brief history ...

The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is one of the largest annual parade and pride festival for the gay and lesbian community in the world.

It began on June 24, 1978 as a protest march when was broken up by the police. In 1979, the name was changed to the "Sydney Gay Mardi Gras". In 1980 the first post-parade dance party was introduced, and in 1981 the parade was shifted to February. In 1988 the parade was renamed the "Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras".

Beside the exotic costumes and dance music, the parade has always had a political edge, with often witty visual commentary.

The Mardi Gras was always opposed mainly by conservative Christian people.

For the most part, Sydneysiders now accept the Mardi Gras as an important and vibrant part of the city's cultural landscape and the event is sure to remain a vital part of Sydney culture.

Trivia: Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday" and is the last day of the Lent carnival in France, when the prize ox is paraded through the streets of Paris, and accompanied with mock priests and a band of musicants in imitation of a Roman sacrificial procession. In Louisiana, which was original a French colony, the celebration of Mardi Gras has become a traditional annual celebration.

tourist information ...

Where
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade starts at Museum Station (CityRail) and goes towards the Oxford Street, Kings Cross Station.

Tips
Use the public transport. The event is attracting huge crowds (over a 500,000 people) to see something you need to come many hours before the event.

Contact details:
New Mardi Gras
297-299 Trafalgar Street
Petersham NSW 2049

PO Box 956
Petersham NSW 2049

Phone: 02 9568 8600
Email: newmardigras@mardigras.org.au
Web site: New Mardi Gras

When:
Usually in the first weekend in March. For more details go here.