PLAN AHEAD FOR VIVID SYDNEY OPENING NIGHT

The countdown is on to Vivid Sydney 2016 with those travelling to the festival encouraged to leave the car at home and catch public transport.

The opening night of Vivid coincides with AFL and Super Rugby matches at the SCG and Allianz Stadium, as well as a concert at the Hordern Pavilion, with up to 65,000 people expected in the Moore Park precinct.

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres said this year’s Vivid is set to be the biggest in the festival’s eight-year history.

“We are delighted Vivid Sydney is finally here again! It’s one of Australia’s must-see festivals that is now recognised as the largest event of its kind in the world combining light, music and ideas,” Mr Ayres said.

“Last year a record 1.7 million attendees experienced the joy of Vivid Sydney, and this year the festival will run for an additional five nights, providing visitors with even more time to experience the spectacular light, music and ideas that illuminate the Harbour City each winter.”

Additional public transport services will be in place throughout Vivid Sydney to move people around, however the CBD and surrounding Moore Park area will be congested from the early afternoon on Friday with major delays expected.

Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance said visitors coming into or near the CBD on Fridaynight should leave the car at home, with more than 60,000 fans expected to attend the two football games at Moore Park.

“We want fans and visitors to enjoy these fantastic events but everyone needs to plan ahead as there will be road closures and clearways, and we expect there will be significant delays on our roads,” Mr Constance said.

“If you’re coming into town, use the 4,500 extra public transport services running in addition to the regular timetable during Vivid Sydney.”

Vivid Sydney – 27 May until 18 June

Vivid Sydney is the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas, which for 23 days – from 27 May to 18 June 2016 – transforms the Harbour City with its colourful creative canvas. In 2015 Vivid Sydney attracted a record 1.7 million attendees.

Now in its eighth year, Vivid Sydney is owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency.

Vivid Sydney features large scale light installations and projections (Vivid Light), with lights on between 6pm-11pm at most precincts; music performances and collaborations (Vivid Music including Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House); and creative ideas, discussion and debate (Vivid Ideas), all celebrating Sydney as the creative hub of the Asia-Pacific. For more information visit www.vividsydney.com.

Events at Moore Park on Friday May 27:

Swans vs North Melbourne at the SCG (Start 7:50pm – finish 10:20pm) – Estimated crowd of up to 40,000;
Waratahs vs Chiefs at Allianz Stadium (Start 7:40pm – finish 9.20pm) – Estimated crowd of up to 20,000;
This is Hip-Hop Tour, Hordern Pavilion, (Start 6:15pm – finish approx. midnight) – Estimated crowd of up to 2,000.

Transport

For information about road closures and extra public transport services to and from Vivid Sydney, visitwww.vividsydney.com/transport.

For information on extra services, timetables, maps and trip planning visit www.transportnsw.info, download a train or bus app from the App Store or Google Play.

For the latest traffic information, visit www.livetraffic.com, download a real-time traffic app from the App Store or Google Play, or call 132 701