Tens of thousands of revellers mingled along the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, taking in Skyfire 2019 and celebrating community spirit.

Midway through the display, it appeared as though all the fireworks on one barge ignited as sparks were sent flying in the direction of the crowd gathered on the shores of lake at Rond Terrace.

The explosion occurred during Peking Duk's song Fire. An Emergency Services Agency spokesman said it was not required at the scene.

A WorkSafe ACT spokeswoman said the organisation was "making inquires in relation to this incident".

"The extensive safety procedures that were in place will be reviewed with the approved operator," she said.

"As these inquiries are ongoing at this time, further comment cannot be provided."

Hit 104.7 issued a statement on its Facebook page after the event confirming the malfunction.

"We can advise that one firework did malfunction, and while a small number of embers were reported to have landed along the nearby shoreline, no members of the public were injured," the statement read.

"The malfunction resulted in the barge being isolated before the pyrotechnic team member in attendance, who is fine, followed procedure."

"Scary #Canberra #skyfire fireworks tonight. Had a barge mislaunch into our direction. Screaming terrified kids. Fortunately they managed to shut it down straight away," wrote Ruth Ellison on Twitter.

Bailee Parker-Phillips posted a video on The Canberra Times Facebook page, and said the explosion shook the ground.

Families watched the fireworks display from camping chairs and many with picnics all along the banks of the lake. Children crisscrossed around the mini camps, inventing games as they went.

The Espinosa family would have taken the award for most prepared, with a small marquee in place, plenty of food and, most impressively, five speakers hooked up to a car battery to hear the tunes specially picked for the fireworks care of Hit 104.7.

One attendee, Andrew Benney, said while he lost interest in fireworks when they stopped being sold in the ACT, he brings the children down every year because they love it.

His number one tip was to get there early - 4pm was ideal, he said - as with more road closures and less parking each year it was best to make an afternoon of it.

Adriana Ilheo said she returned to Skyfire as an adult because she had so many fantastic memories there as a child.

"My favourite childhood memory was from when I was about eight and went to Skyfire with my next door neighbours. We were running around with glow sticks before the fireworks," Ms Ilheo said.

"I come back because it's a good excuse to have a picnic with my friends and whip out the glow sticks again."

The assembled crowd were treated to a 20-minute fireworks display that illuminated the lake and many of Australia's national institutions in brilliant colour and at times eerie shadow.

Earlier in the evening the crowd got a taste of military might with the Royal Australian Navy Taipan helicopter display, spraying more mist around than Captain Cook Fountain could ever hope to, and a low flyover by an RAAF C17.

The C17 is an enormous, cavernous military transport aircraft which, when fully laden, can weigh more than 265,000 kilograms.

Former X-Factor Australia contestant Samantha Jade took to the stage and got people dancing away the chills of a very windy autumn evening.

Skyfire drew to a close a massive three weeks for the capital with the Enlighten festival and the night noodle markets. The Canberra Balloon Spectacular will celebrate its final day on Sunday.

As the evening turned to night on Saturday, a silent reminder of Friday's atrocity committed in Christchurch was plain to see.

The Australian flag flew at half-mast at Regatta Point and opposite at Reconciliation Place, commemorating the lives lost in the terrorist attack in New Zealand.