If you haven’t heard of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, do be a chum and give me the address of that rock you’re under.
Far and away one of the biggest, brightest, barest, and bitchiest of gay events on the planet, this is technically Sydney’s Gay Pride, but has metastasized from a local event to one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere — and outdoes more than a few in the Northern. It is truly gay-gone-global.
Kicking off on February 19th and going straight to March 6, it goes without saying that the Mardi Gras is not a single event, but a series of related ones happening all over the city in a sort of slow-burn intra-city circuit part. You’ve film festivals, theater productions, symposia, but let’s be honest—we come for the parties. And when you’ve got something stretched out over three weeks, you have plenty of recovery time to hit them all and still look good.
So, first up: The Fair. Basically a VERY LARGE street fest (Feb. 21), this yanks in about 800,000 lookyloos with food, stage shows, and dance tents, and gives a pretty good idea of the crowds you’ll be up against later on. Also not to be missed is the Disco Climb, and this is on the iconic Sydney Harbor Bridge. It is said that you have not been to Sydney unless you walk/climb across the bridge in a ritual cherry popping. All fine and good. However, with the best of the city’s drag talent as your guides, and with disco booming from your headsets, this is not just an idle pop.
And then there is the Pool Party on February 29. Held at the Ivy Pool Club, a secret enclave of old school luxury, you’ve got swaying palm trees, private cabanas, high-end cocktails, pool-side DJs…and some very skimpily-clad Aussies. The music can be heard underwater and the changing rooms have their very own disco. Moving right along…
What happens next is a blizzard of colors and codpieces. On March 5th is the big daddy of the Mardis Gras: the Parade. A rainbow-spangled smorgasbord of the best pecs the Land Down Under has on tap, it is the must-do of Sydney Pride. Along with it is the Parade Sideshow, sort of a running commentary on the parade away from the parade (for all those people who can’t get a good vantage point). On March 6 is the other big daddy: Apollo The Party. A theater-turned dance club, it is the best party gay Australia throws. I’ll let you use your imagination for that one.
And all of it with that accent…
For more information, go to mardigras.org.au. Be Sure to contact Steele Luxury Travel for all of your travel planning needs to Sydney and beyond /www.SteeleTravel.com