Sydney New Year’s Eve

A festival that began with a bang

In 1976 the Sydney Committee turned a failing Waratah Festival into the Festival of Sydney and decided to open it on New Year’s Eve with a “big bang affair”: a sail-past of decorated boats, music and a fireworks display at midnight. The idea of using the Sydney Harbour Bridge as a launchpad came from the fireworks for the Brooklyn Bridge’s centenary in 1983. The event is usually organised by the City of Sydney, and since 2000 the displays have been designed by Foti International Fireworks.

The bridge is the focal point. Since 1999 each show has been built around a “bridge effect” of lights and projections, and one of its traditions is a golden waterfall of about 1,100 candle fireworks falling from the bridge to the water.

The running order

The evening begins at 7.30 pm with a smoking ceremony — a ritual of purification and unity with smouldering native plants — on the ships Tribal Warrior, Mari Nawi and Wirawi, followed at 8.45 pm by a Welcome to Country, in which an Elder of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council welcomes the crowd to Gadigal land. At 9 pm come the Calling Country fireworks, presented by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists through music, dance and illustration and suited to families with young children. Boats adorned with lights then glide across the harbour, and at midnight the main fireworks are launched from the bridge, the Opera House and other landmarks, with the soundtrack broadcast on the radio.