How Ljubljana marks the change of seasons in style

Regular readers will know that the delightful Slovenian capital of Ljubljana is a favourite with Gourmet on the Road. 

It is a city that is a pleasure to visit no matter the time of year, but the arrival of spring means Ljubljana Tourism, together with its partners, will present the fourth edition of LUV Fest from February 8 to March 12. 

The event combines art, culture, gastronomy and social experiences in the compact, easy-to-walk city. 

The diverse program features exhibitions, concerts, workshops and outdoor experiences with the central artistic highlight the light installation Brstenje (Budding) in the open-air art gallery, complemented by special guided tours and a wide range of events for all generations.

Brstenje, by artist Nika Erjavec, symbolises the awakening of the city and nature, and will be set up on Čufarjeva Street. 

Other well-established installations will also return, including Brbotanje by Matej Bizovičar and Cvetilke, featuring motifs created by primary school pupils, which will again illuminate Zvezda Park.

This year will also focus on the courtyard of artists’ studios at Gornji trg 24, where artists will open the doors of their studios to visitors and present their works in an outdoor setting.

LUV Fest will extend across Ljubljana’s thoroughfares, cultural institutions and hotel venues, with a growing number of hoteliers and restaurateurs joining the festival with special seasonal offers. 

The program will include concerts, theatre performances, dance events, themed guided tours, workshops and exhibitions.

Particular attention will be devoted to the Art Vital exhibition, exploring the love story of the artistic duo Ulay and Marina Abramović at Cukrarna, as well as a production of Wagner’s opera Tristan and Isolde at the Slovenian National Opera and Ballet Ljubljana. 

The festival will conclude on March 12, on St. Gregory’s Day (Gregorjevo), when the traditional Ljubljana custom of floating gregorčki along the Gradaščica stream will symbolically welcome the arrival of spring.

See https://www.visitljubljana.com/en/visitors/sights-and-activities/highlights/luv-fest/

Image: LUV-FEST, Marko Delbello Ocepek

Sydney to pull out all the stops to ensure a Merry Christmas

Sydney always pulls out the stops to keep tourists entertained and Christmas is offers a feast of free events, markets, choirs, trees and lights bringing festive cheer to Australia's biggest city.

Think carol singers in action across the city, visits from Santa to a new Christmas fair and the tallest Christmas tree in the region.

The Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, says the city's festive program is accessible and inclusive, with something for everyone and all ages.

“Christmas in Sydney - it really is the most wonderful time of the year,” she said.

“We’re spending more than $4.3 million on our celebrations and expanding our program so more people than ever can enjoy the fun.

"The city comes alive with celebration at Christmas time - we invite everyone to make the most of the festive season with our packed Sydney Christmas program."

Highlights will include the Martin Place Christmas tree, which for more than 50 years the Martin Place Christmas tree has been the centre of Sydney’s yuletide celebrations.

The tree stands 25-metres tall and features 800 branches dressed with 15,000 native Australian flowers, 330 specially created glossy baubles, 110,000 LEDs and a 3.5 metre colour-changing star.

It will be illuminated daily from 8pm to midnight until January 4 with light and music shows taking place every 15 minutes.

Five family-friendly concerts will feature live performances by Royston Noell, Mitch Tambo, The Listies and Junkyard Beats, along with festive activities, food trucks and visits from Santa on November 29: Pirrama Park, Pyrmont; November 30: Turruwul Park, Rosebery; December 6: Bicentennial Park, Glebe; December 7: Reg Bartley Oval, Rushcutters Bay and December 14: Alexandria Park, Alexandria.

The Surry Hills Christmas Fair on December 13 will be held from 11am to 10pm on Crown Street, between Foveaux and Cleveland streets.

Local businesses and restaurants will extend onto the street from 11am, with roving performers, Christmas shopping stalls, a pop-up cinema screening Elf and games,

The festive Martin Place Christmas Markets will be be held every Thursday, Friday and Saturday in December until Christmas, from 11am to 9:30pm, while Pitt Street Mall will shine under a canopy of two-metre stars and 75,000 twinkling lights, creating the perfect backdrop for late-night shopping.

From December 1-24, choirs will perform live beside the Martin Place Christmas tree every evening from 6pm to 8pm, and at Customs House Square from December 16-24 from 6pm to 8pm.

For full details, dates and timings for the 2025 Sydney Christmas program visit sydneychristmas.com.au.

Massive new luxury complex for Singapore

The huge Marina Bay Sands complex in Singapore is to gain a neighbouring sibling.

Las Vegas Sands this week broke ground on a new $8 billion luxury resort and entertainment destination.

The occasion was officiated by Singapore’s Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong; along with other dignitaries, news hub Travel Mole reported.

Robert Goldstein, CEO of Las Vegas Sands, said: “With its opening in 2010, our founder Sheldon G. Adelson embarked on a journey in Singapore with Marina Bay Sands that promised to change the face of tourism in the region.

“We have every intention of delivering a new era of luxury tourism in Singapore.”

