Things you didn’t know you can do at Vivid

·Branded Content Editor

29 May 2018 at 2:45 am

The world’s biggest light festival kicked off on Friday night, but not everyone was wild about Vivid Sydney.

The 2018 installation, now in its tenth year, had the crowds moaning about, well, the crowds.

Some punters said the organiser’s efforts to wrangle huge masses of people with tactical bottleneck pedestrian paths ruined this year’s vibe.

Last year’s event attracted 2.33 million. It’s an incredible display so of course there’s going to be a crowd. But if you’re worried about throngs of the public at the more generic Vivid sites, we’ve rounded up the best activities away from the crowds…

One of the favourite interactive features at Lightscape, <span> a journey through time and space with interactive light installations, immersive projections of amazing NASA imagery, live art of future cities and lot of yummy food.</span> Photo: Manuela Leigh — One of the favourite interactive features at Lightscape, a journey through time and space with interactive light installations, immersive projections of amazing NASA imagery, live art of future cities and lot of yummy food. Photo: Manuela Leigh

Chatswood’s Lightscape

Every night from 5.30pm – 10.30pm

May 25^th – 16^th June

Impress the kids with immersive projections of space stuff – straight from NASA! There are interactive light installations including a giant jellyfish and ‘Sky Portal’, which gives the audience the ability to see themselves in alternate realities on an overhanging giant 20m x 4m LED interactive video screen. Plus there’s Sydney’s favourite eats up for grabs, ahem, we talking to you, Black Star Pastry.

Introducing a<span>rtist Geoff Cobham’s </span><span>Sky Portal, transporting visitors to another reality. </span>Photo: Manuela Leigh — Introducing artist Geoff Cobham’s Sky Portal, transporting visitors to another reality. Photo: Manuela Leigh

The kids love the <span>Octopoda. </span>Photo: Manuela Leigh — The kids love the Octopoda. Photo: Manuela Leigh

Lights for the wild at Taronga Park Zoo

May 25th – June 16^th

Session times: 5.30pm, 6.30pm, 7.30pm

Shining a light on endangered wildlife. Taronga Zoo is bringing back bright favourites Sumatran Tiger, the giant bilby and introducing new additions the epic goanna and a school of blue devilfish. Beautiful.

The luminous goanna is a new attraction at Taronga this year. Photo: Manuela Leigh

Guests walk through a marine world to meet some of New South Wales’ most-endangered species. Photo: Manuela Leigh

The multimedia light sculpture of the Sumatran Tiger is back for another round of Vivid. Photo: Manuela Leigh

Sydney Tower Eye’s Eye Glow

May 25th – June 16^th

9am daily

Rise above the hustle and bustle and take in Vivid from Sydney’s highest point. Kids can rock their best dance moves on the light-up dance floor or get their face painted glow-in-the-dark style. Those feeling adventurous can take the Vivid Skywalk from the observation deck (for kiddies aged eight and up.)

Glow-in-dark face painting at Sydney Tower Eye. Photo: Lucas Goldman

The view from 250-meters above the streets below. Photo: Lucas Goldman/Sydney Tower Eye

Vivid Immersive dinner series

May 26^th + June 2nd

For a truly unique Vivid activity, check out ‘Hard Things to Talk About.’ It’s a dinner series held at The Calyx in The Royal Botanic Garden. Think an evening of light, conversation, story-based cocktails, curated food, drinks & artisan performers. Curator Lekki Maze has brought together Dan Goods, from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and founder of the Museum of Awe and Fiona Kerr to provoke the wonders of our brains. Their next event on June 2nd will be talking about everything from existence, aliveness, and being human, to philosophy and meaning. #Deep

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