One of the biggest festivals to happen in Australia this year, this Sydney festival is all about letting go and loving yourself.
The Sherp has encountered some pretty weird festivals in his quest to find the most uniqueΒ in the world. Festivals are a great place to meet new people, learn new things while enjoying yourself and its no wonder we cant get enough of them. But it is not very often that we come across a festival that is not only one of the big and grand, but also one that supports many important issues.
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is the heady combination of great parties, music, films, dance, various performances all spread out over a 20-day merry affair. The festival focuses on celebrating the LGBTQI community and bringing attention to the issues they face. One of the biggest festivals in Australia, the festival is a landmark event that engulfs the city of Sydney in its rainbow colours from the February 15 to the March 6 of this year.
So we made a little list of things you should most definitely be part of to have unforgettable experience, gay or straight.
(Image : www.starobserver.com)
Mardi Gras Parade
The parade is synonymous with the festival. A flamboyant spectacle, people from all over the world join the world as revellers for aΒ night of celebrations. Performances, elaborate costumes and lavish floaters are a few of the many treats you can witness as part of the event. Completely free, it is the grand celebration of all things happy and gay. Its roots can be traced back to 1978, when a group of people decided to march at the Taylor Square in Sydney in solidarity with the Stonewall riots. The march turned into a joyous event as people on the street joined them to protest against the treatment of the queer community. And after that day, the Mardi Gras parade has just gotten bigger and better.
The film festival is worth everything
The festival is all about love and unity. So if you are not one to appreciate crowds, the festival has got you covered. The entire city is speckled with venues that are holding various events in collaboration with the Mardi Gras. One of the highlights of this is the film festival which screens issue centric movies that have boldly explored uncharted territory in the LGBTQI community such as Summertime, a French movie based on a lesbian love story.
(Image courtesy:Β http://www.mardigras.org.au)
The city comes alive
One of the more liberal cities in the world, Sydney welcomes the festival with open arms. Its residents throw their doors open to all the revellers and excitedly join the celebrations along with them. Whether youβre gay, straight, curious or just looking to have a good time, Sydney will leave you asking for more. While the festival is under way, it is perfectly normal to enter a random bar and enquire about super glamorous private parties that are happening around the city, the friendly city is sure to help you out.
( Image : James Horan)
The Mardi Gras Fairy Day 2016
As a kind of antidote to the glamour of the Mardi Gras parade, the Fairy Day is a giant daylight event that is attended by more than 80,000 people. You can find all types of delectable food at the countless stalls accompanied by pet shows and live performances taking place throughout the day, itβs the perfect way to meet and make conversations with the many interesting people who attend the festival.
(Image credits: http://www.twoguineapigs.com.au/)