From the outdoors to the indoors, there's plenty to explore. Here's some of the most colourful experiences to be had:-
IN DARLING HARBOUR
At Tumbalong Park, you can't miss the magical marine world of Cupid's Koi Garden. Consisting of the world's first inflatable fountain, it's a huge 6m tall immersive water play installation splashing summer fun on all within its reach.
At night (until 10pm), it's bathed in lights that produce a colourful kaleidoscopic glow. With trickling soundtracks and the multi-sensory playground of gushing bubblers, it's an inviting way to have fun and cool down in the heat, and it's free.
Within the same Park, a neon-lit night of amazement awaits at the Maho Magic Bar. With a curated bar of Japanese cocktails and spirits, together with an exclusive magic show at your table, every one of your senses will be stimulated at this dazzling event.
Shows to see this troop of tricksters range in price from $68-$85, depending on the time and the day of the week. Running for 1hr, with sessions from 3.15pm-9.15pm, you can get your tickets here.
Down the other end of Darling Harbour, the Australian National Maritime Museum has an undersea playscape and performance experience called Shipwreck Odyssey that will have you diving into a lush reef adventure.
Sessions for this odyssey are available for the majority of the festival period. The performance runs for 30mins and you get a further 30mins to explore the playscape. You can book here for this family-friendly escapade that's priced at $15 per person.
For more shipwreck fun, the museum will also have you discovering maritime history with Brickwrecks: Sunken Ships in Lego Bricks. Marvel at master Brickman Ryan McNaught's fascinating LEGO models of famous shipwrecks, along with real-world objects found on these sunken ships.
Several transformational spaces with collections of historical photos and films, captivating holography, 360-degree projections and a virtual reality system will transport you inside Kahlo's most famous works.
All of this is accompanied by fresh arrangements of traditional Mexican music and live performance. But wait, there's more with Frida Kahlo: Up Late. Each Friday and Saturday night (from 5.30pm-9.30pm) you can indulge in spicy margaritas, tasty tacos and warm churros mixed in with immersive art, live music and dancing that includes traditional Mexican wedding dances, together with other dances inspired by Frida's life and culture.
The exhibition is open from 10am, with tickets for morning, afternoon and evening sessions. Priced, from $39-$49, you can use the same link for the Up Late event by choosing a Friday or Saturday evening timeslot.
After you've explored the exhibition and had your fill of food and drinks, check out La Tienda gift shop stocked with Frida Kahlo and Kahlo-inspired merchandise.
IN DAWES POINT
The Sydney Theatre Company is hosting a cabaret kick-starter on 8Jan, titled Smashed: The Brunch Party. It's a fabulous femme-tastic smorgasbord of foot stomping, whip cracking, sequin-soaked cabaret, drag and circus, all served with morning mimosas.
The brunch and show experience includes a mimosa on arrival. Various seating arrangements are available, with cabaret tables including a themed snack item. Two performances will take place, a morning one at 11am and a matinee at 1pm. Tickets are priced from $69.
Located on Wharf 1 at 15 Hickson Rd, it's sure to be a riot with this bunch delivering sass, satire, colourful gender-bending style and eye-popping aerial acrobatics.
AT EVELEIGH
The kaleidoscope of elements engage with pop culture and an imagined queer alternative reality that multidisciplinary artist Paul Yore is known for. You can see it all for free at Bay 21 in the hub, from Wed-Sun, 10am-5pm.
Another bright sensory overload is that of The Huxleys: Bloodlines, which honours and worships legendary artists lost to HIV/AIDS. The exhibition of multi-art forms evokes the colourful, rebellious and creative spirit of the influential voices that helped shift the world of queer art and culture into new realms and inspired the practices of The Huxleys and numerous other artists working today.
Alongside these solo exhibitions (at 245 Wilson St), you can enjoy performances spanning opera, dance, puppetry and music.
On the other side of the railway at Innovation Plaza, you'll find Jenny Kee: The Aunties with visual arts installations towering into the summer sky. The globally loved Sydney artist responsible for the iconic UniOz Stripe artwork in galleries, on outfits and crockery, is blowing it up like you've never seen before.
You can view it for free, gracing Locomotive St in South Eveleigh, from 10am daily up until 24Jan. When hungry, stop in at one of the many cafes, restaurants and bars that populate the street. Many of them are partnering with Sydney Festival to bring your curated $30 & $55 menus.
IN PARRAMATTA
Dizzying new levels of fun from a handful of daring acrobats, accompanied by skilled musicians, will sweep viewers up in amazement with a performance that sees an authentic and original choreography matched to the pulsating rhythm of the djembes (goblet drums) of Guinea in West Africa. Together with the serene twang of the Kora (a stringed instrument), it's a celebration of the diversity of traditional African arts.
Now based in Montreal, after seizing every opportunity to share his platform and learnings with the community of his West African home, he continues to put the development of young African circus talent in the forefront and share the fame with them and the wider world.
This show draws on the Nyamakala tradition of circus in West Africa and Yamoussa's experience in Guinea's Circus Baobob and Canada's Cirque Eloize. With his troupe, the show takes contemporary circus to new heights.
You might also be interested in the Drumming & Dance Workshop, where you will find yourself immersed further in the exuberant beats combined with the liberating joy of dance. This one is $10 and takes place onstage on 10Jan. There are two sessions, 5.30pm and 7pm, each with a duration of 1hr. Click here for tickets.
Riverside Theatres are located at Cnr Market & Church Sts. The courtyard will be transformed into a tropical festival garden featuring live DJs, a pop-up bar and street food. Come early or stay after the show for a drink and free music.
The above items are just a part of what you can see. For the full festival program, check out the dedicated website.
