The festival will come to an end tomorrow night, but there’s still time to get a look and enjoy a night out before the lights are turned off.
Darling Harbour is hosting Sydney Infinity, billed as ‘a water show on steroids’. It features an array of compressed-air water cannons and delivers the largest liquid and light show in Vivid’s history. Choreographed sequences are presented on rotation to soundtracks by Sydney’s own Peewee Ferris.
Close by is Vivid House, where musicians have teamed up with digital artists to create spaces that morph with sonic paintings and explore Sydney’s nightlife.
At Tumbalong Park, Sydney artist James Dive’s Bump in the Night installation takes a look at close encounters with nature after dark.
Bombay Sapphire is also hosting auxiliary drinking experiences at venues around the Sydney CBD.
First up is rooftop bar CIRQ on level 26 at Crown Sydney, Barangaroo, for a bird’s eye view of Vivid’s lights. Bombay Sapphire have partnered with CIRQ to showcase their gin, and are providing a curated food menu to go along with it. The menu is designed to compliment the drinks and tapas already on offer at CIRQ.
Next, nestled in Darling Quarter at Tumbalong Park, is a neon-lit bar hosting Bombay Sapphire’s collection of cocktails and an immersive experience by local artist, Elliott Routledge. The House of Bombay is a good place to start a Vivid night before checking out Vivid’s lights.
So too, the Opera Bar, offering live music, has joined up with Bombay Sapphire to take guests on a journey ‘into the blue’.
Crown Sydney’s Teahouse Bar is also offering a selection of Vivid-inspired cocktails, where mixer Tracy Dao is showcasing gin, vodka, and tequila drinks.
Near-by, Lotus Dining, is offering up a seafood menu for large groups. Specials include Vivid dumplings and a Starry Night cocktail.
At Pier One, guests can drink alongside an art installation and take in the always incredible views of the Harbour Bridge. Two-hour food and beverage packages are $90 and include beer, wine (and non- alc drinks), and share plates and platters.
The Harbour View Hotel is hosting a pop-up glow bar, serving glow in the dark cocktails, making it a perfect pit stop as you make your around Vivid’s installations.
Tonight, New York artist Cakes Da Killa is bringing his lightning-fast raps and high energy club beats to Oxford Art Factory.
On Saturday night, rounding out Vivid Sydney Supper Club and the festival as a whole, Trevor Ashley performs at Mary’s Underground.
The return of the Vivid has been credited with boosting hotel bookings in Sydney, with hotels recently experienced their best weekend occupancy rates since 2019.
Vivid has previously encouraged CBD businesses to boost their trade by participating in its lighting festival, countering a trend that has seen visits to the CBD decoupled from working habits with more office staff choosing to work from home.
Michael Rodrigues, NSW’s 24-Hour Economy Commissioner, recently engaged a report into the state of play in Sydney’s CBD, with dining and entertainment identified as a key driver in encouraging people to return to the CBD.
Earlier in the week, the Baxter Inn’s general manager Jay Cozma, spoke to The Shout about the importance of collaborating with the arts and music industries to encourage the return of visitors to the centre of Sydney.