Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House light up with Vivid Festival

A burst of brilliant colours and vibrant illuminations burst to life tonight as the 10th anniversary of Vivid Festival kicked off on Friday.

For the next 23 days Sydney will be lit by a spectacular display of lights, music and creative ideas  and was officially started with the Sydney Oprah House display. 

The 10th anniversary of Vivid will cover nine separate precincts of Sydney including Barangaroo, Chatswood, Circular Quay, The Rocks, Darling Harbour, Kings Cross, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Taronga Zoo.

 

 A burst of brilliant colours and vibrant illumination burst to live tonight as the 10th anniversary of Vivid Festival kicked off tonight

NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said vivid was a state wide showcase, not just Sydney

NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said vivid was a state wide showcase, not just Sydney

The city skyline will be lit for the next 23 days as the Vivid Festival takes over large portions of Sydney

The city skyline will be lit for the next 23 days as the Vivid Festival takes over large portions of Sydney

And for the first time in the festival’s decade long history Luna Park has got in on the action. 

New South Wales Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, said she was excited to see people enjoy the 23 day festival. 

‘It’s always such a great feeling to see the city light up in a spectacular symphony of colour and movement,’ she said.

‘And we can’t wait to see all the moments that will excite and delight visitors who are coming to enjoy Vivid Sydney’s 10th anniversary celebrations over the next 23 days and nights.’

New South Wales Premier, Gladys Berejiklian said she was excited to see people enjoy the 23 day festival

New South Wales Premier, Gladys Berejiklian said she was excited to see people enjoy the 23 day festival

For the next 23 days Sydney will be lit by a spectacular display of lights, music and creative ideas and was officially started with the Sydney Oprah House display

For the next 23 days Sydney will be lit by a spectacular display of lights, music and creative ideas and was officially started with the Sydney Oprah House display

A number of artists put in time and effort to create amazing displays which dot the nine precincts where Vivid exhibitions are most prominent 

A number of artists put in time and effort to create amazing displays which dot the nine precincts where Vivid exhibitions are most prominent 

Another addition to this year’s festival is a six metre tall inflatable puppet, Marri Dyin, which means Great Woman in the local indigenous language of the Eora people and you will be able to find it walking in Barangaroo each night.

Seven-year-old Abiageal Dwyer is one of the first children to come face-to-face with the puppet, which has an internal skeleton lit with multiple light bulbs causing it to glow.

‘It was scary at first but then I got quite used to it,’ she told AAP.

Seven-year-old Abiageal Dwyer is one of the first children to come face-to-face with the puppet, which has an internal skeleton lit with multiple light bulbs causing it to glow.

Seven-year-old Abiageal Dwyer is one of the first children to come face-to-face with the puppet, which has an internal skeleton lit with multiple light bulbs causing it to glow.

The 10th anniversary of vivid will cover nine separate precincts of Sydney including Darling Harbour (pictured)

The 10th anniversary of vivid will cover nine separate precincts of Sydney including Darling Harbour (pictured)

Syndey's iconic Harbour Bridge will be lit up for the duration of the festival 

Syndey’s iconic Harbour Bridge will be lit up for the duration of the festival 

Marri Dyin’s spokesman Scott Wright says he hopes the puppet will help normalise indigenous culture as being a part of Australia.

‘What we are hoping to project is a time when people are not judged because of their race, gender or beliefs,’ he said. 

NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said vivid was a state wide showcase, not just Sydney. 

The Sydney Botanic Gardens will be lit up with a number of light displays for the vivid Festival 

The Sydney Botanic Gardens will be lit up with a number of light displays for the vivid Festival 

Children of all ages can enjoy some of the more interactive features at this year's festival 

Children of all ages can enjoy some of the more interactive features at this year’s festival 

Almost 38,000 of the visitors to Sydney for last year's festival chose to extend their stay in the city 

Almost 38,000 of the visitors to Sydney for last year’s festival chose to extend their stay in the city 

‘Nearly 38,000 visitors to Vivid Sydney last year chose to extend their stay in NSW and travel beyond the fringes of Sydney, staying more than 94,000 nights and injecting over $16 million into the State’s regional economy,’ he said.  

‘Lights On’ will be at 6pm each evening of the festival, 5.30pm for Taronga Zoo and the Chatswood displays. 

Some displays which organisers say can’t be missed include the Sydney Opera House’s kinetic display, Luna Park’s ‘Spirit of Fun’ and ‘Lights for the Wild’ at Taronga Zoo.

This year’s festival will run from Friday, May 25 until Saturday, June 16. 

A perfect sentiment for the impact that Vivid might have on first time visitors and returning ones

A perfect sentiment for the impact that Vivid might have on first time visitors and returning ones



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