Gay pride celebrations in Australia take a decidedly different tack than in many parts of the world. In the country’s largest cities, the main annual GLBT event is actually a major queer cultural festival that lasts two to three weeks: Midsumma Melbourne in January and Adelaide Feast Festival in November are excellent examples of this.
But the most famous of Australia’s GLBT cultural celebrations is undoubtedly the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, which will take place from February 17 to March 5, 2017 with the famous Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras parade. , scheduled for March 4. Spectators and participants from all over the world attend this multifaceted, high-energy event consisting of parties, parades, presentations, fairs, harbor regattas and much more.
Sydney carnival history
Mardi Gras began in late June 1978, in an effort to commemorate the Stonewall riots that fueled the modern Gay Rights Movement in New York City in June 1969. There is an excellent Sydney Mardi Gras story at the official site of the event. Trace the beginnings of this initially modest event to its development into one of the world’s most important celebrations of gay culture and political solidarity.
2017 Sydney Mardi Gras
More about Mardi Gras 2017 will be posted here as details are released. In the meantime, the following information relates to last year’s celebration and should give you an idea of what to expect next year:
As always, Mardi Gras will feature a number of top-notch entertainers and DJ talents at the parties during the celebration – for a complete list (with dates and times), check out the official Mardi Gras 2017 calendar, which will be posted on the site. official during the weeks leading up to the event.
The two most popular events to attend are the Oxford and Flinders Streets Mardi Gras Parade and the Mardi Gras Party. The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade, which is a free event, takes place from 7 pm to 10:30 pm on Saturday, along Oxford Street in Darlinghurst, in Taylor Square, the heart of the district of gay bars and entertainment in town. You can expect more than 10,000 revelers to show up for this great event.
The Mardi Gras party follows the parade, which begins at 10 p.m. and lasts until the early hours, around 8 a.m. This massive gathering, which took place last year at Playbill Venues & Entertainment Quarter in Moore Park (at 122 Lang Rd .). Wondering who will be performing at the party this year? The roster includes many top talent – details to be released. You can buy Mardi Gras party tickets online.
Other major events at Mardi Gras include the Opening Fair Day , where some 80,000 participants congregate and visit with community organizations, watch live music, and people-see in Victoria Park (City Rd. And Cleveland St.), the Sunday from 10 am to around 8. This is a free event.
Sydney Gay Resources
For more information on Sydney’s gay scene, check out Sydney’s Gay Friendly Hotel Guide, if you’re looking for accommodation ideas. Check out local gay newspapers, such as Sydney Star Observer and SX News, for more information, as well as helpful online resources such as the SameSame.com section in Sydney. Also take a look at the excellent site produced by the official tourism organization for the region, Tourism New South Wales, along with the official Visit Sydney website.
