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Airlie Beach Foreshore lined with people.
Every year, thousands of eyes turn skyward as the first firework lights up the night sky. This year, the Great Barrier Reef Festival's signature display returns on Friday night, with a new way of seeing the sky show.
The display will also have a new presenting partner, with Airbnb announced as the naming rights sponsor of this year's Fireworks on the Foreshore, who will handing out free picnic blankets for attendees to enjoy the spectacle on.
"Airbnb is proud to partner with the Great Barrier Reef Festival and support the incredible volunteers who make this event possible for all those who attend from near and far," said Susan Wheeldon, Country Manager of Airbnb Australia and New Zealand.
From early evening, the foreshore will buzz with people as festivalgoers settle in ahead of the 8pm fireworks.
Some will arrive early to grab dinner from the Whitsunday Foodservice Eat Street precinct, others will browse the night markets looking for that memorable trinket or enjoy the carnival rides, while live music keeps the atmosphere building as the night goes on.
The festival's Immerse installation will add another splash of colour to the foreshore, with illuminated reef-inspired sculptures made from recycled marine debris glowing against the night sky.
While most spectators will spread out along the shoreline with picnic rugs and camp chairs, others will choose a different vantage point altogether.
Cruise Whitsundays will once again offer its Twilight Cruise aboard Camira, taking passengers out onto Pioneer Bay for a view of the fireworks from the water. The three-hour cruise departs from Port of Airlie, with drinks and shared antipasto platters included before the vessel positions itself offshore for the display.
Once the fireworks fade, cruise passengers can return to shore and continue enjoying the festival, with the foreshore entertainment ongoing.
No matter where you're viewing the fireworks, from the beach, the Reef Bar or out on the water, the fireworks remain a staple of the Great Barrier Reef Festival, drawing locals and visitors together for a weekend to remember our treasured reef.
The Twilight Cruise departs on Friday evening, with check-in from 5.30pm at the Cruise Whitsundays Terminal. Tickets are $140 per person, plus a booking fee, while access to the Airlie Beach Foreshore remains free for spectators wanting to enjoy the fireworks from the shore.
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