Thousands turn out for the 2018 Christchurch fireworks display at New Brighton.

Rock anthems have set the tone for a world-class fireworks display at New Brighton beach in Christchurch.

Organisers estimated at least 20,000 people came along to the free event, which has been running at lest 10 years.

GEORGE HEARD/STUFF About 20,000 people watched the fireworks from New Brighton beach.

Family entertainment and food was available at the New Brighton Mall from 6pm, before a half hour fireworks display lit up the sky above the pier from 9pm.

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The Christchurch City Council organised the event.

Event lead Amanda Fiddes said with nice weather and great fireworks down at the beach, you couldn't really go wrong. She said it was a lovely night with lots of families around.

GEORGE HEARD/STUFF The display was timed with classic rock anthems.

Fiddes said the fireworks were timed to music, with a tracklist of rock anthems for the night.

"We started off with Queen, We Will Rock You, then there was a bit of Bon Jovi."

The show ended with Thunderstruck by ACDC, at the request of Treetech, who have sponsored the event for 10 years.

GEORGE HEARD/STUFF There was about half an hour of fireworks.

Fiddes said the number of attendees were probably slightly down on recent years but not much, which she put down to the change of date and cold weather leading up to the event.

She said the fireworks were put on by Fireworks Professionals, who were freshly back from an international overseas fireworks competition, where they placed second.