CANBERRA, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Sydney Festival organizers are inviting people to leave their cars at home and come and play barefoot under the trees as the city is transformed into a summer playground from Saturday.

    Circus acts, musicians, dancers and actors will be performing in locations across the city as part of the annual festival, which runs until January 30.

    As the curtains go up on the Festival First Night on Saturday, residents and visitors to Sydney will be invited to leave the car at home and enjoy the free bike valet parking in Hyde Park from 2 p.m. to help make it a green event.

    "I encourage all Sydney siders to make the most of summer in our city and cycle, walk or take public transport to Festival First Night and the variety of other exciting cultural experiences on offer," Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP said in a statement on Wednesday, adding the City of Sydney had contributed 1.8 million dollars (1.65 million U.S. dollars) to this year's celebrations.

    Hyde Park is set to be transformed into "a spice garden, a feast of sumptuous delights", organizers say on the event website.