The new project will feature a 570-suite luxury hotel tower capped with signature rooftop and dining experiences, retail boutiques, gaming, spa and wellness amenities, and approximately 200,000 square feet of meeting space.

It will also include a 15,000-seat arena for concerts and sports events.

The waterfront development will be located adjacent to the existing Marina Bay Sands.

The highlight of the hotel tower is the Skyloop, with elevated public and private spaces.

As a counterpart to the iconic Sands SkyPark at Marina Bay Sands, the Skyloop has 360-degree views.

The lower Skyloop will house an observatory, destination restaurants and rooftop gardens.

Above, hotel guests can enjoy private cabanas and infinity-edge pools. There will also be a cantilevered wellness terrace that is designed for yoga, arts and specialty events.

Enjoy a classical music festival with a difference

The Australian Festival of Chamber Music (AFCM) in Townsville-Gurambilbarra is aiming to bring classic music to a new audience - inviting "holidaymakers, romantics, culture lovers and sun chasers" to savour music, magical settings and Magnetic Island.

Running from July 25 to August 2, AFCM promises to transform the tropical North Queensland locations into a music lover’s dream.

With a range of "carefully curated" holiday packages (is there any event nowadays that is not carefully curated?) there is the chance to turn a world-class music event into a musical getaway. Think a whirlwind weekend of chamber music or a chilled midweek escape complete with sunset concerts.

Packages start from $499 per person for three nights’ accommodation and three festival concerts and partner hotels include The Palmer Collective, Townsville, Hotel Grand Chancellor, Townsville, The Ville Resort–Casino and Amaroo on Mandalay, Magnetic Island-Yunbenun.

Now in its 34th year, AFCM 2025 will feature 36 musicians, including 11 international artists, six world premieres, and 13 AFCM debuts.

Tickets are on sale here: www.afcm.com.au

New festival to showcase Ningaloo's natural beauty

Ningaloo Sky Festival, a celebration of the natural wonders of the Ningaloo region, has been unveiled for Exmouth in Western Australia from June 27-29.

The new festival will feature events, market stall holders, food trucks and local musicians/entertainers.

The region is known for its clear skies and pristine reefs.

"We are incredibly excited to launch the website and officially open registrations for the 2025 Ningaloo Sky Festival," said Exmouth Shire president Matt Niikkula.

"This festival is a celebration of our unique region, and we invite everyone to join us for a weekend of wonder under the Ningaloo Sky.

"With a diverse range of activities, local talent, and a spectacular concert and drone show planned, we encourage everyone to register their interest now and stay tuned for more exciting announcements."

My thoughts are that organisers are cutting things a little fine by asking for applications of interest as late as March - but it sounds an event with great potential.

For the geographically challenged, the shire of Exmouth is in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia, over 1,000 kilometres north of the state capital, Perth.

Ningaloo Reef is Australia's largest fringing coral reef and the only large reef positioned very close to a landmass. It is known for its whale sharks. 

Eskimo Joe will be the headline act for the Ningaloo Sky Festival with a free concert on the Saturday night.

For more info see www.ningaloosky.com.au

Stadiums under fire for using facial recognition technology

Some of Australia's major sports stadiums are using facial recognition technology when spectators attend sporting events and concerts, consumer rights organisation CHOICE says.

The technology is often being used without people’s knowledge or consent.

CHOICE analysed the privacy policies and conditions of entry statements of 10 stadiums and stadium operators, and found many allowed for facial recognition use without providing information on exactly where and how it is used.

“It is extremely concerning that facial recognition technology is being used at major concert and sporting venues across the country, without any kind of clear information for consumers about where, how and why it is being used,” says CHOICE consumer data advocate Kate Bower.

“We’re particularly worried about Qudos Bank Arena (in Sydney, above), owned by Ticketek’s parent company TEG - one of the biggest players in the Australian data broking space.

"TEG is not clear on how and why they collect and use facial recognition data, leaving the door open for harmful selling and sharing of sensitive biometric information.

“Qudos can hold up to 21,000 people and is set to host a number of big events this year alone, including Lizzo, Sam Smith and Disney on Ice.

"The amount of biometric data that potentially could be collected, stored and shared by TEG just in 2023 is massive.”

Qudos has said it alerts attendees to the use of facial recognition through digital signage and their conditions of entry.

These signs, however, are hard to find, difficult to read and would take an average reader over 12 minutes to get through, CHOICE says. The signage doesn’t mention how the information is stored, shared or used.

CHOICE is urgently calling for stronger regulation of facial recognition to protect the community from harmful and invasive use of this technology.

“Stadiums are places where many people, including children, gather to have fun and make memories. If facial recognition is being used in these venues, people should have the choice to opt in or out," says Bower.

"Instead, any details regarding the use of this technology are usually buried deep in a privacy policy or conditions of entry..

"Clear guidelines are needed to ensure safe and responsible use of facial recognition technology, and to hold businesses to account when they are using this controversial technology inappropriately or dangerously.”