Sydney Spectaculars

The Many Voices Of Sydney Christmas

Megan Washington, Taylor Henderson, Moorambilla Voices Choir & Justine Clarke are just some of the spectacular talent lined up to perform at Sydney’s first Christmas concerts of 2016.

On Saturday the 26th of November, the City Of Sydney will launch its Sydney Christmas program with 2 family-friendly concerts packed with free entertainment from 6:30pm to 8:30pm AEDT.

The Martin Place Christmas Concert & Tree Lighting will be hosted by television presenters Samantha Armytage and Mark Ferguson & feature entertainment for the whole family.

2-time Australian Record Industry Association Award winner & multi-platinum album selling artist, Megan Washington, will headline the Martin Place concert. Also performing will be former Australia’s Got Talent & X-Factor star, Taylor Henderson & children’s favourites, Bananas In Pyjamas, Jimmy Giggle & Justine Clarke.

Taylor Henderson Photograph: City Of Sydney — Taylor Henderson
Photograph: City Of Sydney

The renowned Moorabmilla Voices, featuring 60 children from dozens of schools across rural New South Wales (NSW), will delight the audience with their only Sydney performance this season.

“Our city concerts are always an exciting way to start the Christmas season & taking place on a Saturday evening for the 1st time, we expect them to be more popular than ever” Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, said.

“This is all about showcasing what our city does best at this special time of year”

“The City works closely with performers, corporate partners, retailers & the media to make Sydney a must-visit destination throughout the Christmas period”

'Moorambilla Voices Choir' Concert Photograph: City Of Sydney — *Moorambilla Voices Choir* Concert
Photograph: City Of Sydney

The Martin Place Christmas Concert will culminate with the arrival of the Lord Mayor & Santa on his sleigh, to light the Christmas Tree. Fireworks will illuminate the sky as Sydney’s tallest Christmas tree is switched on.

At Hyde Park, Master Of Ceremonies, Jimmy Giggle, will lead a night of performances from Justine Clarke, Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom, Splashdance & the Australian Girls’ Choir. Santa will pay a visit & as the sun sets, the night will finish with a fireworks spectacular.

'Jimmy Giggle' Photograph: City Of Sydney — *Jimmy Giggle*
Photograph: City Of Sydney

During the concerts, the Mutual Life & Citizens Centre Food Court will offer a variety of food and beverage options & the General Post Office Dessert Bar will have a range of gelato, sweets & cakes on offer.

The City’s Christmas program will continue through to Christmas Eve, with the City’s villages hosting children’s concerts in Rushcutters Bay, Rosebery, Alexandria & Surry Hills.

Shoppers will be entertained by choir performances in Pitt Street Mall every Thursday evening & carols by the Martin Place Christmas Tree every night in December.

The Boulevard Of Lights will transform Pitt Street Mall into a festive walkway with a canopy of 62,000 twinkling white lights overhead while Sydney Town Hall will be illuminated in festive colours from dusk each day until Christmas.

Guide Dogs NSW/Australian Capital Territory will host a demonstration & graduation ceremony for its new working dogs in Martin Place on the 6th of December. Passers-by will also have the opportunity to cuddle some adorable puppies that are soon to become trainee guide dogs.

For more information about the Sydney Christmas celebrations, visit sydneychristmas.com.au.

Media Release: City Of Sydney

Shake A Tail Feather For The Year Of The Rooster

More than a million visitors will enjoy the sights, sounds & tastes of Asia when the city comes alive for the 2017 Sydney Chinese New Year Festival from the 27th of January to the 12th of February.

Sydney will strut its stuff & shake its tail feathers when it celebrates the Year Of The Rooster in one of the biggest celebrations of the Lunar New Year outside of Asia.

City Of Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, said the Festival has developed into an internationally renowned celebration of Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai & Korean culture.

“Chinese astrology predicts that the Year Of The Rooster will be a powerful one & as it’s our 21st birthday, we really have something to crow about” said the Lord Mayor.

“From its humble beginnings in Chinatown, the Festival now extends all the way to Sydney Harbour & last year attracted 1.3 million people, making it the 3rd largest annual event in Sydney”

“Featuring the Lunar Lanterns & 80 traditional and contemporary events across Sydney, the 2017 Lunar New Year celebrations have something for everyone”

Visitors can follow the Lunar Lanterns trail around Circular Quay from the Sydney Opera House to Dawes Point. 12 spectacular zodiac animal lanterns, designed by Australian-Chinese artists & varying in size up to 10 metres high, will line the foreshore for the entire 17 day festival”

Festival Curator, Claudia Chan Shaw. said the Lunar Lanterns walk will create a vibrant precinct around the harbour for visitors & families to explore.

