Vivid Sydney – It’s not just a light display

Vivid Sydney is our city’s annual light spectacular. Understandably drawing ever-increasing crowds each year. The light displays wowing and mesmerising as they walk around the harbour’s edge. However, the light displays aren’t all that the Vivid Festival is about. There are many other celebrations of creativity happening, and this year they’ve really upped the anti. We’ve found our must-sees but there are many many more.

They’ve split the categories into ideas, music and lights. Here are our top picks:

Ideas

31 May 

The Sunrise Conference – Eveleigh

Get inside the minds and motivations of Australia’s start-up community. Listen to founders tell their story and participate in Q&A sessions.

Tickets: from $159

 

3 June

Industrial Evolution: Old + New = Creative Survival – The Rocks

A panel discussion from representatives of screen, performance, design, music and publishing.

Tickets: From $50

 

8 June

2071: Performance for Social Change – Seymour Centre, Chippendale

A fusion of facts around climate change, 3d projections, performance and an original music score.

Tickets: From $43

 

27 May – 11 June

Kings Bloody Cross: Tales of the Criminale and Glitterati

A series of 12 compelling and brutally honest discussions covering everything from Sydney hedonism to radical Sydney. All featuring Kings Cross luminaries.

Tickets: From $25

 

Music

2 June

Goldfrapp –The Carriageworks, Eveleigh

Experience underground electronica, sensual melody with mental machine pop at its core.

Tickets – $100

 

06 June

Dianne Reeves –The City Recital Hall, Angel Place Sydney

The Huffington post describes her as “one of our generation’s definitive jazz masters” and The New York Times as “the most admired jazz diva since the heyday of Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday”.

Tickets – from $50

 

08 June

Colourblast Full Moon Party – Darling Harbour

DJs battle it out under UV installations, showcasing the soul of Vivid Sydney in one experience.

Tickets: On sale soon

 

12 June

Laura Marling – Sydney Opera House

Considered as one of the all-time great English singer-songwriters, Laura Marling performs her career spanning-set of modern folk-pop.

Tickets: From $69

 

Light

26 May – 17 June

Under My Umbrella – The Rocks

Dance the night away under a glowing canopy which dims and glows as you dance beneath.

Tickets: FREE

 

26 May – 17 June

Interactive Human Light Clock – AMP Forecourt

Need we say more?

Tickets: Free

 

26 May – 17 June

Immersion – The Royal Botanic Garden

You will literally be seeing red for the entire experience – but how will it make you feel?

Tickets: Free

 

26 May-17 June

The Gift of Sight – Darling Harbour

This spellbinding experience is bought to you by The Fred Hollows Foundation. With your special UV flashlight in hand, you’ll be discovering hidden artworks created by invisible ink.

Tickets: Free

 

For more information (and more fascinating creative celebrations) visit Vivid Sydney.