The Venue Zone Blog

As can be expected from the city renowned for its artistic flair,  Adelaide boasts a  broad range of New Year Eve events to see in 2012.  Here is a cross section of celebration ideas suggested by conference centres in Adelaide:

SUMMADAYZE ADELAIDE 2012 LINE-UP!

The Summadayze festival in Adelaide moves back in time but only by a few hours.  The festival is being moved from New Year’s Day to New Year’s Eve but one thing remains the same – it will feature a huge line-up of club and hip hop stars.  So come join us in welcoming in the New Year.  Check this out for an awesome line-up:

• Pendulum
• Moby DJ Set
• Bliss N Eso
• Grandmaster Flash
• Markus Schulz
• Seth Troxler
• Sasha
• In Flagranti
• Spank Rock

The biggest New Year’s Eve party in Adelaide for many years kicks off at 2pm at the very central Rymill Park located on the fringe of the city centre.

Where – Rymill Park

Time – from 2pm.

Cost - $139.85

LIVE LARGE AT ADELAIDE CASINO

Check out some of the biggest names in showbiz – or at least their look-a-likes – at the Adelaide Casino. This is one of the city’s largest free public events so expect a fantastic crowd and an atmosphere to match.

With the ever­-charismatic Hans as your host, the evening is bound to be a resounding success as you join the celebration and dance the new year in, to the sounds of Gaga Magic, Britney Spears ‘Showtime’, the Australian KISS Show, Frank Bennett and the gone but not forgotten Amy Winehouse and  ‘King of Pop’ Michael Jackson.

Diva drag queens will rove the  various floors staging impromptu performances throughout  the Casino. Partygoers are advised to get to the Casino early to avoid any queues as this pumping venue is expected to be a popular spot to see in 2012.

Where: Adelaide Casino, cnr North Tce and Station Rd, Adelaide

Time: 5pm onwards

Cost: Free entry

TWO FIREWORKS SPECTACULARS IN ELDER PARK

Farewell the old and welcome the new year with an explosive display of light and colour.  Nothing says celebration like fireworks and this year the Adelaide City Council is out to delight us with its largest pyrotechnics show on record boasting more than 7000 fireworks , as well as an energising and diverse range of entertainment to suit all tastes and ages.

Kicking off from 7pm, the new look cosmopolitan event offers everything from amusement rides and local acts for children including favourites ‘The Fairies’ through to Bollywood dancers and Japanese drumming, giving people a fresh and vibrant option to welcome 2012. With support from premium partners Business SA and KPMG, the council has put together a unique and imaginative program with broad appeal and upbeat, energetic entertainment ,  stretching throughout the evening.

With the family in mind, fireworks will light up the night at 9pm for the early revellers and then again at midnight , the award-winning Foti International  Fireworks will engage late night merry makers with a second spectacular round of pyrotechnics. Multi-talented performer DJ Tr!p will keep the crowd grooving  with his amazing ability to match the midnight display with a soundtrack mixed especially for the night .

Lucky Seven, Adelaide’s hottest swing band, is sure to inspire a celebratory atmosphere as they get the night started with their mix of jazz, roots, rockabilly and rock n’ roll and the Atlantic Street Band will no doubt keep the vibe flowing with their own jazz inspired grooves with a modern twist.

The  thrilling Matsuri Taiko Japanese drumming group will ramp up the energy another notch and the senses will be further heightened with colour and spectacle in performances by Bollywood dancers Fusion Beats and Brazilian dancers Las Chicas Bomba.

The historic Rotunda will be the focal point for live entertainment and will be featured in a new light this year.  Also for the first time, this event will be licensed in the later part of the evening allowing  for the audience to further relax with a glass of beer or wine as they await the new year.

New Year’s Eve in Elder Park is Adelaide’s must-see event  but capacity is limited so be sure to get there early!

