Vivid Sydney 2013

NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment, Andrew Stoner, this evening took part in the very first preview of Vivid Sydney 2013 in Darling Harbour with the spectacular light and water show, Vivid Aquatique. 

Owned and managed by the NSW Government's tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, Vivid Sydney is an 18-day festival of light, music and ideas. It is the biggest festival of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and will take place in Sydney from this Friday 24 May to 10 June, from 6pm for Lights On.

For the first time in Vivid Sydney's five-year history, Vivid Light has extended to Darling Harbour and will transform the popular entertainment area into a spectacle of dancing water fountains, water screen projection performances and dazzling light and water shows, never seen before in Australia, masterminded by France's legendary Aquatique Show International.

Mr Stoner said: 'The first preview of Vivid Sydney in Darling Harbour with Vivid Aquatique was exceptional. The spectacular water and light show illuminated the harbour in a way we've never seen before and will definitely be a major attraction for Vivid Sydney festivalgoers in this precinct.  The expansion into Darling Harbour with Vivid Aquatique is set to thrill the crowds along the foreshore with this amazing and unique experience."

CEO of the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, Catherine Gallagher, said it was a delight to see the first of the illuminated water jets begin in a spectacular show of lasers, light and water across the Darling Harbour foreshore.

'We are thrilled to showcase the first preview of Vivid Sydney in Darling Harbour tonight. Watching the first Vivid Aquatique show, we believe Vivid Sydney festival goers will be in for a fantastic experience here in this precinct.  This will no doubt have a positive impact on the businesses here on the foreshore as the crowds come and experience Vivid Sydney in Darling Harbour," Ms Gallagher said.

Destination NSW CEO, Sandra Chipchase, said that festivalgoers are set for an extraordinary event of 18 days of light, music and ideas, and the expansion into Darling Harbour is just one of the many unique experiences Vivid Sydney will offer this year.  

'Vivid Sydney is a fantastic, free, family-friendly event, and with Vivid Light expanding into new precincts, festivalgoers have the opportunity to make Vivid Sydney a wonderful two night experience.   Tonight's display of Aquatique Show International demonstrated just how spectacular this one element of Vivid Light in Darling Harbour will be," Ms Chipchase said. 

Exploring Vivid Sydney will be made easy with the free Vivid Sydney Harbour Shuttle ferry service operating between Kirribilli, Walsh Bay and Darling Harbour from 6pm-midnight every night of the 18-day event, providing an easy way to reach Darling Harbour for the spectacular Vivid Aquatique water show or travel to North Sydney to paint the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Vivid Sydney 2013 opens tomorrow night, Friday 24th with Lights On from 6pm, celebrating the start of the unique festival of lights, music and ideas for 18 nights. The full program for Vivid Sydney 2013 can be found at www.vividsydney.com