After a few years of low-key Mardi Gras, Sydney is back next month with a pretty big glitterball bang when WorldPride rolls into town.
For those who don’t know, WorldPride is a kind of itinerant, international megapride that goes beyond the typical host city parties and shines a light on LGBTQ+ culture and people. Think of it like the gay world championship.
Sydney WorldPride takes place during Mardi Gras between February 17 and March 5. It will be the first in the Southern Hemisphere and also marks the 50th anniversary of Australia’s first Gay Pride Week, the 45th anniversary of Sydney’s first Mardi Gras and the fifth anniversary of the death of gay marriage in Australia. So expect a PARTY. But how does it work?
First things first – plan something. More than half a million people are expected and many of the 300 or so larger events have already sold out, but with an extensive program of events, from the 30th up comedy and a queer design talk, photo exhibitions, an evening with 500 queer scientists and even one There is something for everyone at the three-day human rights conference.
Details and tickets for official events can be found at sydneyworldpride.com, while the more unofficial community events and evenings can be found at prideamplified.au.
As for the big events, a few years ago Kylie Minogue sold out on February 24, so try the free Mardi Gras parade the next day and return to Oxford Street for the first time in three years. With 200 floats and 12,500 demonstrators, it’s the biggest event on the calendar, followed the next day by Mardi Gras Fair Day in Victoria Park: a free festival with music stages, picnic areas, a dog parade and more.
Give it a try for something uniquely Australian Marri Madung Butbut: First Nations meeting place, where converted train sheds in Eveleigh and Redfern host a six-day festival exploring the strange side of the oldest surviving culture on earth. Expect immersive art, drag, theater and clubbing, all with an Aboriginal twist.
OK, so those parties… there’s a whole lot to choose from, including glorious soirées like Dik ‘n’ Juicy’s Beefcake party and White Party of the Temple of Laleche.
Icebergs, the seawater rock pool, is the star of social media posts, but the crown for Happiest Pool in Town goes to Andrew “Boy” Charlton, located on the harbor front in Woolloomooloo Bay, five minutes from the town center and the Royal Botanic Garden . Sunny days here come with a barrage of frighteningly hot, sun-seeking locals.
Too intense? Head to one of the naturist-friendly beaches: Obelisk in Mosman, Lady Jane (aka Lady Bay) in Watsons Bay and Little Congwong in La Perouse are great, laid-back options and popular with LGBT people. Amazing views come as standard.
I, Ronald Payne, am a journalist and author who dedicated his life to telling the stories that need to be said. I have over 7 years of experience as a reporter and editor, covering everything from politics to business to crime.