Where -  Elder Park, Pinky Flat and the Riverbank precinct

Time – 8pm

ADELAIDE AIRPORT NEW YEAR EVE AT THE BAY

The family friendly New Year’s Eve event at Glenelg, will feature 2 fireworks displays, the first at 9:30pm and then another another at Midnight. Close-by Brighton  will also offer a fireworks display at 9:30pm.  Favourite childrens entertainer, Peter Coombe and the Bellyflop In A Pizza Band are sure to delight the younger crowd, with a host of performers such as Acoustic Juice and roving entertainers keeping us amused until the fireworks.  So join the excitement at Adelaide’s premium beach suburb on what is forecast to be a balmy Summer evening.  Enjoy a walk along the water edge before settling on a spot to absorb the celebratory atmosphere and kaleidoscope of colour as the fireworks light up the night sky and welcome in 2012.

Where: Glenelg Foreshore

Time: 7pm

Adelaide Conference Centres would like to wish you a Happy New Year and look forward to being of service to you in 2012.

With so much entertainment to choose from over the festive season, don’t forget to firstly book your accommodation with a conference centre in Brisbane. Then it’s onto the business of choosing which of the many celebratory offerings best suit your holiday vision.  Here are just a few for your consideration:

With its delightful climate and impressive outdoor venues, Brisbane lends itself perfectly to a variety of summer activities.  Surely the jewel in the city’s crown is the premier recreational, cultural and leisure precinct of South Bank. Here is what’s on in the lead up to Christmas.

Made with Love: A South Bank Christmas, under the trees – engaging and delighting the whole community.

It’s time to slow down and rediscover the real meaning of the season by indulging in some heartfelt generosity this Christmas. Join people from all walks of life as they design, indulge and celebrate –  whether it is having new experiences, creating memories or handmade gifts.

Choose from art and craft classes at the Christmas Craft Studio, where skilled craftspeople will help you to create meaningful presents for your loved ones or perhaps just kick back and enjoy the company of friends and family at the Under the Trees picnic. A dedicated space for dreaming and relaxing has been set up with lounging areas, acoustic music and a themed marquee to set the scene.

If you still have energy to spare after the Christmas shopping and you feel like stretching your legs, why not gear up for some giant lawn games or a spot of croquet to help you wile away the hours. There will be dedicated instructors to teach you the ropes.

South Bank’s Made with Love Graze Menu will, most certainly, enliven your tastebuds and no doubt, urge you on to greater indulgence.

The Under the Trees picnic lawns will be open daily from 10am to 10pm with drinks and music kicking off from 6pm each day.

When : Everyday – 10 Dec 2011 – 23 Dec 2011
Venue: South Bank

South Bank Lifestyle Markets

The South Bank Lifestyle Markets trade three days per week, 52 weeks per year, every Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday. With the reputation as one of Australia’s most-fashionable market destinations, you can expect  a variety of special events at the market including  public art projects, young designers markets, Full Moon parties and produce as well as good week markets. So why not treat yourself to a final splurge for 2011 and uncover a design original  from  an upcoming Brisbane designer to see in the  new year.

When: Every Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday

Venue: Stanley Street Plaza
South Brisbane
TEL: 07 3867 2051

South Bank Cineplex

The former Imax cinema offers major movie releases at this time of year and at great prices.  With a good chance of seeing your movie on the big Imax screen, this a must do during the holiday period.

When: Ph: 07 3846 5188 for timetable of movies

Venue: Corner Ernest and Grey Streets,
South Bank

South Bank – Wining & Dining

If variety is the spice of life, then you will truly spoilt for choice with the range and quality of dining opportunities at South Bank.  Choose from:

• Stokehouse – Contemporary Australian design meets relaxed, vibrant fine dining.
• Bamboo Basket – Offering quality Chinese cuisine.
• Cove Bar and Dining – Cove Bar and Dining offers both beautiful river views and an unbeatable selection of oysters and champagne.
• 5ifth Element Bar & Dining – Award-winning wine bar, boasting innovative and contemporary cuisine.
• The Sardine Tin – Sardine Tin’s food is straightforward and tasty. With matched wines this dining experience offers something a little different.
• Ahmet’s Turkish Restaurant – Enjoy a trip to Turkey with authentic food and supurb service.

Be sure to contact a Brisbane conference centre should you require any further details on the delightful South Bank precinct.

If you are planning to visit our creative city for the festive season, firstly contact a conference centre in Perth to arrange your accommodation and then consider this festive range of ideas to set the tone for a sensational  2011 send-off.

