Fireworks launched from Old Parliament House for the first time, and a giant cloud installation made of textiles and repurposed lightbulbs fittingly hung large over the lake for opening night of the Enlighten festival in the parliamentary triangle.
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The weather cleared up somewhat as large crowds got in early for the Enlighten Night Noodle Markets, before the sun even went down.
As organisers flicked the switch on projections, fireworks launched from Old Parliament House for the first time in its history.
Ahead of the event, organisers encouraged festival goers to not be put off by rain and a forecast storm.
"The projections go ahead, rain or shine," the festival's creative director Nicole Warren said.
"People should bring down their umbrellas, put on a poncho or a light cardigan and be prepared to enjoy some warm, autumn rain and check out some projections and warm up with some sumptuous food at the Noodle Markets."
The projections were switched on Friday night by Chief Minister Andrew Barr and competition winner Dan Harrison from the front steps of Old Parliament House, revealing the new projections on Questacon, the National Library of Australia, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Gallery of Australia, Old Parliament House, and Parliament House.
"We've got a whole new suite of architectural projections for 2017 across six iconic buildings. If people go on a journey and check out all six spaces, they'll notice a little bit of a theme running through the projections," said Warren.
"And there's an interactive element as well with the digital projection on the Portrait Gallery this year. There's a photo booth, you climb inside and have your picture taken and it pops up on the wall of the National Portrait Gallery and traverses along a conveyor belt getting manipulated as it goes."
Friday night will also see the launch of the Enlighten Night Noodle Markets, with a blend of Asian and Western eats, live music and alfresco dining in Reconciliation Place.
And the Parliamentary Triangle won't be the only place you can check out illuminated creations.
Canberra Centre has brought a large light-reactive, large-scale chameleon lantern to Canberra just for Enlighten, which will sit in the mall for the duration of the festival.
The sculpture, by Ample Projects, was previously on display at Taronga Zoo as part of Sydney's Vivid Festival. It will sit next to Jamie's Italian in the restaurant precinct from March 3-12 with free, interactive showings from 5-9pm each night.
QT Canberra is also adding their own illuminated touch, with digital art installation The Drift by artist Grant Stevens projected onto the New Acton hotel each night of the festival.
New for 2017, Enlighten visitors can download the Enlighten app, available for free on iTunes and Google Play, which has a map to help navigate the major sites, and information on ticketed events.
What you need to know
What: Enlighten is a 10-day festival of architectural projections, entertainment, art, music and food.
When: Enlighten is on from Friday March 3 to Sunday March 12. Entertainment runs 5-10pm nightly, and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Projections are switched on at dusk. The neighbouring Enlighten Night Noodle Markets are open from 5pm.
Where: Most of the action is in the Parliamentary Triangle, with the main projections on Questacon, National Library of Australia, National Portrait Gallery, National Gallery of Australia, Old Parliament House, and Parliament House. There are also satellite events, some which are ticketed. See enlightencanberra.com.au for the full program.
How much? Access to the architectural projections and live entertainment in the parliamentary triangle is free. Some special events are ticketed.
How to get there: After 5pm, there are lots of free parking options throughout the parliamentary triangle. There are also special Enlighten shuttles operating on March 3, 4, 10 and 11. See enlightencanberra.com.au for details.
For more information, see enlightencanberra.com.au.
