Overview
Sydney has Vivid. Melbourne boasts Rising. In Adelaide, it's all about Illuminate. And most years in Tasmania — although not in 2024 — Dark Mofo arrives. We're talking about winter festivals that are all about dazzling sights, often twinkling lights, plus culture, music and design, that is. The Gold Coast added to the list in 2022 with Big City Lights*, too, and that southeast Queensland event has now locked in its return.
When Big City Lights* debuted two years back, it ran as a four-day pilot program. Now, after proving a success, it's making a comeback from Friday, June 21–Sunday, July 7, 2024, running Friday–Sunday each week. The location is still Southport. The focus remains experience stunning art via a self-guided program that gets you walking around the Goldie. You'll just have longer to enjoy it.
And, Big City Lights*will still be free — making the price right to head along, including to scoot down the highway from Brisbane. Attendees will get immersed in audio-visual experiences, such as projections popping up in unexpected locations, towering large-scale digital works and 3D mapping. You'll also see the Southport CBD's facades and laneways in a whole new light quite literally.
Who'll be providing the art is yet to be revealed, but Big City Lights*will call upon a roster of talents in light, installation and architecture, as well as digital design, as hailing both locally and nationally.
Who'll be taking to the stage to provide the family-friendly fest's live performances also hasn't been announced yet. The full program is set to drop on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.
"We're thrilled to be bringing Big City Lights back to Southport in winter next year. The 2024 festival will illuminate more buildings and streets with video projections, lighting installations and world class art," said Rosie Dennis, Executive Director of both Bleach* and Big City Lights*.
"It's a fantastic festival which boosts the night-time economy in Southport. It will once again deliver a direct and positive impact to businesses in the CBD. The inaugural festival attracted more than 13,000 people and we hope the 2024 festival will attract tens of thousands of visitors during the winter school holidays."
2022's event took over rooftops, building facades, alleyways, car parks and shopfronts, splitting Southport into five separate art zones: in Nerang Street, Scarborough Street, Young Street, Regent Lane and Davison Lane.
Artists involved the first time around included Michaela Gleave, Buchan Group, Jacob Leary, IKONIX, Claudio Kirac, Kirsten Baade and Peter Thiedeke all set to feature.
Big City Lights* will run from Friday, June 21–Sunday, July 7, 2024 in Southport on the Gold Coast. For more information, head to the festival's website.
Images: Claudio Kirac, Art Work Agency.