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The Sydney Festival kicked off this weekend with outdoor events across the city showcasing flavours of song and dance from around the world.
In a first for the month-long arts and culture festival, anyone and everyone was welcome to attend the official launch, which in previous years has been invite only.
Tens of thousands of people turned out for events hosted at five main venues throughout the city from mid afternoon to midnight.
Aussie singer songwriter Paul Kelly and former Beach Boy Brian Wilson headlined the main event at the Domain, while a dance party at Martin Place featured hip hop, funk and electric funk from Canadian and British DJs.
Inflatable creations from the French street theatre company Airvag, including a 25m-high centrepiece, also added a new, colourful dimension to the pedestrian thoroughfare.
At Macquarie St near Parliament House, the Spanish Harlem Orchestra kicked off the venue's line-up with Latin music followed by three unique weddings and Celtic music from the Scottish sensation Shooglenifty.
The clock was turned back to the 1930s, 40s and 50s in Hyde Park where a huge dance floor built around the Archibald Fountain featured tango, jive, salsa, rumba and waltz music.
People were treated to a massive dance class followed by a live performance by Pink Martini from the US and later, DJ Brame played memorable tracks from the old days.
Performances also brought life at Philip and Hunter streets and at the Angel Place laneways with DJs and instrumentalists playing Brazilian, African and American music.
The Sydney Festival runs until January 26 and includes more than 80 events, featuring more than 1000 artists from Australia and around the world.
- AAP
