Following a successful pilot program in 2022, Big City Lights is back this winter, transforming the everyday urban spaces of Southport on the Gold Coast. Experience Gold Coast has announced that the cutting-edge self-guided program will take place over three weeks from 21 June to 7 July 2024. The festival will feature immersive audio-visual experiences, large-scale digital works, 3D mapping, and unexpected projection sites that will captivate visitors of all ages.
The Big City Lights festival will also host live music and performances at various outdoor sites across the Southport CBD, enhancing the appeal of the free, family-friendly event to a wide demographic of locals and drive-market visitors. Leading local and national artists working in the fields of light, installation, architecture, and digital design will transform building facades and laneways in the city’s CBD into hypnotic and technicolour displays, complemented by live performances.
As Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate puts it, “Let there be light. That’s my message as we celebrate this fantastic family event in the heart of Southport. Bring your family and bring your imagination as we prepare for our second light show spectacular.”
Big City Lights presents an opportunity for locals and visitors to discover the Gold Coast through a new lens and for locals of all ages to rediscover their city. John Warn, CEO of Experience Gold Coast, states, “As the fastest growing regional city in Australia, the Gold Coast has a proud reputation for creating and delivering unforgettable visitor experiences – and Big City Lights is no exception. Experience Gold Coast is thrilled to announce the return of Big City Lights for 2024 and believes it is an excellent example of the type of event that can benefit from the combined strength of our new organisation.”
The festival is unique to South East Queensland and the only festival of its kind in the State. Councillor for Division 6, Cr Brooke Patterson, says, “Big City Lights shines a light on our CBD in the most creative way. It is a festival for all ages, energising and enlivening our night-time economy. The inaugural festival was a great success and had many see our CBD through a new lens.”
The jam-packed program for Big City Lights will be revealed to the public in late April 2024. Rosie Dennis, Executive Director of BLEACH* and Big City Lights, said, “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. It’s a fantastic festival which boosts the night-time economy in Southport. It will once again deliver a direct and positive impact on 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.”
Driven by innovation, Big City Lights will deliver plenty of Instagram-able moments for all who experience this family-friendly and free festival, a place where creativity and technology collide.
Stay tuned for the lineup for Big City Lights 2024
