The festival brought a diverse community together to celebrate its neighbourhood's natural asset — Oxley Creek. It took place in Simpson's Playground, Graceville, on June 1, where the creek joins the Brisbane River.

The day featured canoeing, giant kite flying, environmental displays, children's art activities, the Bremer to Brisbane canoe race, music, dance, storytelling and a speakers' tent.

The closing event

A lantern parade of 200 candle-lit lanterns led to a performance, featuring music, dance, a lantern parade and large lanterns, at the edge of the creek. All the lanterns were created by the community in workshops before the festival.

The performance began by recognising the traditional owners of the land with a canoe crossing by local Indigenous people and a dance and fire ceremony.

One of the highlights was the appearance of a four-metre-high puppet of a bird, symbolising the spirit of the creek, preceded by two fire-silhouette birds. The show finished with the large lanterns being floated down the creek.

Artists

Director: Sara Lawless
Visual artists: Brenda Mason, Elizabeth Mason, John Fitz -Walter
Music director: Margaret Lawless
Canoe makers: Boogakin Bunkoo
Dancers: Baralgah Dance Group
Narrator: Vi McDermott
Event Consultants: Neil Cameron, Linsey Pollack
Didgeridoo: Nicholas and Chris Ivanoff

Community involvement

Thirty local community members were involved in making lanterns and playing music, along with the Pamphlet Sea Scouts, Graceville State School and Christ the King school, Sherwood.

Funding: Brisbane City Council Local Cultural and Festival Grant