Christmas with the Andrews Sisters

Experience Christmas with a touch of nostalgia and those captivating harmonies of the Andrews Sisters.

Join Patty, Maxene and LaVerne (Sherry-Anne Hayes, Maree Cole and Pilar Mata Mata Dupont) for some yuletide cheer as they celebrate the spirit of Christmas under the direction of Tim Cunniffe. Relive their distinct wartime sound as they sing in the festive season with Christmas classics such as: Jingle Bells, Winter Wonderland, Silver Bells, White Christmas, Merry Christmas Polka and many more old favourites. You may even win yourself a fantastic Christmas door prize thanks to ‘His Majesty’s Theatre Foundation’.

• Wednesday, 14 December @ 10.30am
  His Majesty’s Theatre, 825 Hay St, Perth

  Tickets available at BOCS Ticketing on 9484 1133 I BOCS outlets I bocsticketing.com.au

  All Performances begin at 10.30am and end at 11.30am

  TICKETS $26

Twilight Hawkers’ Markets with a festive twist

Perth’s regular Friday night Twilight Hawker Markets in Forrest Place will be taking on a Christmas twist throughout December.

With our abundance of fabulous fresh food and beautiful weather in WA, this is surely the perfect way to begin your weekend. Meet up with some friends in the heart of the city and get into the Christmas spirit with a delicious meal and festive music.

Stall holders will be getting in the Christmas spirit also, by offering festive treats such as home-made eggnog and macaroon towers along with their regular menus.

Making the most of our famous summer climate, the Twilight Hawkers Markets offer visitors the chance to meander through rows of market stalls sampling cuisine ranging from Spanish paella, Indonesian satays, Moroccan tagines and Turkish gozlemes. Approximately 20 stalls fill Forrest Place with delightful aroma’s each week, offering food from around the globe.

Christmas roving entertainment and special performances from two of Perth’s popular choirs, Perth Harmony Chorus and Men in Harmony is also on the agenda for the month of December.

Of course a Christmas visit to the markets wouldn’t be complete without a glimpse of the jolly man himself. Catch Santa and his helper spreading Christmas cheer and no doubt tucking into a few treats himself.

• Friday 16 December
  On Stage: Men in Harmony, 6pm to 8pm
  Roving: Santa and helper, 5.30pm to 7.30pm

Christmas Nativity

Bring the whole family to this enchanting annual event.

The Christmas Nativity Concert celebrates the values of Christmas – love, giving and the importance of family – through drama and song. The angelic sounds of hundreds of performers bring the Christmas story to life with the assistance of, live camels, sheep, chooks and a donkey! Sing-a-long to those delightful Christmas carols and be transported back to your childhood and the magic of the Christmas season.

• Starts 21 December @ 7:30PM
  Ends 23 December @ 7:30PM

Forrest Place

Perth conference centres are bound to have loads more suggestions for seeing out the old year with flair, so be sure to ask when making your booking.

Celebrate the new year with artistic flair – what better way to usher in the new year than with breathtaking encounter at the Opera.  2012 sees a changing of the guard with Lyndon Terracini’s taking the helm as Opera Australia’s new Artistic Director. Being his inaugural year, he plans to make an impact and signals his intention to bring a program that is more in tune with 21st-century Australia.  His vision is one of ‘opera events’ – Broadway-style music theatre, opera experiences that are family friendly and sensational new productions. In addition, he also has in place, projects that take opera to the people involving wide national touring, and community-specific collaborations and community choirs.

Sydney Conference centres are kept well informed of the full spectrum of arts and cultural events happening around their city.  Here is a brief look at the exciting opera program.

SYDNEY SUMMER 2012: A SUMMER OF SPECTACLE

The 2012 Season opens in Sydney with a new production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute. With a new English translation, it features handmade silk puppets, loads of special effects and stunning costumes, it is aimed at a family audience, with reduced ticket prices for some performances over the school holidays.

The Magic Flute opens at the Sydney Opera House on 6 January 2012.

Puccini’s magnificent final opera, Turandot, returns to the Sydney Opera House.  With an exciting international cast, this classic production is bound to delight

Turandot opens at the Sydney Opera House on 17 January 2012.

