After a two year interruption, the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas is once again closing in! Vivid Sydney is the much loved festival of Sydneysiders and one of the most anticipated events in the nation where tens of thousands of people traverse across the nation! Bursting with creativity and touches of artistry, the last feature of the festival in 2019 saw over 2.4 million revellers take part in what looked like one of the biggest since its inception. Let your imagination run wild as you enter the city brimming with artforms of light and sounds! Here is a brief guide on what to expect for the upcoming event!
Sydney Harbour is undoubtedly the centrepiece during the festival and impressive light projections come to life after 6pm every night over the course of the festival! One of the best ways to enjoy these harbour spectacles is to book a seat on the Vivid Sydney cruise which lets you witness the harbour landmarks Opera House and Harbour Bridge under new lights. Be mesmerised as the sails of the Opera House come to life with large-scale projections and music while the bridge gets embellished with bright and colourful patterns! On a harbour cruise you get to enjoy the many roving views of the festival along with a freshly prepared dinner! Choose from an impressive array of top vessels including the authentic paddlewheeler, a modern catamaran and a luxury glass boat and experience Vivid like never before. There’s no better place to enjoy what the festival has to offer than on the Vivid cruises with ambient interiors, dinner, licensed bar and a friendly crew!
MCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) is one among the city’s favourite art museums and is a prominent tourist attraction. The MCA displays a slew of cutting-edge contemporary art inspired by local, national and international artists. During Vivid, the building’s facade will awaken with dancing psychedelic projections that reciprocates the collection of masterpieces inside! This year it promises to be bigger and better than ever with the Art Deco edifice getting illuminated by a mixture of glowing lights, music and art influenced by a South American group of artists. Sounds fun right? So don’t miss out on this opportunity and experience the artistic brilliance of these creative minds!
Did you know that Vivid can also be explored on foot? Throughout the city centre and around its precincts you will come across explosions of light and colour, few prominent regions being The Rocks, Circular Quay, Darling Harbour and Barangaroo. Fortunately the areas are not too far apart and you can get around them pretty easily on foot. Jump on walking tours and find the best spots around the block filled with lively and futuristic installations. Learn about the history of the largest light festival in the Southern Hemisphere as you nibble on some treats and walk from place to place. There are also photography tours at night if you're looking for the best places to get that instagram-worthy shot!
Every festival comes with its fair share of foods and so does Vivid. For visitors coming to Sydney looking to enjoy top-quality food and drinks, there are many bars and restaurants offering special Vivid menus and deals throughout the city centre. Blend in with the crowds at Opera Bar, take it to the rooftop at Glenmore Hotel or even Hacienda Bar. The MCA also has a rooftop option if you want to indulge in the middle of action and if you crave some late night pizzas head to Frankie’s. Barangaroo also has a brilliant dine with a view option if you're looking for an option near to the city centre!
