Vivid Sydney 2019: 6 must-see light shows at this year’s event

Vivid Sydney 2019: 6 must-see light shows at this year’s event

From May 25 to June 15, the streets of Sydney will come alive as more than 60 light shows illuminate the city in a spectacular display of artistic and technological brilliance. The occasion is Vivid Sydney, an annual festival that is far more than a collection of breathtaking visual exhibitions and enchanting musical performances: it’s a celebration of ideas and innovation, designed to inspire the mind with over 350 displays, programs, performances and seminars stretching from Darling Harbour through Circular Quay to the Botanic Gardens, and across the harbour at Luna Park, Milson’s Point and Taronga Zoo.

Fraser Suites Sydney’s five-star apartments and luxury penthouse suites are a stone’s throw from Town Hall, offering convenient accommodation between the Vivid displays at Darling Harbour and the event’s main attractions in Circular Quay. With so much to see over the three week festival, we’ve picked six of our favourite light shows that aren’t to be missed at the 2019 instalment. But don’t forget: there’s plenty of mind-blowing attractions not listed here, so be sure to leave plenty of time to discover them all for yourself!

Austral Floral Ballet

The facades of some of Sydney’s most iconic attractions are turned into giant canvases during Vivid, and the Opera House is no exception. In 2019, Los Angeles-based artist Andrew Thomas Huang has designed Austral Floral Ballet, a mesmerising display dedicated to Australia’s native flora in a vibrant, dance-like movement of colour across the building’s famous white sails. The show is based on choreography by Toogie Barcelo and performed by Genna Moroni, ensuring viewers are in for a visual treat at Circular Quay.

Eora: Broken Spear

At the other side of Circular Quay will be the Eora: Broken Spear display, which celebrates the original custodians of the land and the Indigenous Australians who sought peaceful interaction with the first Europeans. Projected onto the mighty southeastern pylon of the Harbour Bridge, the show is designed by Rhoda Roberts, head of Indigenous programming at the Opera House.

Let Me Down

Every year, the front facade of the Museum of Contemporary Art provides one of the biggest canvases of the entire Vivid festival. This year, four of artist Claudia Nicholson’s works -- which see her reimagine and reinterpret traditions of her Colombian heritage -- will be adapted into colourful animations to be projected onto the museum. Full of imagination and larger than life, Let Me Down is an essential addition to your Vivid itinerary.

Let It Snow

Sometimes, the simplest of light installations at Vivid are just as captivating as the massive displays projected onto entire buildings. Let It Snow in Circular Quay, designed by Jing Li and Lawrence Liang, is an unpretentious and endlessly enchanting exhibit that’ll trick you into believing it’s raining drops of light. The cluster of cascading LED bulbs isn’t just a great chance for a kickass Instagram post: it’s inspired by the snow machines of Thredbo and changes based on the weather and the movement of people around it.

Under The Harbour

Have you ever wondered what lies beneath the waters of Sydney Harbour? While your imagination may be filled with terrifying sea monsters and hideous creepy crawlies, Darlinghurst collective Spinifex Group has taken a more playful approach to the creatures who call the harbour home. Projected onto the facade of Customs House, Under the Harbour is a vibrant light show depicting a bright, neon undersea ecosystem full of life and wonder, centred around a giant luminescent octopus. The deep sea has never looked more beautiful!

H3 Vivid accommodation packages at Fraser Suites Sydney

Just two train stations and a relaxing 25-minute stroll from Circular Quay, Fraser Suites Sydney is perfectly situated to provide accommodation during Vivid Sydney 2019. Housed in a 41-storey glass high-rise building with large windows, our suites and apartments offer sprawling city views as spectacular as those you’ll see as you explore the lights, shows and installations from May 25 to June 15. We’re also just a short walk from Darling Harbour, where you’ll find even more Vivid lights to enjoy.

Whether you’re staying for the weekend or settling in for a long-term visit, we have a variety of accommodation options to suit your needs. Check out our latest offers to get the best deal for your stay during Vivid 2019.