“Following the enormous success of last year’s inaugural Lunar Lanterns exhibition, in 2017 we will introduce several new lanterns that will amaze & delight visitors” Claudia said.

“And being the Year Of The Rooster – an animal that loves being the centre of attention – there will be 2 hero Rooster lanterns, one at the Sydney Opera House and the other in the Festival’s cultural heart in Chinatown”

The City will collaborate with principal partner, Westpac, in lighting Sydney’s most famous landmarks in auspicious red for 3 nights to welcome the Year Of The Rooster from the 27th to the 29th of January. Painting The Town Red will highlight the sails of the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Circular Quay Railway Station, Sydney Town Hall & other Sydney landmarks.

Bernadette Inglis, Westpac’s General Manger For Retail & Premium Bank, said Westpac is excited to partner with the City Of Sydney for the 2nd year in a row to celebrate Lunar New Year.

“Westpac is thrilled to support the Lunar New Year celebrations & to recognise the incredible contribution the Chinese community makes to Australia. The Chinese community remains one of Westpac’s largest multicultural audiences. We are looking forward to seeing iconic Sydney landmarks lit up in red” said Ms Inglis.

At Martin Place, the Westpac Lunar Lantern Hub will feature a 50-metre canopy of red lanterns, food, drink, The Star Fortune Mahjong Garden & nightly disc jockeys and entertainment.

On Friday the 3rd of February, the Hub will host a party to mark the 21st birthday of the Festival in Sydney with lion dances, community dance performances, live music & an opportunity for everyone to join together in an enormous sing-along with ‘massaoke’.

More than 1000 performers from the Chinese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese & Japanese communities from across Sydney will bring the City’s streets to life with hip hop, children’s performances, folk dance, martial arts, kung fu & traditional dance performances.

The popular community performance program will entertain audiences with pop-up style performances throughout the Festival on Friday & Saturday evenings in Customs House Square & Martin Place with more performances celebrating the Festival in Chinatown.

More than 80 associated events across Sydney will offer diverse celebrations of the Lunar New Year from singing karaoke at the top of the Harbour Bridge, to tea ceremonies, exploring the moon at Sydney Observatory, lantern workshops, photography exhibitions & renowned composer Tan Dun conducting the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House.

Pyrmont Bay Park will be transformed into a pop-up food festival filled with Asian cuisine, live entertainment & culture.

The final weekend of the Festival – Saturday the 11th & Sunday the 12th of February – will feature the excitement & thrill of the dragon boat races. With origins dating back 2500 years to ancient China, 3000 paddlers will converge on Darling Harbour for the largest dragon boat regatta in the Southern Hemisphere.

“Roosters are always active and happiest when surrounded by others & the 2017 festival will reflect this spirit with visitors able to enjoy a packed calendar of events, exhibitions, community performances, film screenings, tours, talks and delicious food” said Miss Chan Shaw.

“Sydney’s 21st Chinese New Year Festival will be lively, colourful, noisy & exciting – a dazzling celebration of culture, heritage & inspiring artistic talent that provides an opportunity to make your Lunar New Year experience as traditional or contemporary as you want”

Post and follow the conversation using #CNYSYD

Media Release: City Of Sydney

City Gears Up For A Cracker Christmas

Sydney’s Christmas season will kick off with 2 simultaneous outdoor concerts in the city featuring children’s entertainers, the Moorambilla Voices Choir, surprise special guests & an appearance by Santa Claus!

The City Of Sydney will mark the start of its AUD$3.5 million Christmas program on a weekend for the 1st time. On Saturday the 26th of November, Sydneysiders have the chance of enjoying the Martin Place Christmas Concert & Tree Lighting or Christmas On The Green in Hyde Park.

Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, said the concerts were a drawcard for thousands of families who come each year to enjoy a night of live music, carols & Christmas cheer.

“Our annual Christmas concerts mark the beginning of the festive season in Sydney & are eagerly anticipated by the young and old” the Lord Mayor said.

