It’s time to party in the streets at the Great Barrier Reef Festival’s 25th Birthday Celebration!

For one spectacular afternoon, Airlie Beach Main Street transforms into a giant 25th birthday celebration by the reef 🎉 where the ocean comes to life through colour, creativity, and community spirit. Every float, costume, and performance draws inspiration from life under the sea, with a shimmering silver anniversary glow adding a special sparkle to the 2026 celebrations.

Expect imaginative floats, dazzling costumes, and plenty of surprises, all embracing reef life from coral gardens and tropical fish to sea creatures, tides, and ocean magic, reimagined with a birthday twist.

This is where the whole town comes together to celebrate 25 years of the Great Barrier Reef Festival, with thousands of locals and visitors lining the streets to soak up the electric atmosphere. Whether you’re building a float, dressing up with your crew, or cheering from the sidelines, expect big energy, reef creativity, silver shine, and one unforgettable celebration by the sea.

Want to Be Involved?

We’d love to have you on board! Whether you’re a school, sporting club, creative crew, business, or community group, the parade is your chance to showcase your spirit, tell your story, and get creative with this years theme:

🎂 25th Birthday Celebration 🎂

It’s the biggest birthday party in the Whitsundays, and the reef is invited! Get creative with reef-inspired birthday themes — from marine creatures in festive attire and sea turtles celebrating in style, to coral kingdoms, underwater party scenes, and imaginative ocean-inspired creations.

We’re celebrating 25 years of the Great Barrier Reef Festival, so be sure to weave in a touch of silver sparkle to mark this special milestone, along with plenty of colour, creativity, and reef magic.

Parade entries can take the form of walking groups, vehicle floats, or a combination of both. Whether you’re representing a business, school, sporting club, charity, or community organisation, this is your chance to be part of one of the Whitsundays’ most loved festival traditions.

Fame, Glory & Prizes

We’re handing out cash prizes and plenty of bragging rights in the following categories:
🏆 Best Business Entry
🏆 Best Not-for-Profit Entry
🏆 Most Creative & Wacky

So start sketching those float ideas and gather your crew—the countdown is on!

How to Get Involved

• Entry deadline: Wednesday, July 29 – don’t miss out!
• Spectators can enjoy the fun from anywhere along the route, or grab a seat at one of the many cafés, bars, or restaurants lining the street for a front-row view.

📧 To register or find out more:

Enter the Parade Now

Email us at parade@greatbarrierreeffestival.com.au