Sydney Mardi Gras

The 2013 Sydney Mardi Gras will celebrate its 35th anniversary with "Generations of Love", a three-week arts and culture program that runs from 10 February to 3 March 2013. Once a small gay pride demonstration to mark the 1978 International Gay Solidarity Day, Sydney Mardi Gras is now a full scale cultural event that celebrates lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex pride.

The highlight is the iconic Sydney Mardi Gras Parade through the streets of Sydney on Saturday 2 March. You’ve got to be there on the night to experience the outrageous floats, lavish costumes, dance routines and fun of this popular event that attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators and around 9,000 participants. After the parade, the Mardi Gras Party is the place to party – if you can get a ticket - as 16,000 partygoers dance the night, and morning, away in great venues, with great music, superstar DJs and exclusive performers. And, if you still have the energy, the Laneway Official After Party is on 3 March.

Fabulous events not to miss in the lead up to the parade and party include Mardi Gras Fair Day on 10 February, the Pool Party at the Ivy on 25 February, the Harbour Party on 23 February and the Bondi Beach Drag Races on 1 March.

So start planning your 2013 Sydney Mardi Gras now. Whether you come along to enjoy a cocktail on a cabana lounge, dancing all night in the lush tropical surrounds of the Royal Botanic Gardens on the edge of Sydney Harbour or watching all the action of the famous parade, you’ll have a fabulous time in Sydney in summer.