Mardi Gras gives program sneak peek

Sydney’s New Mardi Gras (NMG) has given a sneak peek at its program between the Parade and Party weekends, including the new Parade Carnival event.
At the conclusion of next year’s 33rd Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday  February 27, NMG members, volunteers and Parade participants are invited to celebrate together at the Show Ring, Dome and Forum at the Entertainment Quarter.
The Parade Carnival will be free for participants, volunteers and NMG members, but there will also be a significant number of tickets available for general release. For these tickets, priority will be given to friends and family of NMG members.
On the next day, Sunday February 28, Harbour ’10 provides an opportunity to socialise and recover from the night before. UK favourites DJ Wayne G and Paul Heron, along with local crowd-pleaser Paul Goodyear, will be manning the decks at the Harbourside stage, while DJs Sista P, Kitty Glitter and Jason Barry will play the upper stage.
On Monday March 1, artist Spencer Tunick will give thousands of Sydneysiders and visitors the opportunity to bare all for art as he orchestrates one of the most significant installations ever to take place in Sydney. Later in the day, the first Mardi Gras Pool Party will take place at the stunning Ivy Pool Bar.
On Tuesday March 2, the crew from Fag Tag take over Manly for an afternoon of volleyball and tanning on the sand, followed by sunset Fag Tag drinks at one of Manly’s best bars. Meanwhile, over the harbour at Sydney Opera House, iconic director John Waters will be performing his one-man show, a ‘vaudeville’ act that celebrates his film career and deliciously bad taste.
Wednesday March 3 will see Mardi Gras’ Dinner at the Zoo in support of Australian Marriage Equality take over Taronga Zoo. Diners can watch the bird show, meet some of the exotic creatures and hear about the not-so-straight habits of some of the Zoo’s inhabitants, before a dinner overlooking the Harbour.
On Thursday March 4, Burt Bacharach will be performing one of two shows at the Sydney Opera House – a wonderful opportunity to catch one of the great songwriters of the twentieth century.
On Friday March 5, Mardi Gras revellers will gear up for the big Party weekend with the return of the Drag Races at Bondi Beach, hosted by Vanessa Wagner. Between the heels, fake beards and soft Bondi sand, hilarity and utter spectacle is guaranteed. Meanwhile from 3pm till midnight Mardi Gras will be taking over the historic Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club, with a unique
beach party experience for revellers who want to party by the Pacific.
On the day of the Mardi Gras Party, Saturday March 6, the daytime focus is on beautiful Tamarama Beach. There, partygoers will be able to enjoy a gentle start to the night’s festivities, with the Lifesavers with Pride running a Beach BBQ to raise funds for their organisation and Tamarama Surf Club.
After the Mardi Gras Party, the 2010 Mardi Gras will have one last hurrah on Sunday March 7 with the official after party Toybox at Luna Park. Renowned for its high production values and sense of fun, it will be a fitting ending to this year’s Festival.
Running alongside this are dozens of other arts, cultural and sporting events, including a full program of performing arts and parties at the Mardi Gras Festival Bar at the Supper Club on Taylor Square.
“We promised a high-octane week between the Parade and Party and we believe this program will maintain the momentum all week long,” said NMG CEO Anna McInerney. “This is going to be a pretty magical time to be in Sydney and we think it will draw in large numbers of visitors and persuade many locals to take some extra time off.”
“We have worked hard to provide a balance of events, with art and culture taking place alongside great parties,” said Festival Executive Producer Danielle Harvey. “There isn’t another event in the world that provides the kind of variety of experience that Mardi Gras will bring to Sydney in 2010.”