The Ipswich Festival is an annual multi-disciplinary festival that fosters and encourages an atmosphere which brings families together to enjoy the many free attractions. The Ipswich Festival showcases a broad and bold program of entertainment and arts that continues to entertain, inspire and celebrate the essence of our City's culture, spirit and community to the highest calibre.
First staged in 1998, the Ipswich Festival has enjoyed a thirteen year development strategy, and the planning, programming and production are professionally managed by an experienced team of individuals who are highly regarded as specialists in creating and managing festivals and community event.The Ipswich Festival is regarded as the City's premier event and over the past 13 years, the variety, size and scope of the program has grown exponentially through increasing interest group participation, corporate partnerships and community enthusiasm through the presentation of a festival that `celebrates its city'.
The Festival opens each year with Fire on the River - a spectacular fireworks display, free to the public, which attracts audience participation of around fifteen thousand to the banks of the Bremer River, celebrating her natural beauty.
The festival parade followed by the Top of Town Festival Street Party is held on the first Saturday. The Festival Parade is a family favourite of the Ipswich Festival and attracts over 10,000 people each year to see the floats pass by. The Top of Town Festival Street Party provides major family appeal and involves a tremendous party atmosphere, street closures, market and food stalls, café style seating and three themed stages along the street.
The Festival has a tradition of ending the two week celebrations with a free day of events created specifically for thousands of families with young children, titled Kid's Kingdom.
Families enjoy high calibre stage performances, creative, interactive and educational workshops celebrating the imagination and spirit of our children. A packed program of roving performers, face-painting, rides, displays and food stalls, make Kid's Kingdom a wonderful celebration for children.
The festival presents Ipswich's cultural heritage and highlights the city's emerging talents through a deliberate program of Live Bands, Concerts, Art exhibits, Fireworks, Theatre, Jazz, Multicultural Celebrations, interactive displays and a range of family-based events to encourage participation by all age groups whilst attracting day tourism to the region.