Countdown to biggest Vivid Sydney begins
With less than four weeks to go until the Vivid Sydney Festival bursts into colour with this year’s program, it’s time to start planning your visit to the world’s largest celebration of light, music and ideas.
Over 23 nights, from Friday 26 May to Saturday 17 June, the city will be bathed in the breathtaking brilliance of 90 installations and projections, created by more than 180 Australian and international artists, across seven precincts including for the first time, Barangaroo (South).
Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said the unveiling of Vivid Sydney’s biggest and best ever festival was just around the corner and Sydney and the rest of NSW is preparing to play host to a huge influx of visitors.
“As we countdown to opening night, preparations are in their final stages, with special effects being tested, kilometres of cable and fibre optics being rolled out, thousands of lights ready to be installed and Vivid Sydney themed-menus being finessed by Sydney’s top chefs and restaurateurs,” Marshall said.
The expanded 2017 Vivid Sydney line-up includes more than 400 Vivid Music events, up from 190 in 2016, across 40 venues. There will also be more than 260 Vivid Ideas sessions, up from 183 in 2016, featuring 370 speakers from 12 countries across 67 venues.
“Vivid Sydney’s biggest-ever program follows last year’s record-breaking festival, which saw more than 2.31 million attendees, including more than 184,000 overnight domestic and international visitors (17,000 from China alone), contribute more than $110 million in visitor spend to the NSW economy,” Marshall said.
“Now is the perfect time for visitors to start planning their trip, and the best way to experience Vivid Sydney is to explore several precincts over different nights to take in all the lights and the sights.”
Top Tips for visitors
Make the most of your Vivid Sydney experience with these handy hints:
- Time it right – Early in the festival, early in the week and early in the evening are the most relaxed times to enjoy Vivid Sydney (lights on 6pm).
- Get an even earlier start – It’s lights on from 5.30pm at Taronga Zoo and Chatswood– ideal to get young children home for bedtime or take in the lights before dining out.
- Travel smart – Vivid Sydney precincts are close to public transport links and extra train and bus services operate throughout the festival. The best train stations to access Vivid Sydney precincts are Central, Town Hall, Wynyard, Martin Place and Chatswood. Exhibition Centre and Convention are the best Light Rail stops for the Darling Harbour precinct.
- Leave the car at home – Extensive city road closures and special event clearways will be in place in the CBD and The Rocks, make driving and parking difficult so leave the car at home and take public transport.
- Stay up to date – Keep a Vivid Sydney planner in your pocket using the smartphone app or website on your mobile device for the latest information and locations. Download the Vivid Sydney app or visit the Vivid Sydney website at vividsydney.com
- Keep kids safe – Pick up a wristband from Vivid Sydney information booths at Darling Harbour, Customs House & West Circular Quay, add your contact number and pop it on your childrens’ wrists to make it easy to be reunited should you get separated.
- Help is at hand – Look for Vivid Sydney’s friendly army of volunteers in their bright pink jackets who are there to answer your questions or point you in the right direction.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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