Sydney Festival 2017

By O.K. Glynn

It’s hard to really pinpoint what makes Sydney, Sydney.

There are so many facets to this great city, it’s like a giant bee-hive constantly buzzing, every little section of the city housing any number of weird and wonderful people and adventures.

To celebrate the diversity that is Sydney, and to really just throw in some even cooler adventures and photo ops, Sydney Festival will be running for its 41st year.

Based on the highest quality art and boldest ideas, Sydney Festival is set to ignite the Summer with a cultural celebration of what it is to be a Sydney-sider.

Running from January 7 – 29, there is an absolute kaleidoscope of events being held across the city, stretching right between Hyde Park, the heart of the CBD, straight through to Parramatta, the ever growing second CBD (Insider Tip – QT Parramatta opens 2020).

The audacious contemporary programming sets up Sydney Festival as one of the most exciting calendar events of the year, so what better way to kick back and roll in the Summer nights.

There are approximately 370 performances, 100 events and 700 performing artists across more than 30 venues.

It’s inclusive programming at it’s best: firstly, I know you’re into free things, so be sure to check out the Free & Cheap section of the festival. This year it includes a giant ball pit dubbed The Beach. If you do one thing, make sure you hit up Barangaroo on any day of the festival to swim in a pit of over a million pearl-white balls. This should be the rendezvous point for everyone – I’ll see you there.

On top of that, there is also a house of mirrors, circus performances and classes, a symphony under the stars, a perfume guide, art installations, sky terrace music shows, play readings, imagination installations…seriously, I’m not lying when I say it’s as varied as a hipster’s Christmas sweater collection.

From the free and cheap shows, there is also a whole host of ticketed events, with ticket prices sitting around the $26 mark – you can purchase your tickets any day of the festival in the pop-up Tix for Next to Nix booth in Hyde Park.

You can enjoy shows that vary from cheeky Burlesque and cabaret, right through to a Canadian circus, indie rock shows, Russian theatre and Indigenous art and dance practice.

This festival isn’t just for those that call this fair city their home – it’s for everyone who so happens to be passing through, even just for a night.

There is quite literally everything for anyone, if you don’t like giant ball pits, you might like over-zealous circus clowns (not to be mean, but we’d definitely not be friends if this were the case).

Sydney Festival holds it’s own as one of the most daring and multi-faceted arts festivals in all of Australia, upholding the ideas of truth, beauty, freedom and love.

A bohemian extravaganza that even the stiffest upper-lipped wet blanket can find some enjoyment in (if not, push them into the mirror maze and go enjoy yourself – evidently they need some serious self-reflection).

We here at QTLife will be sure to keep you updated on all happenings of the Sydney Festival 2017.

Sydney Festival runs from January 7 -29, 2017.