“This year we’re excited to host these free events on a Saturday night to allow more families to come into the city to enjoy Sydney’s 1st Christmas concerts for 2016″

“We’re also giving local residents opportunities to celebrate the season close to home with family & friends with 4 Christmas concerts in some of our local villages”

“Adding to this, we’ll have choir performances, colourful decorations, lights, the city’s largest Christmas tree & more. This Christmas will be a great celebration in Sydney & I encourage everyone to get into the festive spirit”

Sydney Christmas 2016 highlights:

City concerts – Saturday the 26th of November

2 hour concerts in Martin Place & Hyde Park will kick off at 6:30pm AEDT & showcase a musical line-up of performers to entertain families & visitors of all ages.

Children’s entertainer, Justine Clarke, will open the Martin Place concert, followed by live performances by the Moorambilla Voices & special guests to be announced. The concert will feature a fireworks finale & the lighting of the interactive Christmas Tree by Santa & the Lord Mayor.

At Hyde Park, children’s performers will entertain young families including Jimmy Giggle, Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom as well as the Australian Girls’ Choir & Santa.

The Hyde Park concert will also offer craft activities, a sausage sizzle, gelato & a Santa stocking filled with Christmas goodies.

Martin Place – the heart of Sydney Christmas

The Martin Place Christmas Tree has been the centrepiece of Christmas in Sydney for 47 years. Standing 21 metres tall & dressed with 60,000 lights, 120 interactive stars, 200 stainless steel baubles & a 1.5 metre star on top, visitors can text a message to 0487 939 627 (048 SYD XMAS) & it will appear on the Tree’s branches for everyone to see.

The Tree will also feature a nightly sound & light show from 8:30pm–9:15pm AEDT that will include an orchestral Christmas score, moving coloured lights & sky beams.

Visitors can climb on board Santa’s giant LEGO® Christmas Sleigh – a perfect selfie opportunity with the Martin Place & Christmas Tree backdrop.

From the 26th of November, a General Post Office Dessert Bar will offer a range of festive, mouth-watering gelato, sweets & cakes through to the 31st of December.

Christmas lights

The Boulevard Of Lights will once again transform Pitt Street Mall into a festive walkway. The canopy of 62,000 twinkling white lights will immerse the mall in the joys of the season each evening from the 26th of November to Christmas Eve.

Sydney Town Hall will be illuminated with festive colours & the façade of St Mary’s Cathedral will be the stage for a free sound & light show. The theme for the 2016 projections is Joy To The World & will feature an animation of The Nutcracker & a pictorial journey of Christmas decorations throughout the ages.

Village Christmas concerts

Free family concerts at Rushcutters Bay (3rd of December), Rosebery (4th of December), Alexandria (10th of December) & Surry Hills (11th of December) will feature children’s entertainment, live music, fireworks & a visit from Santa.

Christmas choirs

Visitors can enjoy the sounds of Christmas as they stroll through the city. Street choirs will perform every night leading up to Christmas at the Martin Place Christmas Tree while carollers entertain shoppers in Pitt Street Mall.

Christmas at Sydney Town Hall on the 20th of December is an opportunity for the family to enjoy the true meaning of Christmas with a pageant of readings, music by the Royal Australian Navy Band & performances by a massed choir and children’s choir, led by the Grand Organ.

Shopping

As well as the big brand outlets in the city, local village retailers & boutiques each offer their own style & treasures. Shoppers can also take part in the Best Shop Window competition by tagging their favourite village window #SydXmasWindow on Instagram for a chance to win a AUD$2,000 shopping voucher.

Guide Dogs presentation & puppies

On Tuesday the 6th of December, Guide Dogs New South Wales/Australian Capital Terriorty will host a Guide Dogs Christmas Presentation Day in Martin Place. Passers-by can see live guide dog demonstrations, learn about the complete guide dog journey & play with some up and coming trainees from the puppy pre-school.

For all the dates & details, visit sydneychristmas.com.au.

Media Release: City Of Sydney

Save The Date – Vivid Sydney 2017

The world’s largest festival of light, music & ideas

Vivid Sydney, one of the most spectacular light shows in the world, is set to impress again when it returns to Sydney for 23 nights from Friday the 26th of May to Saturday the 17th of June 2017.

Owned, managed & produced by Destination New South Wales (Destination NSW), the State Government’s tourism & major events agency, Vivid Sydney attracted more than 2.31 million people from around the globe in 2016.

