Dressing up is all part of the fun!
Last weekend saw the start of the 2009 Sydney Mardi Gras. A smorgasboard of flamboyance and excess that culminates in the Mardi Gras Parade, this is a festival not to be missed.
Running from the 14th February to the 7th March this is the largest gay and lesbian festival in the world, the event is a draw-droppingly colourful celebration of homosexuality.
The festival’s live entertainment includes cabarets, comedy, music and theatre. The Mardi Gras Film Festival showcases gay and lesbian films, and there are many literature and arts events, forums and conferences to attend between the many parties and parades, most notably the Sleaze Ball.
Key Dates
Festival                 14th Feb – March 7th 2009
Fair Day                15th February 2009
Harbour ’09         1st March 2009
Parade & Party  7th March 2009
Countdown to Mardi Gras
1. Mardi Gras Parade
Always a memorable night and the jewel in the Sydney Mardi Gras crown: participate or watch as hundreds of thousands of people join in one of the world’s biggest street parties! Catch the hilarious and inspiring floats as we close down the city and flood the streets with our colourful “Nations United” Parade on 7th March.
Eccentricity is a must for Mardi Gras
2. Mardi Gras Party
The only place to experience the sheer thrill and extravagance of Mardi Gras after the parade. Get your ticket to the biggest gay dance party in the world as we descend on the Hordern Pavillion in Moore Park from 10pm. Watch the floats arrive, see spectacular shows and be blown away by international guests such as DJs Paul Oakenfold and The Freemasons, as well as special performances by Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Alison Jiear and many more! It doesn’t get bigger than Mardi Gras Party 09!
3. Joan Rivers sharpens her claws at the Enmore.
The undisputed Queen of the Red Carpet and infamous comedienne Joan Rivers headlines this year’s Mardi Gras Festival. Get ready to laugh harder than you have before, and catch her razor-sharp tongue at the Enmore Theatre 3rd & 6th March.
4. Queer Screen Film Festival
One of the most prestigious queer film festivals returns to Sydney Mardi Gras with a higher calibre of films than ever before. A plethora of movies can be found in four unique themes this year: including works from around the world and from our own backyard. Screening around the city, be sure to experience the engaging, poignant and riotous program QueerScreen have organised for 2009.
The highlight of Mardi Gras is the street parade
5. Tina Arena performs live at the State Theatre
Don’t miss these performances, as one of Australia’s truly remarkable voices graces the State Theatre stages for two nights only. Internationally famous for her stunning songs such as “Chains” and “Sorrento Moon”, Tina Arena has also made a name for herself with Songs of Love and Loss; a captivating tribute to the moving classics of Dusty Springfield, Lulu, Blondie and many more. Performing a range of her work, this will be an unforgettable show.
6. The Studio: Mardi Gras Sessions at the Sydney Opera House
2009 has Mardi Gras Festival showcasing exciting and notorious international talent at the Sydney Opera House. See Tony Award winning film and cabaret star Alan Cumming in his show I Bought A New Car Today, catch Brechtian punk superstar Amanda Palmer with the Danger Ensemble for a twisted art and cabaret celebration, as well as Justin Bond’s exhilirating Carpenters’ tribute show and the sexy and hilarious musical “The Wet Spots: A Midsummer’s Wet Dream” from Canada.
7. Fair Day & Launch
Last year saw some 75,000 people turn up for a fun day in the sunshine, and as Fair Day marks it’s 30th birthday expect even more joining you in the warm community atmosphere of Victoria Park on 15th February. This year sees the event combined with the Mardi Gras Launch, and there’ll be the wonderful stalls, sports, live performances and everything else you love about Fair Day.
8. Ranters Theatre Production and Griffin Theatre Company present Holiday
Don’t miss this rollercoaster of a theatre experience. The Stables Theatre showcases this intimate and unpredictable show of what happens when two men unwittingly engage on a holiday.
9. Harbour Party
Sunshine. Sexy Sounds. Seduction. All with the incomparable backdrop of Sydney Harbour. There’s something going on in the garden.. and you’re invited to join in. Be there on the afternoon of 1st March, as Mardi Gras takes over the lush Botannical Gardens to give you our world-renowned party with Sydney’s best DJs and sexiest partygoers.
10. Bison/Natural Born Hooker – A Sexy Double Bill..
Four boys journey through the gay hunting grounds of Sydney in search of that illusive something.. One man travels across America, and through the beds of transvestites, film stars, New York socialites and all-American boys. This thilling and unexpected double bill explores the darker side of gay sexuality, with comedic, moving and altogether unpredictable results.
11. Hat’s Off! – A One-Night-Only Extravaganza!
Join Australia’s brightest stars of musical theatre, comedy, dance and cabaret as they join forces and donate their time to raise funds for ACON in a gala night of international proportions! Travel the world in this one-night-only spectacular with your Captain, Lisa Freshwater, and hilarious flight attendants Jan van de Stool with Garry Scale and Claire de Lune. Returning for it’s 11th year, don’t miss this huge night!
Sydney druing Mardi Gras is celebrating its myriad of colourful countercultures, hedonism and joie de vivre
12. Roberta Flack & The Sydney Symphony Orchestra
The diva that defined the soul genre, Roberta Flack is one of the greatest and most influential singers of the past decade. This will undoubtedly be a very special night, with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra joining her onstage with beautiful performances of “Killing Me Softly”, “The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face”, “Feel Like Makin’ Love” and countless others.
13. Festival Bar at The Supper Club
Join in the festivities at The Supper Club throughout Mardi Gras Festival, as we showcase brilliant live performers and throw parties of outrageous camp fun. See the sublime acousitc skills of Kaki King or the underground debauchery of Berlin, enjoy pure retro indulgence with The Margaritas or Bob Downe’s Retro Gras, or be moved by outstanding live shows such as Girl, Corrupted or Jade Starr’s From Metal to Maternal. There’s so much to experience at the Festival Bar in 2009, and you shouldn’t miss a moment of it.
Courtsey of Sydney Mardi Gras
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2 Responses to “Mardi Gras comes to town!”
Comment by Margaret Williams — February 28, 2010 @ 8:17 am
Hello,
Am I able to buy a dvd of the 2009 Mardi Gras please.
My son is gay lives in London but came over to join in the Mardi Gras last year. We all had such a wonderful time and met some very lovely people.
Margaret
Comment by Lisa Valentine — February 28, 2010 @ 5:25 pm
Hi Margaret, I don’t know if this is possible but the people to contact would be the Mardi Gras organisers, click on the link given, click on About Us on the site and a drop down menu will give you the contact details of the organisers. There are photos and videos available on the site so it’s possible they will have a video of the 2009 event. Best of luck!