Fonti family hope Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks display is their best one yet

It takes 12 days, 18 shipping containers full of equipment and more than 60 staff to prepare Sydney’s dazzling New Year’s Eve celebrations – and the Foti family promises that this year’s show will be bigger and better than ever.

Georgia Foti with cousin Elena Colosi on the firework barge. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

It takes 12 days, 18 shipping containers full of equipment and more than 60 staff to prepare Sydney’s dazzling New Year’s Eve celebrations – and this year is set to be bigger and better than ever.

For the 27th year, Fortunato Foti and his family will light up the Sydney night in bright, sparkling hues, as they strive to create an even bigger spectacle.

“We’ve reached a point where each year we walk away thinking: ‘That was the best show we’ve ever done’ – and, really, that just spurs us on to do even better the following year,” he said.

“This year the displays will feature bright white, peach, lime, silver, gold, violet, yellow, burnt orange, pink and blue fireworks, as well as the crowd favourite colour-changing fireworks and some other surprises.”

Robert Foti and Jonathon Tyler are helping to prepare the family’s best show yet. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Mr Foti – who is an expert in exceeding his own expectations – is a seventh generation pyrotechnician, whose family has been making fireworks since 1793.

This year, he is joined by 15 family members who have helped create the fireworks for this year’s displays, including his three children, several nieces, nephews, brothers and cousins.

In total, it has taken a 60-strong team to set up Sunday’s display, with 8.5 tonnes of fireworks to explode from barges, the sails of the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and five city building rooftops.

“They are working tirelessly for a night to remember with their incredible and innovative fireworks displays,” Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore said.

Fortunato Foti wants to create a display to remember. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Mr Foti said the visual display will be “perfectly synchronised” with a soundtrack to make the fireworks appear like they are dancing.

The 9pm Calling Country display will be set to an original soundtrack produced by Nooky and Aria Award winner and Grammy nominee 18YOMAN – a hip hop sound with elements of traditional First Nations audio woven throughout.

Jonathon Tyler prepping some of the fireworks. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The main event at midnight will be timed to a bespoke three-part soundtrack created by The Sweats that ranges from driving beats and contemporary electronica, through to elegant and lush choral moments.

As well as the fireworks, projections and lighting effects will animate the Sydney Harbour Bridge from 8.30pm, in a special tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Opera House.