Vivid Sydney is the world’s largest festival of light, music & ideas, which annually transforms the harbour city into an outdoor art exhibition with its colourful creative canvas. The event features large scale light installations & projections (Vivid Light); music performances & collaborations (Vivid Music including Vivid LIVE At The Sydney Opera House) & creative ideas, discussion and debate (Vivid Ideas), all celebrating Sydney as the creative hub of the Asia-Pacific.

NSW Minister For Trade, Tourism & Major Events, Stuart Ayres, said: “Vivid Sydney is the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas & the biggest event in Australia”

“Last year, Vivid Sydney boasted its biggest program ever with more than 90 light installations & projections created by more than 150 artists from 23 countries, 190 music performances & 658 speakers in 183 Vivid Ideas events. Highlights included Songlines, an incredible projection inspired by the ancient dreaming tracks that weave across landscapes & skies, created with the work of 6 renowned Indigenous artists & the 1st Indigenous lighting of the iconic Sydney Opera House sails.”

“Vivid Sydney 2017 promises to be even bigger so put Friday the 26th of May to Saturday the 17th of June in your diary & start planning a trip to see Vivid Sydney now”

For a glimpse of Vivid Sydney’s magic, watch this timelapse from the 2016 event:

Diary Date

What: Vivid Sydney 2017 – The world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas & Australia’s largest event, Vivid Sydney is a major celebration of the creative industries.

When: Friday the 26th of May – Saturday the 17th of June 2017

Where: Sydney, Australia – Locations across the city including lighting projections along the iconic Sydney Harbour foreshore including the Sydney Opera House & Harbour Bridge.

Website: www.vividsydney.com

Please note: The full Vivid Sydney 2017 program will be announced early 2017.

Social media directions about Vivid Sydney:

Follow Vivid Sydney

Follow Vivid Ideas

Hashtags

#vividsydney
#vividideas
#ilovesydney

Media Release: Vivid Sydney

Get Into The Sydney Swim For Free

Sydneysiders are invited to try some of the City’s most stunning pools for free & go in the running to win 4 tickets to the Sydney New Year’s Eve 2016 viewing area at Dawes Point.

The City’s free aquatic centre open days will start at the Ian Thorpe Aquatic & Fitness Centre in Ultimo on Saturday the 22nd of October & run through to Saturday the 19th of November.

Visitors can have a swim, try a fitness class, tour the facilities, get a special discount on the City’s 360 membership, ask questions at ‘Meet The Manager’ sessions, enjoy a free barbecue & have their children’s face painted.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the opening days were a great opportunity to enjoy some of the best aquatic centres in the country.

“Our world class pools & gyms offer residents the chance to live fit & healthy lifestyles. They’re supervised by professional lifeguards & fitted out with excellent fitness facilities” the Lord Mayor said.

“Open day visitors who sign up for a 12-week learn to swim or water safety program will go into the running to win tickets to the Dawes Point viewing area on New Year’s Eve”

Visitors can also sign up to the City’s 360 membership with a discounted joining fee of AUD$3.60. Members will have access to all of the City’s aquatic and fitness facilities & a range of additional fitness opportunities and initiatives.

Each of the City’s 5 aquatic centres boast 50-metre pools for lap swimming & a range of other facilities & services including gyms, indoor courts, fitness classes, massage/physiotherapy treatments & cafes.

The following pools will be free to the public from 10am – 3pm AEDT on their Saturday open days throughout October & November:

22nd of October – Ian Thorpe Aquatic & Fitness Centre

29th of October – Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool

5th of November – Cook+Phillip Park Aquatic & Fitness Centre

12th of November – Victoria Park Pool

19th of November – Prince Alfred Park Pool

Celebrate New Year’s Eve At Barangaroo Reserve

Tickets to one of the best value events on Sydney Harbour on sale today

6000 tickets to celebrate New Year’s Eve at Sydney’s newest harbourside headland, Barangaroo Reserve, will be released on pre-sale for subscribers to the Barangaroo e-newsletter at 12 noon today. The remaining 6,000 tickets will also go on sale to the general public this Wednesday the 12th of October.

The cost of a child ticket (3-15 year old) has been reduced from AUD$14.50 last year to AUD$5 this year. The cost of an adult ticket (16 year old +) remains the same at AUD$29.50. Tickets sold out last year in 4 weeks.