An exciting new production of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro. Benedict Andrews makes his directorial debut with the Company offering this modern take on Mozart’s revolutionary classic features an ingenious shifting set.

The Marriage of Figaro opens at the Sydney Opera House on 6 February 2012.

Complete the summer trio of Mozart operas with the romantic comedy Cosìfan tutte.  With wacky costumes and delightful visual special effects, a quartet of young singers take the central roles.

Cosi fan tutte opens at the Sydney Opera House on 8 March 2012.

Contact a conference centre in Sydney to secure your accommodation for one of these exceptional experiences and kick-start 2012 with a touch of class.

With sunshine lifting our spirits and the anticipation of holidays ahead, good will is displayed in abundance and Sydney is ready to celebrate.  As the most adventurous of our Australian cities, Sydney boasts exhilarating exhibits, experiences and entertainment like no other and in the festive season, options are at their creative best – here are just a few suggestions from those in the know at Sydney Conference centres.

Christmas Lights & Projections

• Sydney Town Hall and St Mary’s Cathederal become a canvas for spectacular Christmas Lights & Projections that will set the tone for a truly magical festive season.
• Venue: Sydney Town Hall
• Date: 24 November to 25 December
• Time: 8.30-1am

• Venue: St Mary’s Cathederal
• Date: 8 to 25 December
• Time: 8.30-mid-night with Carols from 7.30-8.30  (Thursday to Sunday only).

The Rocks Village Bizarre at Markets by Moonlight

Sydney’s favourite moonlight market takes on a magical mood as the secret alleys and hidden rooms of ‘The Rocks’ area  transform  into another place and time. Unique spaces set the stage for fascinating encounters with intimate performances, burlesque beauties, strange stories, puppetry, poetry, music and interactive art.

Kick off your shoes and take a dance class, learn to hula hoop or bust a move or two at the silent disco. Perhaps you’d rather chillax in the outdoor lounge and just absorb the theatrical mayhem of the moment.  Whatever mode you find yourself in, don’t miss this treat.

• Venue: The Rocks , cnr George & Argyle Streets The Rocks
• Date: Between Friday 04 November and Friday 23 December .
• Time: 5.30 to 10pm

Christmas Party Cruises, Sydney Harbour – , Lunch and Dinner

Brilliant entertainment, great food and dancing, a chance to mingle with colleagues. These are surely the essential elements for your annual Corporate Christmas celebration.  Be sure to talk to a Sydney Conference Centre about organising an exciting fun filled cruise to thank your staff for a productive year.

Choose from various other themes and entertainment:

Sing along to the Abba Tribute Show,  Dance with the Elvis Tribute Show, dress up for the Retro 70’s 80’s Disco or swoon over the Salsa Latin Floors Show.

• Venue: Darling Harbour
• Dates: 7 days during November & December
• Time: lunch & dinner

Jersey Boys

Broadway’s smash hit musical, JERSEY BOYS is the inspiring story the iconic Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons – four boys from  nowhere special who’s passion for music led them to become one of the biggest American pop music sensations of all time.

With a unique talent for creating original sounds as well as writing their own songs, the band sold 175 million records worldwide.  Relive hit songs such as “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”, “Oh What a Night” ,“Sherry”, “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and “Rag Doll”.

• Venue: Theatre Royal, 108 King Street MLC Centre Sydney
• Date: Saturday 01 January and Sunday 18 December
• Time: Various sessions

The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2011

As some 500,000 people converge on Sydney Harbour foreshore and millions more tune into the action on TV and online, no regular annual yachting event in the world attracts such huge media coverage than does the start on Sydney Harbour

One thing is for sure, you’ll want to be in prime position when the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race begins at 1pm on Boxing Day, 2011. While the entrants for this year’s race jostle for position on twin start lines just north of Shark Island, you’ll find the ultimate vantage point on North or South Head or, to really feel the action, you may like to join the colourful spectator fleet that take to the water in their crafts of all shapes and sizes.

There is no better place to spend Boxing Day than to stand side by side with fellow Aussies and celebrate our country’s sunshine, lifestyle and culture.

• Venue: Sydney Harbour
• Date: Boxing Day, 26^th December
• Time: 1pm