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 The other new year celebration |
Dixon Street (Chinatown) Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia +61 (0)2 9265 9333 http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.go... |
Where else but the colourful chaos of Chinatown to herald the Chinese New Year? Complete with a street parade of dazzling lanterns and drums driving evil spirits away, this two day festival marks the beginning of Sydney's Chinese community's fifteen-day celebration, which starts with the New Moon on the first day of the new year. Do not miss the annual Dragon Boat Races held at Cockle Bay, Darling Harbour, when up to 100 crews compete for five cups. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Steven Tan |
 Photo: Tony Horton |
 Photo: Paul Carson  |
 Photo: Paul Carson |
 Photo: Ed G |
 Photo: Simon Davis |
 Photo: susan |
 Photo: Sam Murphy |
 Photo: un_papillion_de_flottement |
 Photo: Katerina Roth |
 Photo: James C Murty |
 Photo: Vishwas (vizenut) |
 Photo: Belinda Hedges |
 Photo: Richard Laugesen |
 Photo: spikyface PL Brenner |
 Photo: Rob Davis |
 Photo: m e l i m e l i m e l i m e l i me l i |
 Photo: teamg42 |
 Yuletide fun in the sun |
Campbell Parade (Bondi Beach) Sydney, NSW 2026 Australia +61 2 9130 5311 (Bondi Visitors Information Centre) |
Bondi Beach is where homesick Brits, together with the rest of Sydney's perpetual backpacker community, congregate to celebrate Christmas with sand and surf replacing snow, sleet and shivering temperatures. Each Christmas Day, Bondi turns itself over for a giant party complete with bands and entertainment. 'Bring your own' bucket and spade, but watch the alcohol. Due to problems in the past with rioting, since cleaned up by strong policing, most of the area is now a dry zone. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Mike Stone www.photo.net.au |
 Photo: www.timtam.com john |
 Photo: www.timtam.com john |
 Photo: nice kitty |
 Plenty of free entertainment |
Harbourside Amphitheatre (Darling Harbour) Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia +61 02 9931 1111 |
Held during the Easter school holidays, the Darling Harbour Hoopla Fest is a surprise package full of magical illusions, aerial circus acts, trapeze stunts, aerial ballet, sway poles, juggling and sword balancing. There are also workshops that everyone can participate in, like learning to fly (with the help of a trapeze harness!). Buskers and street performers roam the forecourt of Darling Harbour during this colourful festival. Check local press for performance times. Most events are free. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Come on and sing a-long |
Darling Harbour Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia +61 2 9240 8500 http://www.darlingharbour.com darlingharbour@shfa.nsw.gov.au |
Party Latin American-style at the Darling Harbour Fiesta, a colourful celebration Latin and Spanish music, dance, dance and more dance, food, entertainment, and samba parades. 500 of Australia's top Latin American bands and dancers get in on the act, and the tequilas and margaritas flow into the night. The action kicks off with a fireworks display on Friday night. Throughout the year, Darling Harbour plays host to a number of cultural festivals and this is one of its flamboyant best. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Nicholas Lim |
 Photo: Jason Barrie Morley |
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Fabulous eating opportunities in the city |
Various venues Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia |
Highlights of this festival include Regional Flavours, a showcase of the best produce in the state, a chili expo, a bread festival, bargain lunches in the elegant hotel dining rooms of Sydney and a Progressive Dinner that works its way among silver service and Mod Oz restaurants. Other events staged during the two weeks range from The World's Longest Buffet to an aromatic coffee festival in The Rocks, and 'the Seoul of Sydney,' a celebration of Korean cuisine. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Annual Kite Festival |
Bondi Beach (Bondi) Sydney, NSW 2026 Australia +61 2 9130 3325 http://www.aks.org.au/ |
The annual Festival of the Winds sees Bondi's brilliant blue sky filled with kites in a rainbow-colored spectrum of shapes and sizes. Creations such as giant cartoon characters, airborne buildings and flying trains compete with more traditional kites, including sleek racing models built for high-altitude speed and precision ground control. Professional kite-fliers from all over the world (China is one of the best-represented nations) join in with locals and send their kites soaring. See their website for further details. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: annahardy |
 Photo: Trinette Talisaysay |
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All the fun of the fair and a taste fest |
Glebe Point Rd & St. Johns Rd (between Parramatta Rd & Bridge Rd) Sydney, NSW 2037 Australia +61 (0)2 9281 0024 http://www.epicattractions.com... gsf@epicattractions.com |
This mega festival could easily be called the Taste of Glebe considering it is all about food. It takes place on Glebe Point Road, one of Sydney's longest dining strips. There are restaurants lining the road shoulder to shoulder and once a year they take the cuisines to the streets for masses (more than 100,000) to sample. Add some arts and crafts, decorate the street a bit, throw in a few rides, have some buskers and clowns entertain the crowds and you have a genuine festival. Cuisine samples include Malaysian, Greek, Japanese, Lebanese, Italian and a ton of Thai. Wine sampling is also a big hit. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Paula Lay |
