It’s taken six months of planning and 30 tonnes of fireworks and equipment.

It’s the third largest pyro-technics show in Australia.

So expect Riverfire to be spectacular and, according to organisers, special.

Fortunato Foti, Creative Director: “This display is a more unique display, so far that it is close to the public so everyone has a front row seat.”

Mr Foti says this year people should expect a magenta theme with fireworks, synchronised to music, shooting 120 metres up.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk says Riverfire is a great way to celebrate Brisbane and is sure the fireworks will be a crowd pleaser.

Graham Quirk, Lord Mayor: “It’s a great centre of the city activity where people come together and enjoy a great night.”

Brisbane Festival organisers say they’re working closely with authorities to make sure the night runs smoothly.

Jono Perry, Brisbane Festival Technical Director: “We are expecting between 450,000 and 500,000 people. That’ll be on top of the huge crowd we have already been getting for the Santos City of Light.”

Fireworks will be detonated from six barges along the river, most concentrated around the South Bank area.

Spectators better get in early to secure a good viewing spot at one of the key vantage points, like Bowen Terrace, the Eagle St Pier, the Kangaroo Point Cliffs and South Bank.

Translink is advising people to use the free public transport services in and out of the city. There’s an additional 400 bus and ferry services and an extra 88 trains during the evening.

Andy Christie, Translink: “Tomorrow is a very big day, there’s hundreds of thousands of course expected at the event, which makes it even more important that people plan their travel.”

And as a teaser the RAAF Hornets flew a series of practice runs along the Brisbane river today, sure to be a crowd pleaser tomorrow night.

Whether you are infront of the television or on the riverbank, the fireworks display is set to be amazing. And, with the city alight celebrating all that is Brisbane, the festival is sure to end with a bang.

Tahlia Butler, QUT News.