White Night Melbourne 2017: The city lights up for stunning festival

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The Royal Exhibition Building wore a Luna Park smile for ‘Rhythms of the Night’, the State Library was entwined with vines to become ‘The Night Garden’ and Carlton Gardens was electrified by a huge, glowing ‘Sonic Light Bubble’.

Elsewhere, tens of thousands of people were bedazzled by a giant jellyfish floating over trees (The Medusa), a flame-spewing fire organ (Pyrophone Juggernaut) and inflatable bunnies the size of small houses (Intrude).

Artistic director David Atkins, who masterminded Sydney Olympic ceremonies, said: “We did think big this year. There are some really large activations out there and that’s probably to do with my arena spectacle background.’’

The Pyrophone Juggernaut, in Melbourne Museum Plaza, was the scene stealer — a massive metal beast whose percussive drones were powered by jets of fire.

For all its gigantism, Atkins’ first White Night Melbourne had its little gems such as ‘Enlighten’ (window box theatre at QV) and ‘Purple Rain’, an intimate lilac coloured show inspired by Prince.

“This years’ White Night is probably more performance driven as well,’’ Atkins said.

‘Swing City, a dance marathon in Collins St, emphasised that. People of all ages crowded the sidewalks as a big band played, keen to step out and strut their stuff alongside seasoned professionals.

As the sun went down, and projections flared, every corner of White Night swelled with crowds.

Bottlenecks built quickly around Flinders Street, glowing with technicolour cartoons, and long queues snaked out of big screen spectacles at Melbourne Museum and the State Library.

Parklands teemed with pedestrians caught in the glow of spinning petals (‘Spherophyte’), twinkling grass (‘Herbum Follus’) and ‘Pixel Fruit’ (Carlton Gardens).

Hoping to ease congestion, White Night organised doubled the number of attractions to the north and southy of the city. Swanston Street was less of a crush and more people appeared to be starting their White Night later. Free, all night public transport kept the crowds moving with Melbourne Central looking especially busy.

White Night was initiated in 2013. the inaugural White Night Ballarat follows on March 4, the firs time the event has ventured out of Melbourne.

A planned protest to rally against Melbourne’s homelessness and housing crisis failed to pull a crowd, with around 20 people reportedly attending.