Vivid Sydney will return this May with a ’50s spin on the roller-skating rink and an American-inspired diner by rock star vegan chef Shannon Martinez.

New Vivid Sydney event, Neon Dreams, will transform the Pier Street underpass in Darling Harbour into a scene straight out of Xanadu. The experience will include a retro-inspired roller-skating rink, where you can strap on some skates and go for a glide, and a DJ booth set up in a grounded mail plane. It runs every night of Vivid, Friday, May 23, to Saturday, June 14.

The ’50s playground will also include an American diner helmed by Smith & Daughters restaurateur Shannon Martinez, who is also one of the country’s leading vegan chefs. The menu will focus on plant-based versions of popular American comfort foods, including a burger, mac ‘n’ cheese and jelly doughnut, as well as frothy milkshakes and native ingredient-spiked cocktails.

Martinez says, “We all know and love the classic American diner menu, and what we have planned for Neon Dreams will be even more delicious. You won’t even notice it’s completely plant-based. All this with a retro aviation fitout and some roller-skating – let’s just say Vivid Sydney hasn’t seen anything like this before.”

The party will continue across town in Sydney’s Hollywood Quarter, a tiny precinct that borders Central, Darlinghurst and Surry Hills and surrounds the heritage-listed Hollywood Hotel. The vibrant hub will be a festival hotspot this year, and the home of new event series, Hollywood Dreaming.

Hollywood Dreaming: A Taste of HQ will take over Foster Street on Saturday, May 31, with an all-out street party, featuring food and drinks from top spots in the area, including Firedoor, Gildas, Kiln, Poly, Butter, Tio’s Cerveceria and more, accompanied by live music and roving performances.

The final night of Vivid Sydney (Saturday, June 14) will feature another street party – this time on Foy Lane. Hollywood Dreaming: Foy Lane Lights Up will take over the small, curved laneway that connects Elizabeth Street and Goulburn Street with a digital art show, curated by creative community platform Arts-Matter, featuring work by digital artist Mila Kudis. The boutique Ace Hotel, which backs onto the lane, will oversee snacks and live music.

Other events as part of Hollywood Dreaming include The Neon Trail, an illuminated display of movie titles and cinematic quotes, The Food Trail, a film-inspired selection of food and drink, and The Gig Trail, a program of live performances at Hollywood Hotel, Paramount House Hotel Rooftop and Butter. It happens May 23 to June 14.