For those popping their Mardi Gras cherry, there’s only one way to truly experience Mardi Gras – and that’s to march in it. Skipping, dancing and running along Oxford Street dressed in sequins and hot pants doing synchronised dance moves to Katy Perry isn’t even the best part of being in the parade.
The best part is actually the four hours I spent in the marshalling area in Hyde Park with 8,000 of your fellow marchers – a colourful kaleidoscope of buff bodies, body paint, Speedos, sequins, feathers, Lycra, uniforms, papier-mâché and wigs. Here you’ll see pink-wigged fairies dancing with shirtless angels and naughty nurses making out with nuns. Basically, it’s like being backstage in homosexual heaven.
If you plan to watch from the sidelines, bring a milk crate and stake out your position early or be prepared to squint at the passing floats through the armpits of throngs of tourists crammed five deep. Dannii Minogue and Jake Shears from Scissor Sisters will be at the Mardi Gras Party this year, but as always, the hot ticket in town will be the Laneway Party at the Beresford on Sunday. For more details, visit mardigras.org.au.
If you’re not able to get out of town, The Greyhound Hotel will be hosting their infamous Mardi Gras Party on Saturday March 7. It’s the annual night of nights, Australia’s LGBTIQ-munity annual general meeting, and the GH is putting on a party to rival anything Sydney is throwing. If you can’t make it to Sydney for this year’s Mardi Gras, head to the next best thing.
If you’re looking for a more sedate way to wave their pride flag over the Labour Day weekend, you can head to the annual ChillOut Festival in Daylesford. Just an hour and a half from Melbourne, Daylesford makes a nice windbreak at the best of times.
During ChillOut, Daylesford’s day spas and craft stores will be overrun with lesbians and gay men from all over Victoria. This year’s program includes wholesome activities like yoga, tea parties, book readings and a roller derby as well as their usual bush doof, street parade and comedy gala. For the full program and accommodation, visit chilloutfestival.com.au.
The Melbourne Queer Film Festival have revealed their full 2015 program – set to delight, excite, shock and surprise as the festival celebrates its 25th year in style. Along with 45 feature films, 12 documentaries and 17 shorts packages, the festival will host a string of events, special presentations and the most cutting edge queer cinema has to offer from around the globe in a vibrant festival atmosphere. The festival will open with the bittersweet coming-of-age-tale The Way He Looks, close with German feel-good comedy I Feel Like Disco and feature screenings of The Circle, Anita’s Last Cha-Cha, All About E and many more. The festival will kick off on Thursday March 19, head to mqff.com.au for tickets and more information.
The clown in a dress herself, Bianca Del Rio is bringing her new show Comedy Special to our shores. The winner of Ru Paul’s Drag Race season six will hit theatres in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth, following a sell-out season in New York. Supporting her on tour will be her special guest, Courtney Act, who was in the final three of Ru Paul’s Drag Race. Catch Bianca Del Rio on Monday March 2 at Arts Centre Melbourne, Playhouse.
