A QUICK GUIDE TO THE SPECTACULAR VIVID FESTIVAL IN SYDNEY

Hey everyone! Welcome to my latest post on the spectacular Vivid Festival of Light, held in Sydney, Australia, each year. I love the creativity and art on display at various locations around the city, helping you appreciate the true beauty of this great city at night. It also happens to be one of my most favourite times of the year to visit, so let’s dive right in and explore this great festival a little further!

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What is Vivid Sydney?

The Vivid Festival of Light is held around June-July each year, during Australia’s winter season, and as I said, it’s one of my favourite events held in the city each year. It showcases all the amazing things you can do with light, such as art installations and fun projections onto iconic buildings like the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. There are also walk-through displays which all come to life as soon as the sun goes down, making them look very bright and… Vivid! Did you see what I did there?

My First Experience

The first-ever Vivid festival started in Sydney around 2009. I worked in the city at the time, and on opening night, I met up with a friend so we could attend the event together. When we made our way over to Circular Quay harbour, being the middle of winter, it was already very dark as we made our way along the waterfront. We were soon completely awestruck at all of the bright colours being projected off the buildings and the awesome light installations, making the lights look very prominent against the night sky!

Across the water, the Harbour Bridge was beautifully lit up, with continually changing colours to keep you looking back. One of my favourite features was the futuristic-looking green laser beams being projected off the structure. Although it was fun to walk around on a very cold June evening back in 2009, I don’t remember an awful lot about it. But fortunately, I remember my next visit very well.

Vivid Festival 2019

It was another ten years before I was able to attend Vivid again, so in 2019 I was back in Sydney for work just in time for the start of the festival. I was so excited to be finally returning after so many years. I headed into the city one night to explore the latest creations. You’ll find it in several locations all around the city. However, I ended up only being able to explore the Circular Quay area because there was so much to explore. I’ve already vowed to explore some of the other locations around the city the next time I attend Vivid.

A Sea of Colour

So, upon arrival that night, I departed the train at Circular Quay Train station, which gave me great views of the harbour. First, we saw the magnificently lit-up Sydney Opera House, which had images projected onto the roof of various pictures, from jellyfish and ocean creatures to nature, flowers, and funky patterns. The colours were mainly pink and blue, which were the same colours as many of the installations seen around this area. It’s a  stunning building anyway, without trying very hard, so with brightly coloured rotating patterns being projected onto the sail-shaped roof, it looked very impressive.

Light Installations

Next, we left the Opera House behind and headed over to the fantastic art installations around the harbour. We spotted ‘Vanuatu Tam Tam’ first, a Totem Pole ice sculpture illuminated with blue lights, fitting into its surroundings very well.

We also wandered around a miniature city made up of blocks of skyscrapers with twinkling lights for the windows, making you feel like a giant wandering through the city at night. Behind this were some large pink poles, which I reckon you could create some pretty awesome photos for the creative Instagrammer. As long as you’re quick, you’ll also be dodging huge crowds photobombing your shots!

I also witnessed some great projections onto surrounding buildings of the ocean featuring a man in one of those scary old diving suits, which looked pretty cool.

My absolute favourite of the festival had to be the Swimming Turtles! They looked like they were floating in midair and created from stained glass. They were decorated in blue and green aboriginal patterns and were absolutely stunning. I think it’s safe to say that the theme that year was centered around our beautiful oceans.

A word of warning, the next time you visit the Sydney Vivid festival, it will be super busy, no matter what day you choose to see it, but even more so at the weekend! Don’t let that deter you, as it’s definitely worth braving the crowds for.

Know Before You Go:

Is Vivid on this year?

Yes, it sure is! Vivid is back in 2022 after being on hiatus for two years due to the pandemic. It runs from Friday 27 May to Saturday 18 June.

Do you need a ticket to attend Vivid?

You don’t need a ticket as the event is completely free. However, there are many ways to enhance your experience, such as going on a Harbour Cruise. Click here to see Viators range of Vivid cruises.

What’s on this year?

You’re in for a real treat for those attending this year’s Vivid festival! There will be over 200 installations at different locations around the city, from Central Station to Circular Quay, the Botanical Gardens to Barangaroo, lighting up Sydney like never before. You’ll get to experience epic light installations, music performances, and interactive displays. You can even indulge in a Vivid Cruise along the harbour, seeing the festival of light from the water, making for a truly unique experience. 

Places to stay during Vivid Sydney.

Sydney offers many accommodation options, from budget hostels to swish 5-star hotels. I’ve stayed in a wide range of hotels and hostels over the years. Check out my post here for the best places to stay while you’re here.  

What do we do if it rains?

Regardless of the weather, Vivid will still go ahead. However, the event will not operate in adverse weather. If rain is forecast, it’s best to dress appropriately.

Does it get very busy?

Yes, especially at weekends. I visited on a Wednesday night, and it was absolutely packed.

Thanks for reading my post today on the annual Vivid Festival in Sydney. It’s such a special time to visit the city, from the colourful lights to the projected patterns on buildings and even the interactive sections. Make the most of the colder, darker winter months, and brighten up your winter evenings by visiting this great event. Best of all, it’s free, so it’s also the perfect budget-friendly night.  

So, if you happen to be in Sydney in winter, be sure to seek out this excellent free exhibition.

Have you visited the Vivid Sydney festival before? Are you planning a trip to the festival this year? Let me know in the comments section below.

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