 Photo: jjprojects |
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Films, music and a street fair Greek style |
Various venues Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia +61(0)2 9750 0440 / 61 (0)2 9750 9266 http://www.greekfestivalofsydn... greekfestival@goc.com.au |
This festival keeps getting bigger and better each year. Events include a street fair, education activities for students, art exhibitions, a Greek film festival, musical and theatrical performances, a lecture series, seminars and workshops. The opening ceremony in takes place at the Bay Street Fair in Brighton Le Sands. This is a chance for Sydney's Greek communities to celebrate their culture and for everyone else to join in. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Anastasia Mavromatis |
 Photo: Anastasia Mavromatis |
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Big bands and all that jazz |
The Corso & East Esplanade Sydney, NSW 1655 Australia +61 2 9976 1430 http://www.manly.nsw.gov.au/ma... vic@manly.nsw.gov.au |
Australia's biggest jazz festival continues to lure local legends and jazz greats from around the world. More than 70 performances are scheduled each year and the best part is that every single show is free. All styles of jazz are represented including be-bop, California cool, traditional, electronic and acid. Blues, gospel, swing and big band are also featured. Many of the local cafés and bars get in on the act and feature jazz in the evenings. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Bryn Price (Blue Doors Studio) |
 Photo: Bryn Price (Blue Doors Studio) |
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Town Meets Country |
Balmoral Beach (Mosman) Sydney, NSW 2088 Australia http://www.mudgeewine.com.au/ |
Mudgee is situated on the western slopes of the Great Dividing range in the Central Tablelands region of New South Wales, and is famous for its wines, jams, hazelnuts, cheeses, pottery, and local arts and crafts. This rustic, richly fertile Australian countryside is well worth a visit, but, if you cannot spare the time, then head down to picturesque Balmoral Beach for this real country-style fair, and a fabulous showcase of Mudgee's home-grown produce. See website for yearly particulars. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Pyromania in the City |
Hickson Road (Various locations around Sydney Harbor) Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia +61 2 9255 1788 http://www.sydneynewyearseve.c... nye@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au |
Sydney loves its fireworks and this is when they are at their best, launched from barges in the centre of the harbour and fixtures across the skyline. There are two sets: one at 9pm for families, and another to ring in the New Year. Best views are undoubtedly from the harbour, but there are many other vantage points. Some of the more out-of-the-way spots include Milsons Point and McMahons Point. Many other activities take place throughout the evening including a tall ships parade and a carnival. Public transport operates continuously through the night. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Pattanasak Rattanasiwamok |
 Photo: Pattanasak Rattanasiwamok |
 Photo: Pattanasak Rattanasiwamok |
 Photo: Jamie Wilkinson |
 Photo: Pattanasak Rattanasiwamok |
 Photo: Brian McGuirk |
 Photo: silverseahorse |
 Photo: Greg Baker |
 Photo: Suzy Small |
 Photo: Andrew Muller |
 Photo: Chris & Abi Kriehn |
 Photo: Guilherme de Biasi |
 Photo: Catherine Seale |
 Photo: S. Stork |
 Photo: Anthony Bartlett |
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Little Italy's big affair |
Norton Street (Leichhardt) Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia +61 (0)2 9560 1674 |
With it's recently-opened Forum, including an open-air pallagio and Italian Cultural Centre, Leichhardt is the cultural Mecca for all things Italian. At its epicentre, Norton Street has dozens of authentic espresso bars and cafés serving the best foccacia, gelato and lattes this side of Rome. The cultural celebrations culminate at the Norton Street Festival, when local businesses take to the streets with food and wine stalls, street art, performers, musicians, puppets and (being Sydney) fireworks. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: wcities |
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Art for alternative sake |
Office: Queen Elizabeth Drive (Events take place at various locations) Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia +61 (0)2 9365 0112 |
The Fringe Fest is an underground alternative to the more mainstream Sydney Festival. It is a bit like the tattooed and mohawk wearing wild younger sibling of the more sophisticated tux-clad older festival. But it is pure fun and filled with such oddities as drag racing, sand castle competitions and the now defunct, but popular in memory, nude surfing challenge. It also features more familiar and inexpensive features like comedy and dance performances and film screenings at venues across the inner city. Free street theatre shows and concerts take place every day during the festival. Review © 2007, Wcities |