Everyone loves a celebration, and Sydney has a stellar line-up of concerts, Broadway hits, sporting events, art shows and performances on its calendar over the coming summer months. New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve in Sydney is the ultimate in free outdoor events, a party you'd be mad to miss. When Sydney lights the fireworks to welcome in the New Year, it's a night to remember. The theme for the 2011 event is Time to Dream, and the Creative Director is acclaimed Australian designer Marc Newson. Centre of the action is the Harbour Bridge, the focus for an incredible display of pyrotechnics. For the full effect, there's nowhere quite like the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House, Barangaroo, McMahon's Point and Luna Park - but anywhere close to the harbour with a view of the Bridge offers prime viewing. It's also a family-friendly event. Preceding the main fireworks display at midnight is a 9pm show all the family can enjoy.
Sydney Festival
The Sydney Festival is the harbour city's annual mega-event, a three-week celebration of music, dance, opera, theatre and art, when the whole city gets into party mode. Held between January 7-29 in 2012 at indoor and outdoor venues all around the city, the Festival draws some of the world's hottest acts, with the accent on innovation.
In 2012, Parramatta gets into the party in a big way with its own Festival program from January 13-22, including a Parra Opening Party, a free concert under the stars and its own version of the ever-popular Spiegeltent.
Sydney Festival Highlights
Festival First Night - 7 January. The first event of the Sydney Festival, this huge street party takes over the city's parks, streets and laneways for a night of free entertainment featuring hundreds of international and Australian artists. Sydney Festival in Parramatta - 13-22 January. This brand new 10-day event brings the fun and flavour of festival time to the city of Parramatta with an exhilarating performance program that includes free outdoor events.
Summer Sounds in the Domain - 14 January. This is the premier event of the Festival's free concert series, with audience participation encouraged. Parra Opening Party - 14 January . Parramatta kicks off its Festival program with a night of big bands, top DJs and street theatre spectaculars. Symphony in the Domain - 21 January . One of the most popular events in the Festival program, the Sydney Symphony performs some the hits of classical and contemporary music, to an audience as large as 80,000. Dan Sultan and Busby Marou with Casey Chambers - 21 January. These iconic Australian artists will combine for a powerhouse performance to close Parramatta's Festival program with a free concert at the Old Kings School Site that will have everyone on their feet and cheering. Ferrython - 26 January. The Sydney Festival concludes with a thrilling ferry race , with the finish line under the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Harry Potter: The Exhibition
Guaranteed to warm the hearts of the Hogwarts generation, Sydney's Powerhouse Museum will be the first and only stop for Harry Potter™:The Exhibition. Open until March 2012, this amazing display of props, costumes and artefacts culled from the Harry Potter films - including the Gryffindor™ common room and Hagrid's hut - whisks the young and imaginative away to the mystic, magical world of Potter and friends, and their fiendish enemies. www.powerhousemuseum.com/harrypotter
Sydney International Art Series
A key event on the NSW Events Calendar, Sydney International Art Series 2011-12 brings two outstanding art shows to Sydney this year.
Between 12 November and 26 February, the Art Gallery of NSW will host Picasso: masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris - over 150 paintings, sculptures, prints and drawings from the master who transformed 20th century art. www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/picasso
From 16 December to 12 February 2012, the Museum of Contemporary Art will present Australia's first solo exhibition by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, one of the world's favourite interactive artists. Exciting and complex, this Mexican-Canadian artist is known for his provocative works, and his MCA show, Recorders, invites viewers to make their own contribution. http://www.mca.com.au/default.asp?page_id=11&content_id=8832
Australian Open of Surfing
Sydney hits the surf for a brand new event, the Australian Open of Surfing. Held between 11 and 19 February 2012, this Association of Surfing Professionals event will bring some of the megastars of the surfing world to Manly Beach, with music, skateboarding, art and fashion on the sidelines.
Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour
Starting from 24 March 2012, Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour will feature one of the greatest operas ever written, on one of the world's most breathtaking stages - Sydney Harbour. For three weeks only, Opera Australia will perform Verdi's La Traviata on a shimmering stage floating on Sydney Harbour. Extravagant, romantic and staged for maximum effect, this is a perfect introduction for first-time opera-goers.
www.opera-australia.org.au/whatson/opera_on_sydney_harbour
Other highlight events for your summer of fun
Surf City: Until 18 March 2012. From the arrival of the malibu surfboard to the triple-finned thruster in 1980, Surf City at the Museum of Sydney celebrates Sydney's love affair with the surf.
Christmas Projections on Sydney Town Hall: 24 November - 25 December. The city's landmark Victorian Town Hall becomes the canvas for a spectacular light show featuring Christmas images.
Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race: 26 December. In one of the supreme spectator events of the sporting world, the greyhounds of the yachting universe will sprint down the harbour for the start of this blue-water classic.
Annie: From 5 January 2012. The blockbuster Broadway musical comes to Sydney's Lyric Theatre to charm and delight in a new production starring Anthony Warlow as Daddy Warbucks and Nancye Hayes in the role of the tyrannical Miss Hannigan.
Cricket, Vodafone Test Series: 3-7 January. It's India vs Australia in a battle of the giants in the second test at the SCG.
Apia International Sydney Tennis Tournament: 8-14 January. Some of the finest payers in the world will be on the courts at Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre in a warm-up event for the Australian Open, including Australia's US Open champ, Sam Stosur.
St George Open Air Cinema: 11 January - 18 February. Watching a film under the stars and sky in The Domain at Mrs Macquarie's Chair is one of the most magical things to do in summer in Sydney. View latest releases and some memorable classics on a giant screen that rises out of Sydney Harbour.
Chinese New Year: 23 January. Sydney's Chinese community says "farewell" to the rabbit and "hello" to the Year of the Dragon in a noisy celebration with fireworks and dragon dances focused on the city's Chinatown district.
Australia Day: 26 January. Sydney celebrates Australia's national day in its own special way with huge events in The Rocks, on the Harbour and in hundreds of community events that celebrate Australia's multicultural heritage.
Twilight at Taronga: 28 January - 31 March. The Church, James Reyne, Richard Clapton and James Morrison will perform as part of the 2012 Summer Concert Series held in the grounds of Taronga Zoo. Entry to the Zoo is free with every concert ticket after 3pm.
(Source: Travmedia.com)
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