The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
Australia, Sydney
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is the biggest pride event in the world that takes place in the beautiful city of Sydney. It is a celebration of love that knows no bounds. Here is everything you need to know about celebrating Mardi Gras in Sydney!
Information
LOCATION
Australia, Sydney
DATE
February - March 2025
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When is Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras?
Despite the name the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is not actually held on Mardi Gras day also known as Shrove Tuesday and has no associations with the Catholic Mardi Gras celebrations that occur worldwide before Lent. The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade 2024 date begins on 16 February until the 3 March, 2024.
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade is the main event of Sydney Mardi Gras and in 2024, it will take place on Saturday 2 March, 2024!
Where is the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Madi Gras held?
As the name suggests the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras takes place in Sydney, the largest city in Australia, located in New South Wales.
Where is the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade route?
The Mardi Gras Parade marches through the city starting at Hyde Park and travels down Oxford Street, ending up at Sydney Centennial Park.
What is the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras?
Set in beautiful Sydney, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is the biggest LGBTQI celebration in the world. The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is an annual celebration of love that knows no bounds, an LGBTQI rights protest and celebration of sexuality.
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is a fabulous LGBTQIA+ celebration that spans 17 days. The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras has 500,000 people from all over the world, flocking to be part of this glittering celebration that brings Sydney to a standstill every year. Mardi Gras is a big tourist draw for Sydney contributing millions to the local economy.
How do they celebrate the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras?
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is one of the world’s best parties with a purpose and is celebrated in some of Sydney’s most iconic locations, from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, to Bondi Beach and the Opera House. It will be the biggest summer event of 2023, and the city can’t wait to welcome everyone back to Australia to celebrate Australia’s diverse LGBTQIA+ community!
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras kicks off when a rainbow flag is raised above Sydney Town Hall two weeks prior to the parade. Mardi Gras will be opened with Live and Proud, a concert held at The Domain, featuring some of Australia’s top singers and musicians.
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade is the biggest highlight of carnival. The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade is all about dancing, partying, dressing up, being wild and feeling the unity that this celebration embraces. The parade is massive! It features around 20,000 performers and 200 floats. Around 500,000 people come out to watch the parade, usually dressed up in rainbow outfits, making it a long street party along the parade route. It is free to attend and is always followed by an Official Mardi Gras After party and Concert.
In addition to the parade, that there will be over 60 specially curated art events and 20 sporting events in conjunction with WorldPride Arts and WorldPride Sports. There will also be a dance party in the Domain for 10,000 people that has been dubbed as the biggest LGBQTIA+ outdoor dance party in Australia. Other highlights include the Indigenous-led Koori Gras, Bondi Beach Drag Races, Paradiso Pool Party, Sissy Ball, Blak & Deadly First Nations gala concert, Harbour Party, a family fun day at Luna Park and an UltraViolet Women’s Party at Town Hall.
A pride march will take place across the Sydney Harbour Bridge with 50,000 people taking part. The Sydney WorldPride Human Rights Conference will also take place. A First Nations Rainbow gathering space at the Carriage Works will occur as well as a discussion Queer Thinking Panel.
Mardi Gras Fair Day
- Location: Victoria Park, Camperdown.
One key event is the Mardi Gras Fair Day which is an all-day rainbow extravaganza that kicks off the Mardi Gras celebration. It sees 70,000 people gather in a park for a family friendly day. There are hundreds of market stalls and street vendors and loads of fun activities for the whole family.
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade
- Where: The parade usually runs through the city down Oxford Street, and ends in Centennial Park.
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade is the time of year when the LGBTQI community puts on a dazzling spectacle of colour and glitter that captures imaginations. The parade is one of the only pride events around the world that is held at night.
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade is one big show that features over 200 elaborately decorated mechanical floats, over 20,000 participants that perform in some 200 LGBTQI community groups who march in the parade.
There is an explosion of feathers, body glitter, sequined outfits, leather outfits and rainbow colours. The participants dance along to the gay anthems that pump out all night, so lots of Kylie Minogue and Cher. Almost a million spectators’ line both sides of the street dressed up in costumes waving rainbow flags.
Sydney Mardi Gras After Party
- Where: The Hordern Pavilion
The official Sydney Mardi Gras After Party is the best post-parade party. Around 20,000 people will head to the Hordern Pavilion for a multi-arena concert that features numerous live performances from international stars and DJs.
It’s a wild party and not for the faint hearted. The party kicks off after the parade around 10pm and goes until the early hours of the morning. If you have excellent party stamina, then you can go straight from the After Party to the Recovery Party.
If you don’t have tickets to the official after party, then don’t worry it’s a Saturday night and there are lots of bars and clubs all over the city that are hosting awesome parties.
Laneway Recovery Party
- Where: 354 Bourke St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
- Time:2:00pm – 11:00pm
Laneway is the ultimate recovery party for those who don’t want the fun to stop. It is called Laneway because it quite literally happens in the Laneway located between The Beresford and Flinders Hotel in the centre of Darlinghurst.
The event started a few years ago when a small group of friends would gather there but has quickly grown into an official after-after party. Laneway sees quite a bit of mayhem so if you love day drinking this is where to go..
Dykes on Bikes
Every year the Sydney Mardi Gras Parade starts with the famous Dykes on Bikes accompanied by many firework displays launched from rooftops along the parade route. The Dykes on Bikes are as the name suggests hundreds of lesbians who ride the parade route on motorbikes.
Most groups represent an organisation, theme or political message. Drag queens, community heroes, queer performers, LGBTQI groups join with allies from all walks of life to creating amazing performances and jaw dropping floats.
