Looking for top tips for spectacular family friendly fun? Well look no further.

Vivid Sydney returns in 2017 with more family-friendly offerings than ever before. Over 23 nights, there are over 100 family-friendly installations and events, including 32 Vivid Ideas and Music events.

From Friday 26 May to Saturday 17 June, Vivid Sydney – proudly owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW – will transform the city into a creative canvas. Light installations and projections will illuminate iconic buildings and locations around the city.

Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer and Executive Producer of Vivid Sydney, Sandra Chipchase said: “Each year Vivid Sydney presents a family-friendly program that delights and entertains children of all ages.

“Interactive installations give youngsters the ability to control light, colour and sound, and create amazing, magical landscapes through touch and movement, while other activities inspired by gaming, music-making and future worlds cate to the interests of older kids and teens. “

Family-friendly highlights include:

• Vivid Ideas’ Rhodes: Creative in Rhodes, including the Human Friendship Robot Ball, where kids can learn, interact and dance with humanoid robots called ‘NAO-bots’.
• Vivid Lights at Freedom of Movement at Dawes Point, an interactive, larger-than-life set of humble swings that combine wonder of motion with colour, light, sound and performance.
• Vivid Music presents the Silent Disco Ice Skating Rink in Central park combined with a live DJ set played through individual headphones with the magic and excitement of ice-skating.

A Guide for the Family

0 – 6 Years: Bubs to Preschoolers

Dipping Birds (The Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney): Just like the ‘drinking bird’ novelty toy perched on a glass, these brightly coloured, spindly legged, two metre tall birds bob up and down seeking a drink of water too, changing colour as they quench their thirst.

The Sunflowers (The Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney): Charming, giant sustainable flowers welcome you with a bow as you walk by at night, using solar energy they harnessed during the day.

Never Ends (The Rocks): A lone illuminated rocking horse on a platform four metres in diameter, waiting for a rider. Hop on for a ride into the night and everything changes as you create a fairy-tale setting.

Lights for the Wild (Taronga Zoo): After the permanent zoo residents have retired for the night, the giant light sculptures of endangered animals take centre stage along an illuminated trail of interactive animal lanterns with crowd favourites including the Asia elephant and toothy Sumatran Tiger joined by new additions: Gorilla, Pelican, Tasmanian Devil, a swarm of tiny buzzing bees and PJ, a 20 metre walk through port Jackson shark.

7 – 11 Years: Primary Schoolers 

Don’t Step on the Crack (Alfred Street, Sydney): You might have childhood memories of not stepping on cracks in the footpath, but never like this. Kids jump over illuminated cracks, cross boundaries and question what really lies beneath the surface.

Cradle (Customs House Square): The coolest physics lesson ever. Kids can channel their inner Isaac Newton and give five giant illuminated spheres a gentle push so they swing back and forth, changing colour every time they touch.

Kids/Code/Create – 27th May, 10am-3pm (Powerhouse Museum, Ultimo): Presented by Code Club Australia, kids are inspired to create a project using code, light and music. Tickets can be purchased here.

12+ Years: High Schoolers

SYDNEYLAND (The Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, best viewed from Circular Quay): Teens can pose for a Hollywood style Sydney selfie and share it with their friends and followers via Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.

MailboX (The Rocks): Part video game, part post box: Posting a letter has never been this much fun. By intercepting with MailboX’s game inspired design and tapping at different places, teens can help create anything from an emoji to a smiling koala.

Gen XI: Educating the Next Generation – 28th May and 4 June 9am-4pm (Surrey Hills): For the change-makers, problem solvers and inventors. Learn to tap your imagination and turn it into tangible prototypes at this interactive one-day Vivid ideas workshop for 14 to 18 year olds. Tickets can be purchased here.

Rhodes: Creative (Rhodes): Curious kids who enjoy creating cool things with the latest technology will enjoy this program of masterclasses, workshops, activities and talks on 3D printing, robotics, wearable art and tech.

Future City, Smart City (Chatswood): The CBD is reinvented with ingenious steampunk installations and light sculpture inspired by 19th century steam powered machinery. Follow a flight to an airborne, sustainable community, then return to earth and discover the submerged magic of Steampunk Waterworld.

Best Secrets for Families to Make the Most Out of Vivid Sydney!

• Visit early in the week: Monday to Wednesday are much quieter than the weekend
• Visit early in the evening: lights go on at 5:30-6pm, ideal for taking in the lights, grabbing and early dinner and getting the family home for bedtime.
• Visit more times for more fun: it’s impossible to see everything in one night!
• Visit using public transport: there are extra bus and train services running!
• Visit a Vivid Information Booth and get an ID wrsitband for children: add your contact details so you can be reunited fast incase you should be separated from them at anytime.
• Visit prepared: plan the activities, locations and sights you want to see first for a seamless visit!