Sydney Harbour Bridge to celebrate gay marriage with New Year’s Eve rainbow fireworks
Fireworks erupt over Sydney’s iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera House during the New Years Eve fireworks show in Sydney on January 1, 2017. / AFP / PETER PARKS (Photo credit should read PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images)
Sydney is famous around the world for its New Year’s Eve celebrations.
As many as one million people line the streets of the Australian city to see in the new year from the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House.
Authorities have now announced the famous bridge will have rainbow coloured fireworks for the 2018 celebrations, in celebration of same-sex marriage.
The decision come after Australia voted emphatically to endorse marriage equality in a national ballot.
Sydney is commonly known as the ‘gay capital’ of Australia, with its annual Mardi Gras celebrating 40 years next year.
“This (rainbow waterfall) is a fabulous way to see out 2017 – the year that four out of five Sydneysiders said a resounding ‘yes’ to marriage equality,” Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.
The Foti family have been behind the visual extravaganza, which uses one tonne more than last year, with 30,000 showering comets and 13,000 shells, for two decades.
“The challenge this year was to create never-before-seen displays,” said Fortunato Foti.
“This waterfall effect is a first for the bridge and we’ve chosen the rainbow colours that work best for fireworks: red, yellow, green, blue, purple and silver.”
The city also recently lit up the Sydney Opera House in rainbow colours for the 40th LGBT Mardi Gras.
Sydney will play host to 17 days of performances, exhibitions, parties and community events as part of next year’s world-renowned LGBT festival.
(TORSTEN BLACKWOOD/AFP/Getty Images)
Former X Factor judge and singer Danii Minogue performed as the famous music hall was covered in the colours of the rainbow.
She wrote on Twitter: “The @SydOperaHouse has her @sydneymardigras rainbow finery on for tonight’s #MardiGras40 show #loveislove”
Mardi Gras Arts CEO Terese Casu said: “This Festival we celebrate all the amazing activists and leaders, including our 78ers, who have fought tirelessly for our rights over the last four decades.
“Mardi Gras is for everyone and this year you will see new spaces and events for more of our community and families to enjoy and share.”
Mardi Gras Creative Director, Greg Clarke said: “The opening weekend of the celebrations features Trevor Ashley’s Mardi Gala at the Sydney Opera House and the wonderful Fair Day back at Victoria Park.
“Other special events not to be missed include Queer Thinking and Koori Gras, Queer Art After Hours at the Art Gallery of NSW and the Pool Party,” he added.
“The 40th anniversary Parade looks set to be the best yet, with a sparkling procession of hundreds of jaw dropping floats and 12,000 revellers will dance till dawn at the Mardi Gras Party, Australia’s biggest LGBTQI party of the year.”