The Origins of Mardi Gras in Sydney
What is the history of the Sydney Mardi Gras? The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras wasn’t always the extravagant sequin-studded parade that it is today. Back in 1978 a group of young queer Australians decided to protest the criminalisation of homosexuality in Australia.
Ron Austin, a man now known as the ‘godfather of Sydney Mardi Gras’ came up with the idea to turn the protests into a big street party. He wanted to have a more positive form of protest and avoid violent arrests. He was inspired by the pride celebrations that were occurring in San Francisco.
Fun fact, Ron stated that the term Mardi Gras came about by accident when he suggested his idea of a street party to a friend she said ‘Oh, you mean a Mardi Gras?” and not really knowing what a Mardi Gras was he agreed.
The first parade in 1978 despite being legal was met with brutal resistance from the New South Wales Police Force who used brutality and broke up the parade and arrested 53 people. The extreme police response to a legal, local minority protest transformed the event into a nationally significant event that started the gay rights law reform campaigns.
The next year the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade attracted 5000 people. It continued to rapidly expand throughout the 80s and reached crowds of 100,000 by 1987.
The Sydney Mardi Gras Today
Three decades later the Sydney Mardi Gras attracts over half a million revelers. The focus today is more on costuming, than on gay rights campaigning, because today society is more tolerant and Gay marriage is legal in Australia. However, the parade still highlights important social issues like equal rights.
Mardi Gras has come a long way since the first Sydney Mardi Gras and reflecting those changes participants represent all walks of LGBTQI community in Australia. You have groups from the Australian Defence Force, police officers, firefighters, emergency services personnel and more.
What to expect at Sydney Mardi Gras?
Expect huge crowds attending Mardi Gras so get there early because otherwise you are not going to see much. If you want you can be part of the parade. Several groups have open membership and all you must do is pay, buy the costume and learn the moves.
Everyone is in a good mood and there are random street parties all up and down the parade route. All the bars and clubs along the parade route are also packed out with people having a good time. There is lots of drinking and everyone is in a good mood.
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is a bucket-list event and the most exciting celebration of love one can attend. Head to Sydney and dress up in your craziest costumes and you are guaranteed to have the time of your life.
What to wear to the Sydney Madi Gras?
You don’t have to dress up to watch the Mardi Gras Parade, but you will find that most spectators do dress up and that anything goes! You will see superheros, villains, drag queens, angels, devils, lots of cross dressing and plenty of other wild outfits.
Most of the spectators dress up in rainbow colours. You will also see lots of bright coloured or rainbow outfits and accessories. If you don’t dress up its not a problem lots of people don’t go all out but will wear something a little sparkly and some just wave the iconic gay rainbow flag.
Where to stay at the Sydney Madi Gras?
Well the parade takes place in the Sydney CBD and runs along Oxford Street, so if you want to be close to the action, and close to most of Sydney’s iconic sights then booking accommodation in the Sydney CBA is highly recommended! There are also lots of restaurants, clubs, shops and cafes in the area and you have easy access to everywhere in the city. It is also where most the major hotels are located.
Around Oxford Street, or in the Darlinghurst/Surry Hills area is pretty much known as the gay area of Sydney where there are lots of gay bars and nightclubs are.
These are some accommodation options very close to parade route and gay area of Sydney:
Best Western Plus Hotel Stellar
Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park
Kimpton Margot Sydney, an IHG Hotel
If you want to stay by the beach, then we recommend staying at famous iconic Bondi Beach, which is extremely close to where the parade takes place, only a quick bus trip. Or even stay around the famous Manly Beach area which is also only a quick 30-minute ferry trip into the city, or 15 minutes by fast ferry.
What to Do and See in Sydney?
While Sydney may be one of the world’s most expensive cities, it can be said that the best things in Sydney are free! Sydney has over 100 beaches, several national parks, three beautiful harbours and an abundance of scenery. To travel from the city to nature is only ever a short trip away!
Sydney is a very cosmopolitan city with great shopping, nightlife as well as a great arts, culinary and coffee scene. Here are some of our top things to do and see. Of course you must see Sydney’s most iconic sites the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Bondi Beach.
Our other suggestions are to catch the ferry to Manly Beach, a gorgeous beachside suburb. Also do the Coogee to Bondi Walk or catch the Ferry to Taronga Zoo and see Australia’s cuddliest and deadliest animals. Enjoy some Fish and Chips when you catch the ferry to Watsons Bay. Walk around the city and visit Barangaroo, Darling Harbour and the Royal Botanical Gardens.
Visit one of the city’s beautiful national parks including Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, the Royal National Park Sydney or Sydney National Park. Or even head a little further afield and visit the Blue Mountains, Hunter Valley, or Jervis Bay.
Drag Queen Walking Tour through Sydney’s LGBT District
- Sydney’s Secret Bars Nightlife Tour
- All Inclusive Small-Group Blue Mountains Day Trip from Sydney with Scenic World
- Sydney Harbour Tour by Helicopter
- Sydney Harbour Sunset Dinner Cruise
- Big Bus Sydney and Bondi Hop-on Hop-off Tour
- Sydney Harbour Ferry with Taronga Zoo Entry Ticket
How to get to the Sydney Mardi Gras?
If you live outside of Sydney or outside of Australia, then flying is your best option. Sydney has a major international airport that is well serviced with flights both domestically and internationally.
Sydney is well connected and there are plenty of trains that run frequently into the city as well as buses that can take you to the parade. Public transport is your best option as several streets are closed and traffic gets very busy in the city. Of course you can always grab a taxi or Uber if needed.
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