Great Barrier Reef Festival

Be a part of something Great

Street Parade Registration

The Street Parade returns for the Great Barrier Reef Festival’s 25th birthday celebration, bringing a wave of colour, creativity, music, and silver sparkle through the heart of town.

For one spectacular afternoon, Airlie Beach Main Street transforms into a moving celebration of the reef! Where every float, costume, and performance is inspired by life under the sea. This is a reef-themed parade, and in 2026 it comes with an extra twist… a shimmering SILVER ANNIVERSARY GLOW woven through the celebration.

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.

Prizes (and bragging rights) will be given for:

  • Best Business 
  • Best not-for-profit
  • Most Creative & Wacky Design

Entries Close Wednesday July 29

  • Not for Profits and Sponsors – Free entry
  • Business Entries – $50 fee (below)

Register Here:

Non Profits / Sponsors
Businesses and groups

PREPARE FOR THE PARADE

  • Get your entry form in ON TIME (closing date Wednesday July 29th):
  • Entry Description: On the entry form, under the heading ‘Entry Description’ please write a description / announcement to promote your business / organisation and describe your entry as it passes the center stage, i.e.

’Club Whitsunday is Airlie Beach’s largest club and only multi-sport, profit for community hospitality facility.  Starting a partnership with the town’s largest community event in the Great Barrier Reef Festival in its historic 25th year ticks all the boxes.  We’re excited for what our many sporting groups can bring to this year’s Street Parade and are already planning an epic Club Whitsunday float‘

  • Trucks MUST be under 12.5 meters – sizes are enforced by Whitsunday Regional Council.
  • Plan your entry round the theme: For inspiration, think of ideas supporting the theme 🎂 25th Birthday Celebration 🎂 while making the parade as colourful and creative as we can!
  • Look out for an email. The GBRF team will contact you the week of the festival with details of assembly time, place, your sequence in the parade.
  • Please – No Balloons, we encourage entrants to use sustainable and recyclable products.  
  • Please keep in mind our safety requirements when planning your entry
  • For everyone to have fun AND be safe, including spectators, please assist with implementing our safety requirements:
    • No Throwing – to minimise the risk of injury from moving vehicles do not throw objects, including lollies during the parade. Walkers can hand these out to the children.
    • All vehicles e.g. truck, bus, car/ute/4WD with trailer MUST HAVE two walkers along side / in front of vehicles (preferably wearing high-vis vests/shirts). This will be checked at the assembly point
  • Dont forget the theme – vehicles or entrants must be dressed using the reef theme to take part