It’s grown into Sydney’s biggest party after New Year’s Eve.

“Nearly 38,000 visitors to Vivid Sydney last year chose to extend their stay in NSW and travel beyond the fringes of Sydney, staying more than 94,000 nights and injecting over $16 million into the State’s regional economy,” said NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall.

The lightshow is no longer confined to the Opera House and Circular Quay areas as in the earlier incarnations.

In the immediate area, there’s also the Vivid Light Walk, which stretches along the harbour foreshore from the Royal Botanic Gardens, via Circular Quay, under the southern end of the Harbour Bridge, around to Walsh Bay.

The Customs House, a perennial favourite, especially with children, returns this year and the Botanic Gardens is certainly destined to become another favourite with youngsters.

Other precincts around the water are Darling Harbour and Luna Park.

Outside the CBD, Vivid has spread its colourful tentacles to Kings Cross, Taronga Park and Chatswood.

Vivid has grown into the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas, and will illuminate the city until June 16.