WHAT MAKES SYDNEY THE PLACE TO BE IN JANUARY 2014

Sydney Festival 2014 has launched!

The Sydney Festival 2014 program has been revealed and what a January it’s going to be!

From huge free outdoor concerts in The Domain to the world premiere of Band of Magicians in Parramatta, the Australian exclusive of Dido & Aeneas and of course, the return of the Rubber Duck, there really is something for everyone!

FESTIVAL VILLAGE

Festival Village is the all new Festival home. In the beating heart of Hyde Park, the Village is an oasis of eats, beats and other treats. It's the perfect place to kick back in the afternoon sun or kick on into the balmy summer nights. Expect a mix of free and ticketed events for all ages at all hours. Take your seat in The Spiegeltent, or take a bounce on Sacrilege, a life-size inflatable Stonehenge. You can also take it easy with friends. FAMILY FUN Sydney Festival plays host to some great events for families this January. From music and dance sessions for the littlies to workshops for bigger kids; from slapstick and buffoonery to circus treats for all the family, we’ve got your kids’ school holiday entertainment covered. The family program includes the awe-inspiring magic supergroup Band of Magicians, Sacrilege - a life-size inflatable Stonehenge, charming traditional circus with La Cucina Dell’Arte,  beatboxing virtuoso Tom Thum and ingenious cardboard creations with Boxwars. BIG ART INSTALLATIONS The Rubber Duck returns! It’ll be making a splash at duck-feeding HQ in Parramatta. In what will be the unmissable photo opportunity of the Festival, Merchants Store comes to Darling Harbour. It may look like an ordinary building from afar, until you spot the people dangling from the windows, climbing up the walls and crawling over the roof. Discover it for yourself! Take part in Roman Ondák’s Measuring the Universe at Parramatta Town Hall for Kaldor Public Art Projects and marvel at the scale of Christian Boltanski’s Chance at Carriageworks THEATER & DANCE Catch the world premiere of brand new Australian works at Sydney Opera House with Black Diggers, the ANZACs untold story directed by Wesley Enoch, and Am I, the new dance work from Shaun Parker & Company. The festival within the Festival, About an Hour, returns to Carriageworks and of course Sasha Waltz & Guests’ spectacular Dido & Aeneas is on at Sydney Lyric at The Star. WIN THE ULTIMATE SYDNEY FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE Kick off the Sydney Festival in style with the ultimate Festival weekend! Join us Friday 10 January for Amadou & Mariam’s extra-sensory experience Eclipse at Sydney Town Hall before jumping over to the Festival Village for Scotch & Soda in the Spiegeltent. You could spend Saturday night at Summer Sounds in the Domain for a VIP experience at Chaka Khan.and Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour both will keep you well rested with a Darling Harbour.

Sydney Opera House celebrates 40th birthday with huge party

THE Sydney Opera House yesterday celebrated its 40th birthday in grand style.

Four thousand people crammed the forecourt to watch the Sydney Symphony Orchestra perform Beethoven Symphony No. 9 - the classical piece which opened the venue 40 years ago - along with the Sydney Philharmonia choir and Opera Australia soloists.

Chef Matt Moran marked the occasion by unveiling an enormous cupcake, while Jimmy Barnes led a rousing happy birthday singalong.

GALLERY: Sydney Opera House turns 40

Its hard to believe that in 1966 the Opera House was embroiled in scandal.

As well as a cost blowout, the criticism of the structure was so harsh, architect Jorn Utzon submit his resignation as designer of the Opera House - yet it went on to land a world heritage listing in 2007.

Utzon never returned to see his masterpiece, dying at 90 years of age, but yesterday his mother and son attended it's anniversary to see a commemorative flotilla, the Royal Australian Navy Band, Australian Girls Choir and Surf Life Saving NSW.

Some of the world's biggest names have taken to its many stages, among them Joan Sutherland, Oprah Winfrey, Hugh Jackman, Luciano Pavarotti and Sammy Davis Jr.

Hundreds to mark Bali bombings anniversary

FRIENDS, families and victims will gather in 

Sydney's eastern suburbs to commemorate the Bali bombings' 11th an

Aniversary.

Eighty-eight Australians were killed when bombs detonated at two popular nightclub spots in Bali's tourist hub Kuta.

Forty-three of those who died on October 12, 2002 were from NSW and 20 from Sydney's eastern suburbs, including Coogee, Maroubra, Malabar and Matraville.

A large crowd is expected to descend on Dolphin Point at Coogee on Saturday morning for the annual Bali Memorial Commemoration Ceremony.

Randwick City Council mayor Scott Nash described the annual ceremony as a special event for the local community, particularly those affected by the bombings.

"Our community has a strong condition of uniting to support each other in times of tragedy and hardship," he said in a statement.

"On this day, as we do every year, we will come together to show our support and care for the victims of the families and survivors.

"And to remember those who we lost."

The ceremony, which will include tributes from family members, performances and a minute silence, will start at 10am

Sydney turns on fantastic weather for Thousands of spectators that hit Sydney for Fleet Review, and glimpse of Prince

Prince Harry smiles from onboard the HMAS Leeuwin as the ship tours Sydney Harbour as part of the International Fleet Review - See more at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/prince-harry-boards-hmas-leeuwin-as-international-fleet-review

Prince Harry, third left, with Governor-General Quentin Bryce (in blue), Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Vice Admiral Ray Griggs on board the HMAS Leeuwin. 


Thousands of people crowded the Sydney Harbour shoreline to catch a glimpse of Prince Harry and celebrate the centenary of the fledgling Australian navy fleet's first arrival to the famed waterways

SYDNEY Harbour glistened today as thousands poured into the city to get a glimpse of the International Fleet Review - and if they're lucky, Prince Harry too.

With drinks and ice creams in hand, spectators filled up major vantage points this afternoon as helicopters and navy planes buzzed overhead and the temperature hit the high 20s.

The Sydney Opera House and East Circular Quay vantage points have hit capacity, the Transport Management Centre said at noon. But that didn’t stop huge groups of people walking off trains and buses to watch the celebrations and hopefully catch a glimpse of special guest Prince Harry.

The 29-year-old royal is being taken around the harbour in HMAS Leeuwin to inspect warships, which are taking part in the International Fleet Review.

On his first official trip to Australia as a representative of the Royal Family, Prince Harry, or Captain Wales as he is known when on military duties, was met by Navy Vice Admiral Ray Griggs and given a royal salute by officers before boarding the ship this morning.

He was joined on HMAS Leeuwin by Prime Minister Tony Abbott, NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell, acting Opposition Leader Chris Bowen, Governor-General Quentin Bryce and other dignitaries.

Among the royal enthusiasts is 20-year-old Victoria McRae who was towed out of Sydney Harbour by the Water Police after she got on a kayak and waved a flag saying “I (heart) you Harry'' and added her mobile phone number to it.

She will now try and find the charming young prince among the thousands of people lined up all around Sydney Harbour.

“He's an eligible bachelor, I thought I might be in with a chance,'' Ms McRae said.

The Prince, who a rrived in Sydney last night on a commercial Qantas flight and is staying at an inner-city hotel, is expected to meet spectators at an unconfirmed location later this afternoon.

It is the first time he has visited Australia in 10 years, and his visit will last just two years - the shortest trip yet by a royal to the country

The Fleet Review marks 100 years since the Royal Australian Navy fleet sailed into Sydney Harbour and a procession of boats from around the world are taking part in the celebrations.

About 1.7 million people are expected to attend the review, which runs until Friday and involves 37 warships, 16 tall ships, 60 aircraft, 8000 sailors.