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Vivid 2017 will extend to the newest part of Sydney's CBD this year when the annual festival of light and sound opens in May.
- Sydney's Vivid festival will take place from May 26 to June 17
- This year, the festival of light and sound will feature installations in Barangaroo
- Safety measures have been bolstered, following the death of an Irish tourist in 2014
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian launched the event at the Museum of Contemporary Art at Circular Quay today.
A sea of rainbow-coloured installations accompanied by music will wind through cafe and restaurant-lined laneways in Barangaroo.
Destination NSW CEO and Vivid executive producer Sandra Chipchase said it would be a unique experience.
"Barangaroo is the city's newest entertainment precinct, so it's only natural that we extend the world class Vivid event to include that area," she said.
"The light walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens has been extended all the way around Palm Cove with huge coloured insects and birds.
"The sails of the Opera House will be lit up as normal, and in Martin Place, the lit-up mushroom building as everybody knows it is back."
Ms Berejiklian said Vivid 2017 was an opportunity to showcase some of the city's best creative minds.
"Last year, we drew a crowd of 2.3 million people from around the globe, delivering $110 million to the state's economy," she said.
"Vivid has become Australia's biggest event and we are expecting even more people to visit the 23 day event when it opens in May."
In addition to light displays, the festival features more than 250 music events, including everything from electronic dance music to Indie rock performances.
"Let's not forget that Vivid isn't confined to the CBD — there is so much going on in places like King's Cross, Darlinghurst and Newtown," said Ms Chipchase.
New safety measures have also been put in place as part of the event following the death of an Irish tourist in 2014.
"We have new protection and safety barriers going up and a number of crowd control measures in place," said Ms Chipchase.
"There will be extra police and city rangers, so please, if you are asked to move on, please do so, because it's probably in your best interests."
"We want everyone to have a safe and fun experience."
Vivid 2017 runs from May 26th until June 17th from 6pm until 11pm every night.
Topics: carnivals-and-festivals, events, arts-and-entertainment, community-and-multicultural-festivals, community-and-society, tourism, government-and-politics, sydney-2000