Barangaroo Reserve, on the north western waterfront of the Sydney Central Business District, has quickly become a favourite destination for locals & tourists, with 1 million people visiting in its 1st year.

The spectacular harbourside location, sloping lawns & superb views of the sunset and the western face of the Sydney Harbour Bridge makes it the perfect spot to enjoy a picnic dinner & drinks, followed by the 9pm Family & Midnight Fireworks.

Barangaroo Reserve will have a capacity of 12,000 people, with tickets priced as low as possible to recover part of the costs directly associated with hosting the event. Ticketing Barangaroo Reserve for Sydney New Year’s Eve avoids overcrowding & increases public safety.

The Barangaroo Delivery Authority will provide entertainment at a number of locations throughout the park before & after the 9pm Family Fireworks as well as roving entertainers, extra toilet facilities, a high level of security & one of the best views of the western harbour.

The Authority’s Chief Executive Officer, Craig van der Laan, said Barangaroo Reserve was a great family friendly option for Sydney New Year’s Eve.

“We ticket the event & limit numbers to 12,000 to ensure the comfort & safety of the public’’ Mr van der Laan said.

“We want people to have an enjoyable & memorable Sydney New Year’s Eve experience”

“The Stargazer & Walumil Lawns make ideal picnic spots. We will have well-staffed food stalls & licenced bars as well as a designated alcohol-free zone”

“Barangaroo Reserve is the best value ticketed New Year’s Eve venue on Sydney Harbour. To make it more family-friendly, we have reduced the cost of a child’s ticket by 65% to AUD$5″

“We are providing access to one of the best harbourside locations west of the Harbour Bridge while also providing all the amenities to ensure a safe & comfortable experience”

Gates on Hickson Road will open at 6pm on Saturday the 31st of December 2016.

Ticketholders are welcome to bring their own picnics. Bring your own-alcohol & glassware will not be permitted on the night.

Food & beverages will be available for purchase on site or people can pre-order from a range of picnic hampers when they purchase their tickets.

A total of 10 tickets can be purchased in 1 transaction. All tickets are available through Moshtix.

Detailed information about Sydney New Year’s Eve 2016 at Barangaroo Reserve can be found here.

The car park under Barangaroo Reserve will not be open on the night. For information about New Year’s Eve across Sydney & transport options, visit www.sydneynewyearseve.com.

Event details

Event: Sydney New Year’s Eve 2016 at Barangaroo Reserve

Where: Barangaroo Reserve, Hickson Road, Barangaroo

Date/Time: Saturday the 31st of December 2016, 6pm to 12:30am

Tickets: Via Moshtix

Adult aged 16+: AUD$29.50
Concession: AUD$14.50 (Full-time student, seniors & pensioners)
Child aged 3-15: AUD$5
Child aged under 3: Free

Ticket limit: 10 tickets in 1 transaction

Booking fees & charges will apply.

Media Release: Barangaroo Delivery Authority

Destination New South Wales Wins ‘Pinnacle Awards’ For ‘Vivid Sydney’

Destination New South Wales (NSW) has won 12 accolades at the 2016 International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) Pinnacle Awards for its marketing & promotion of Vivid Sydney – the world’s largest festival of light, music & ideas.

NSW Minister For Trade, Tourism & Major Events, Stuart Ayres, said the promotion of Vivid Sydney generated Australia’s largest event with 2.31 million attendees experiencing the spectacular festival.

“This is the 2nd time Vivid Sydney has been recognised in the IFEA Pinnacle Awards, with nearly twice the number of accolades compared to last year” Mr Ayres said.

Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer & Vivid Sydney Executive Producer, Sandra Chipchase, said “Vivid Sydney is firmly established as one of the world’s leading festivals & is now Australia’s largest event. These awards are testament to Destination NSW’s strategic marketing & partnership initiatives, which drive visitors from across the globe & enable us to break new ground each year”

Destination NSW was presented with 12 IFEA Pinnacle Awards for Vivid Sydney, including the coveted Grand Pinnacle Award.

