Sydney Festival is Part of Australian Culture

Every year starts with a big bang. Sydney festival, one of the great attractions in Australia, is on with a stunning first night, free for everyone to join in and have an unforgettable day out.

In 2010, it offered a great line-up of international and Australian bands, singers, circus shows, spectacular laser displays, family friendly entertainment, music and fun for kids.

All happened in the City, with some of the streets closed for cars just to make it easy for revelers to move easily around all the hot spots.

Martin Place laser display

Sydney Festival - What Is It?

It is a three weeks celebration of arts and performance that runs across Sydney with ticketed events and some free shows.

It happens in January every year. That is why January is the best time in Sydney Australia.

Almost all arts are represented: theatre, dance, music, circus, visual arts, philosophical or cultural talks and debates. Everything that stimulates your mind and heart.

The festival is a great opportunity for Sydneysiders to get to know and see a number of famous international personalities that come to perform down under.

Sydney Festival 2010, Free Shows

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy performs in Martin Place

During the three week period there are a number of events where everyone is welcome.

But the ones that pull the largest number of crowds are the first night in the City and the three concerts in the Domain all of them happening on the 4 Saturdays in January.

Some of the acts of the first night included:

• music of the world, with Brazilian, East European, Egyptian and Indian rythms in Hyde Park
• African, South American and Canadian beats in Chifley Square
• soul, dance, jazz and swing bands from the Pacific Islands, Tokyo and New York in Martin Place
• indigenous musicians and the master of soul, Al Green in the Domain
• pop-up artists, musicians and acrobats surprising people in various locations, some floating in balloons above the heads. Amazing.

The concerts in the Domain are a good way to see the best Australian artists with the shows of Sydney Symphony and the Opera.

The advantage is that you can listen to stunning voices and performers for free. But the downside is that the events are crowded, you sit on the lawn, and need to find a place close to one of the big screens to see what is happening on the stage.

Still a nice way to get familiar with Australian culture.

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