Australian International Music Festival Hits Sydney in July

With its upcoming 27^th year, the Australian International Music Festival is one of the country’s most popular events. Each year, it attracts up to 1300 participants from New Zealand, Australia, China, Singapore, the US and Japan. Focusing on Orchestra, Choir, Jazz and Wind bands, with performances at the Opera House, City Recital Hall and Darling Harbour, it’ll be music to pretty much everyone’s ears.

 

Not only are you going to be entertained but there are workshops from globally renowned experts so you can talk toons with them and discuss chromatics galore.

Taking place from the 3^rd to 10^th July, you can buy package deals or individual festival tickets. The package includes the opening and closing parties, access to all events, merchandise and every add on you’d expect.

Then there’s the festival trophy extravaganza where an expert panel of judges award each ensemble with Gold, Silver or Bronze plaques, all performance recognition based. Alongside this is a Showcase Award category to groups that don’t compete. 

Sydney is renowned as a global magnet for musicians, with a decent, all year warm climate so expect quite a few buskers to be out and about in the city testing their musical attractions to passers. Support them by dropping a few dollars in their direction. Some of the most famous musicians started by busking…in NSW.

World Projects organise an impressive list of events around the planet including Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Washington DC so music lovers, check the schedule and maybe you can follow a few festivals around Earth. It’s all about that bucket wish list, right?

Since Cremorne Point is so close to downtown Sydney and where all the rhythm action is, all you need to do is hop on a scenic ferry ride and you’ll be at our hotel in a few minutes. We’re near Taronga Zoo so you’ll hear the lions roar. We’re nestled in scenery and walking tours so you’ll also hear the birds sing. What a way to spend a week – surrounded by tunes of all pitches. So put your feet up on our balcony and get humming, tapping the toes and see if you can’t rustle up a potential concerto. It may turn into a classic.

Sprint And Splat In The Color Run

On the 21^st August, starting at 9.00am the annual Sydney Color Run takes place. You’ll start trotting in white and by the time you hurdle to the finishing line, you’ll be all shades of rainbow thanks to the community showering you in paint as you pound the streets of Sydney. 

 

An event for all ages and fitness levels, the annual spraying day is purely to promote health, cheerfulness and a series of colourful blasts. It’s the city’s happiest five KM run on the planet and is a fantastic, messy extravaganza.

The run is in Centennial Park and early bird tickets are for sale with prices ranging from $62.50 for aged 16+ individuals or $57.50 for teams of four plus. Kids under 5 participate for free and a family price (two adults with two munchkins) are $190. If you sign up to be a VIP, you’ll receive discounted ticket prices and early announcements so keep that in mind.

Due to extreme popularity, the Color Run has tripled growth, hosting more than 300 events in 50+ countries since 2014 so this year’s bound to be a untidy, brilliant one. While you’re team in training or individually taking run laps in preparation of the August big day, tweet the Color Run social crew and remember to tag us in your updates. Make a note that the event isn’t timed, so focus on having a blast of a day and give your competitive edge a breather.

For anyone who’d prefer the non running involvement, you can sign up to volunteer if you’re available on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the run weekend. In return, you’ll receive a free Color Run t-shirt, 10% discount off merchandise and a volunteer certificate. Oh, and maybe you’ll make a few pen pals along the way. 

A word of warning: if you show up at the start of the run wearing anything more than 11% white, you’ll be slam dunked into the Color Run jail. Rules are rules and the pure fashion police will be on high alert. Then as you gallop the course, at every km mark, the crowd will blast you with colour from packets provided by the organizers. With the finish line begging you to cross it, the party then really starts. A huge music, dance and mass colour throwing evening with never ending supplies of neons will be your well deserved, rainbow evening soiree.

Fifteen minutes by car, splattered in every colour under the sun, you’ll be back at Cremorne Point. No wonder Tripadvisor’s awarded us a Certificate of Excellence five consecutive years – when you see the views of the Harbour from Cremorne Point Manor, it’ll be crystal clear. An array of colours that will make you happy you finally blend in to the Opera House, Bridge and downtown Sydney.  

Not All Heroes Wear Capes at Supanova

If you’re in NSW between the 17^th and 19^th June, the Sydney Showground at Olympic Park is the place to be. Supanova Pop Culture Expo is back so get ready to stare your Supa-Star celebrities right in the eye and see who doesn’t blink first. Be one with imaginary worlds, the land of sci-fi, pulp TV & movies, toys, gaming and so much more. From fan clubs to animation, comic books and technology, the geek cartoon inner you can come to life so here’s our reminder to dress for heroic success.

 

The Friday event is open from 1pm – 8pm while Saturday and Sunday is a full on 10am to 6pm extravaganza. A day pass is $28 but also consider a Supafan 3 day pass from $70 or the exclusive SUPA-Q pass at $250 that includes all the VIP passes you’d imagine. Kids under 12, accompanied by an adult, get in for free. If you’re attending the Friday mayhem, acoustic musician James Marsters will be in concert that night playing for around 75 minutes from 7.30pm. If you’ve already got your Supanova ticket, you’re good to go but if you’re only attending the Park to see Mr Marsters, tickets are $32 in advance and $40 at the door. 

Now onto the Supa-Star guests which include Shannen Doherty (Charmed & BH 90210) and Arthur Adams (Superman, Spider-Man & X-Men) to stunner Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman and Batman v Superman). But the list doesn’t stop there so check the other guests attending that cover all bases from Warcraft, Torchwood, Lord of the Rings, Deadpool, Mad Max: Fury Road and Wolverine. 

Then there’s Cosplay – the big competition presented by Madman. Running now for 10 years, the competition is fierce and features a multitude of categories including Best in Show, Best Cosplay, Best Craftsmanship, Best Performance, Best Group (double+ the trouble) and Judges Award. Winners will receive a share of $3,000 in Madman Entertainment vouchers. You can register to enter on the site or take your chances on the day, providing you arrive before noon. And if your mask, power gloves or fire starting boots malfunction with a rip or tear at the event, Supanova’s Cosplay Repair Station comes to the rescue. With a stitch and a dab of duct tape, you’ll be back into world saving action in no time.

Remember to tweet SupanovaExpo while you’re sprucing up at our Manor or when you get to the event so you can share the social power. Only 30 minutes drive from the Park and you can whip off that mask, strip off the laser belt and chill with a glass of vino on our patio. Cremorne Point has the best Harbour views so settle back and enjoy the scenery. Every hero needs a night off once in a while!