Pop the champagne, frock up and don your dancing shoes – Sydney Mardi Gras 2017 is coming! This year’s party is set to rock the city, with stars, special guests and performers celebrating diversity and equality, from the 17th of February to the 5th of March.
Gear up for the 2017 Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade
Sydney Mardi Gras 2017 Theme
Lord Mayor Clover Moore launching 2013’s Sydney Mardi Gras
The theme for Mardi Gras 2017 is ‘Creating Equality’, highlighting a 39 year history of fostering rights and fighting discrimination against sexuality, sex, gender, identity, race, beliefs, age and abilities.
A fitting theme, as the progress made for the community has come a long way, with everyone from local politicians to international celebrities coming together to highlight the importance of the cause. However, there’s still a way to go and areas of inequality will take centre stage throughout the event.
The Famous Parade
Parade performers taking Oxford street by storm
Fabulously sassy and delightfully naughty, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade is at the heart of the event. In 2017, approximately 10,000 people are set to wow hundreds of thousands of spectators. The parade snakes through Oxford and Flinders Streets and runs for about three hours, so book hotels in Sydney along the route, for best vantage points.
Flamboyant costumes, extravagant floats and dance music characterise the free event, but it’s the performers that inspire the audience’s imaginations. Dancing and prancing, shocking and strutting, they combine to create a dazzling display of self-expression.
The Sydney-based motorcycle club, Dykes on Bikes, will return in 2017
Long-time Mardi Gras fans wait in anticipation for their favourite entrants and 2017 won’t disappoint. The parade wouldn’t be the same without the Dykes on Bikes motorcycle club and they’ll be there to rev up the crowd. Rainbow flags, fishnet stockings, cheeky smiles, and clouds of glitter won’t be far behind.
When: Saturday, March 4th 2017
Where: Oxford Street, Flinders Street and Taylor Square, CBD
Time: 7:00pm – 11:30pm
Website: Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras Comedy Festival Events
Mardi Gras Comedy Gala
Comedian Bob Downe is set for side-splitting fun
Hosted by one of Australia’s most beloved comedians, Bob Downe who will be joined by Em Rusciano, the Mardi Gras Comedy Gala kicks off the annual hilarity. Presented by Frontier Comedy, the line-up includes Dixie Longate – the fast talking Tupperware lady from the USA, actress, writer and cabaret performer, Bridget Everett and Ireland’s First Lady, Panti Bliss. The “world’s best awesomest comedy band”, The Axis of Awesome will add to the gags and giggles with their original comedic scores and pop parodies.
When: Tuesday, 28th February, 2017
Where: Enmore Theatre, 118 – 132 Enmore Road, Newtown
Time: 7:30pm
Website: Frontier Comedy
Gretel Killeen: Guru Grets and Her Psychic Sex and Life Advice
Gretel Killeen
Join unreliable psychic and non-practising heterosexual Gretel Killeen for 73 hilarious and yet profound minutes of solving our life problems.This show will be a unique experience hosted by writer, performer and failed celebrity Gretel Killeen. It is a one show only, elite audience nonextravaganza, for which guests are asked to ‘bring a problem and bring a plate’. Starting at an elegant 4pm this will be a soiree type affair with an audience of 60. Join us, we guarantee it will change your life… and hopefully this time it will be for the better.
When: Sunday, 19th February
Where: The Urban Winery, 75 Mary Street, St Peters
Time: 4:00pm
Website: Eventbrite
Diamonds are for Trevor
Trevor Ashley performing in Diamonds are for Trevor
Multi-award winning diva, Trevor Ashley, celebrates the 80th birthday of gay icon, Dame Shirley Bassey with a spectacular tribute show. Performing classic hits with a 24-piece orchestra and frocked up by Academy Award winner, Tim Chappel, get ready for jewels, sequins, big hair and vocals galore.
When: Thursday, 2nd March
Where: Sydney Opera House Concert Hall
Time: 8:00pm – 10:30pm
Website: Sydney Opera House
Other 2017 Season Highlights
From movies to parties, performing and visual arts, the two week gay Mardi Gras offers more sparkle than a Kylie costume. Here’s a cheeky snippet of other highlights.
Oxtravaganza
Celebrating Oxtravaganza on the ‘Pink Mile’
Oxtravaganza is celebration day for the ‘Pink Mile’, otherwise known as Oxford Street. A playground for bohemians, outcasts and the queer community, free events will showcase the diversity and colour of the district, with drag shows, competitions and art.
When: Saturday, 25th February 2017
Where: Oxford Street
Time: All day
Website: Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
Fair Day
Over 80,000 people are expected to frolic at Fair Day 2017, a free, all day event usually held at Victoria Park. This year, the venue is yet to be advised, however rest assured there’ll be dancing, dining at international food stalls and grabbing a bargain from markets, on Sunday, the 19th of February.
Sydney’s Biggest Underwear Party
Boys: have your best underwear ready for the party
With 10 years quite literally under its belt, Sydney’s biggest male-only underwear party returns. There’s a strict dress code to enter the domain of lighting shows, lasers and international DJ’s, including America’s DJ Brett Law. However, if you stick to your best undies, footy-wear, jockstraps or swimwear, you’ll pass the test.
When: Thursday, 2nd March
Where: ARQ Sydney, 16 Flinders Street
Time: 9:00pm – 6:00am
Website: Eventbrite
Koori Gras @ 107
Glimpse the fascinating history of the First People of Mardi Gras, via an exhibition of shared stories about the gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender, Sista girl, brothaboy, inter-sexed and queer community.
When: Tuesday 21 February – Sunday 26th February
Where: 107 Projects, Redfern Street
Website: Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
The Official Mardi Gras Party
No one wants to say goodbye to Mardi Gras, but, since it’s inevitable, The Official Mardi Gras Party is the way to do it. The fun starts right after the Parade and 2017 brings pop twins Tegan and Sara, plus DJ’s Citizen Jane, Oxford Hustlers and JimJam.
Warning: Get ready for some serious partying, until the sun rises on a new, rainbow coloured day
When: Saturday, 4th March
Where: Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park
Time: 10:00pm – 8:00am
Website: Ticketek