Grand Pinnacle – Gold
Best Event Website – Gold
Best Social Media Site – Gold
Best Festival/Event Mobile App – Gold
Best Newspaper Insert/Supplement – Gold
Best Cover Design – Gold
Best Overall Sponsorship Program – Gold
Best Promotional Brochure – Silver
Best Outdoor Billboard – Silver
Best Street Banner – Silver
Best Event Program – Bronze
Best Event Promotional Photograph – Bronze

The IFEA Pinnacle Awards recognise the outstanding accomplishments & high quality creative, promotional, operational and community outreach programs and materials produced by festivals & events around the world.

Vivid Sydney is owned, managed & produced by the NSW Government’s tourism & major events agency, Destination NSW.

Media Release: Destination NSW

Taronga ‘Stands Up For The Wild’ With 100 Year Birthday Parade

A parade of giant animal light sculptures will make their way down Macquarie Street on Saturday the 15th of October, Taronga Zoo announced today, marking 100 years since the Zoo officially opened in Mosman in 1916.

Starting at Hyde Park at 8pm, the amazing light sculptures will be escorted by a cast of school children who will dance, sing & light up the streets for the wild to the Sydney Opera House, where a live performance will take place.

The giant animal light sculptures represent Taronga’s 10 year commitment to the conservation & preservation of 10 Centenary Species, iconic & beloved animals which include the Asian Elephant, Platypus & Sumatran Tiger.

The fabulous light parade will recreate the historic moment 100 years ago, when Jessie The Elephant made her way from the original zoological site in Moore Park, through the Central Business District, down Macquarie Street to a spot on the foreshore directly where the Sydney Harbour Bridge & Opera House would rise years later. Jessie boarded a barge, to be transported across Sydney Harbour as did hippos, primates, reptiles & many other animal species Taronga still cares for today.

Taronga is encouraging Australians to ‘Stand Up #ForTheWild’ by coming along to cheer the parade or by donating to its Centenary commitment to turn around the plight of these 10 critical species.

Creative Director, Ignatius Jones, said: “This will be the most amazing parade that Sydney has seen in 100 years! An absolute carnival of lights, dancing & music!”

“A great night out for friends & families, the Taronga Zoo Centenary Birthday Parade will spread the word that we need to stand up for these amazing animals and help Taronga ensure their future”

Taronga Zoo’s Chief Executive Officer, Cameron Kerr, said: “We’re inviting everyone in Sydney to ‘Stand Up For The Wild’ by coming along to what will be an amazing spectacle & help support the work being done for these 10 vital species”

“We’re asking Australians not just in Sydney but across the country to help us raise 1 million Australian dollars to kick-start a lifetime conservation commitment”

The Parade is the exciting culmination for Taronga’s Centenary program, presented by long-term supporter ANZ, which has also included Vivid Sydney at Taronga Zoo, Eid at Taronga, inviting guests to come in for 1 Australian dollar on their birthday, creating a stunning collection of past & present Taronga memories at #IGrewUpWithTaronga, hosting an amazing birthday party on the 7th of October Centenary anniversary & the commencing of amazing field-work to conserve the 10 Centenary species.

Donate 10 Australian dollars to help Taronga save 10 endangered species from extinction. Visit: tarongaparade.org

What: Taronga Zoo Centenary Birthday Parade

When: Saturday the 15th of October 2016 at 8pm

Where: Starting from Hyde Park North & continuing along Macquarie Street to the Sydney Opera House’s grand finale performance

Media Release: Taronga Zoo

‘Vivid Sydney’ Injects AUD$110 Million Into New South Wales Economy

Figures released today confirm that Vivid Sydney 2016 injected a phenomenal AUD$110 million of visitor expenditure into the State’s economy according to the Minister For Trade, Tourism & Major Events, Stuart Ayres.

In 2016, the New South Wales (NSW) Government, through its tourism & major events agency, Destination NSW, made the strategic decision to extend the festival from 18 to 23 nights.

“This year’s festival included an extra 5 nights & 3 new precincts which helped drive this phenomenal result & extend the positive benefits Vivid Sydney brings to the State’s visitor economy” Mr Ayres said.

“AUD$110 million in visitor expenditure is a huge result & is up 75% on last year’s figure. Not only did we smash visitor expenditure, we became Australia’s largest event with 2.31 million attendees experiencing the spectacular Vivid Sydney”

“Of these attendees, almost 184,000 were visitors who travelled to Sydney specifically for the festival, generating more than 621,000 visitor nights for the NSW visitor economy”

“Vivid Sydney continues to shine bright on the State’s events calendar. I congratulate the dedicated team at Destination NSW and the many Government agencies involved in delivering another sensational event & look forward to a brilliant return of the festival in 2017”

Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer & Vivid Sydney Executive Producer, Sandra Chipchase, said the results were driven by exceptional marketing, partnership campaigns & outstanding programming.

