1979

The fourth Festival of Sydney saw a new spin on New Year’s Day, as they hosted the largest Highland Gathering and Games in the Southern Hemisphere. Another new feature of the program was Dancexplosion 1980, with dance companies from around Australia performing their latest works in a series of premiere performances.

After the success of their inaugural year, the Festival of Sydney returned, kicking off on New Year's Eve, with almost 200,000 people attending the Sydney Opera House celebrations.