Mardi Gras Parade

Overview

Is it too big a call to say the Mardi Gras Parade is the Sydney event of a calendar year? It is certainly one of the biggest, not just in scale, but also in affect. What an astounding, glorious thing that once a year, Sydneysiders gather together to march and dance and party on in celebration of being queer. After 33 years, even if it's not Sydney's defining cultural event, Mardi Gras Parade is an immutable part of our city's folklore.

For 2011, the focus of the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras as a whole is on equality in marriage. Creative Director Ignatius Jones, also responsible for the Sydney Olympics Ceremonies, 2010 Winter Olympics Ceremonies and the 2010 World Expo Shanghai, has encouraged parade participants to 'Say Something!' This will doubtless play out in numerous colourful and outrageous ways. On the night, proceedings will be broadcast live on Arena, but we recommend you get amongst it in the flesh. Proudly.