“Our biggest ever program of light, music & ideas saw Vivid Sydney expand into new precincts including the Royal Botanic Gardens and Taronga Zoo & present over 190 Music & 180 Ideas events. These initiatives supported by our marketing & partnership campaigns were instrumental in increasing both visitor numbers & the length of stay”

Vivid Sydney 2017 will be held from Friday the 26th of May to Saturday the 17th of June. The Vivid Light Expressions Of Interest is now open. Click here for more information on the opportunities for artists, designers, creative industry practitioners, equipment suppliers, business & educational institutions to participate in Vivid Light 2017. Submissions close midnight Australian Eastern Daylight Time, Friday the 21st of October 2016.

Expressions Of Interest for Vivid Ideas are open until Friday the 23rd of September 2016 & Vivid Music until Friday the 14th of October 2016.

Visit www.vividsydney.com for more information.

Media Release: Vivid Sydney

Glittering Sydney NYE2016 Website Revealed

The Sydney NYE2016 website was revealed today with less than 4 months to go. It is roughly the same design as last year’s website but it incorporates this year’s artwork for the event. The event’s logo was already revealed last month when ABC announced their ‘Design Your Own Firework‘ competition in conjunction with the City Of Sydney but was very small & in low picture quality.

Now with the full, large & high quality artwork available to view, we can see it in it’s full glory. It is very glittery & features many Sydney/Australian imagery such as the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, city buildings, flora, fauna, various types of ice cream & a bicycle.

Despite more detail from the artwork, which is a strong clue to the theme of this year’s event, the updated website does not confirm the event’s theme. Where we found confirmation of last year’s theme, ‘City Of Colour‘, only had this written:

About

A special moment in time

SydNYE is a globally recognised event that lies in wait for one very special moment in time.

As anticipation builds for the clock to strike 12, it’s a destination where the people come together to elevate the city to the best version it can possibly be: connected, alive, and energised by the unlimited possibilities of a new tomorrow and the new year.

It’s a place the captures the imagination, draws us home and throws open its arms to guests from all over the world with the harbour at its heart, and enriches us all with its unique and diverse surrounds. Year after year, it is the birthplace of wondrous new memories that will stay with us for a lifetime.

This is a very elaborate explaining of what New Year’s Eve is and how special it is to celebrate it in Sydney. It may provide a clue to the theming but due to how generic it is, it should be read with caution in case there are no longer themes of the event due to possibly no more Bridge Effects.

But that shouldn’t be a reason to worry about the event’s future as most years the theme isn’t confirmed until early December. It is usually just small clues revealed until then.

The website also confirms the event program. It is roughly the same as last year but with 3 differences:

Welcome To Country will this year be held at 8:38pm,
The theme of the Welcome To Country is ‘Walking On Country‘ and,
The Harbour Of Light Parade will feature white ropelight

The Sydney Opera House is still a part of the Midnight Fireworks by the way.

The white ropelight of the Harbour Of Light Parade may be a small clue to the theming too – after all, the vessels are usually given a creative brief when they bid to be a part of the Parade.

Lastly, 104.1 2DayFM is confirmed to be the radio broadcaster of the 9pm Family & Midnight Fireworks soundtracks. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s (ABC) television coverage will be on ABC1 while internet streaming will be via ABC iView (which I think is the 1st time in the event’s history) & again, Sydney NYE’s website (very likely to be a embed of ABC iView’s live stream).

The latter begs the question (which we won’t find out till mid-December for sure) – is Telstra no longer producing YouTube live streams? Telstra dramatically reduced it’s content in last year’s live stream and in recent months, removed archived Sydney NYE live streams – a pattern that seems to be becoming a trend.

Telstra may still be sponsoring the event in regards to the smartphone application but again, we won’t find out for sure until around early December.

More importantly for our international readers, if there is no Telstra YouTube stream,will ABC drop it’s geoblock for the night allowing viewing worldwide?

This year’s event seems to be bringing more questions than usual (and we thought last year involved a lot of speculation!).