It’s that time of year again. Vivid Sydney is back for the 2019 show to illuminate our eyes and hearts, and not to mention Sydney Harbour. 

Vivid Sydney has been labelled the ‘largest festival of light, music and ideas in the Southern Hemisphere’ and my gosh it is breathtaking. The magical festival runs over 23 days from Friday May 24 until Saturday June 15.

At 6pm each night, Sydney Harbour is lit up with a stunning array of light and colour displayed through unique ideas and platforms. A show where art, music, culture and technology intertwine to transform the city into an artistic paradise. 

Opening night did not disappoint. Thousands flocked to the city to take in remarkable views and catch the many shows that Vivid has to offer. My friends and I joined the opening crowd for a night of radiant bliss.

It’s difficult to know where to start with so much going on around the harbour, and there are too many programs, activities and displays to name on one page. So, I am going to present to you my favourites. 

I arrived at what is usually Sydney Harbour’s Custom House, now a canvas for artists from Spinifex Group. The large-scale, underwater fantasy was enrapturing as splashes of colour spread across the historical facade. The thought-provoking presentation inspired me to appreciate the beauty of our aquatic wildlife. 

Many of the artistic shows and artworks were thoughtfully created to invoke different feelings of inspiration and many to create vision into a particular subject. It’s the audience’s job to unravel the story behind each piece and I absolutely loved this part of the experience.  

The interactive Jungle Boogie experience was nothing short of an inspirational message. The thing I loved about this display was its inclusive and accessible nature, providing access to adults, kids and those of all abilities. The forest scene lit up animals, birdlife and trees to beautiful tunes and sounds. 

When you touched any key on the exhibition, musical notes were emitted and lights began to dazzle the audience. The more people that got involved and keys pressed, the grander the show. I take my hat off to artist Pink Cactus for creating an engaging message of inclusion and appreciation of our wildlife. 

Of course, I have to mention the Harbour lights. A collaborative coordination of light lit vessels move across the water creating a colour spectrum that dances across the ocean surface. The message to this show? I took it as, life is beautiful.

I could go on and on about the different shows I visited along the way, but you really need to experience its beauty for yourself. Take in each and every light, every show and message and experience the wonder and charm of artists from all over the world. There’s not long left of the free event for 2019, so if you can’t make it this year, then you should definitely book now for 2020.