The iconic Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival returns from 16 February to 3 March 2024
We've got all the events you need to know about.
Kaftana Pool Party
Can't get enough camp? Kaftana Pool Party will transform ivy Pool Club into the ultimate field of fabulous frocks and locks and is arguably the most fabulous event of the Festival. Drag artists, cabaret performers, and divine DJs will run rampant as the palm trees sway and the cabana cocktails flow. It's time to pop the bubbly when you get the call, and be sure to gather the gaggle for the prestigious best-dressed awards.
Date: 4pm 21 February
Gin & Glitter - Embrace the Rainbow
Sydney hospo legends (and LGBTQIA+ allies), Applejack Hospitality have teamed up with the
heroes of gin, Archie Rose to bring a special commemorative cocktail menu to three of their most
beloved inner-city venues – Forrester’s Surry Hills, Taphouse Darlinghurst and The Butler Potts
Point. Launching on 16 Feb, expect an exclusive G&T, plus two fabulous Mardi Gras themed
cocktails to pop up on the menus across all three venues, running until 3 March. Stay tuned for
more details!
Plus, Forrester’s will host THREE FREE POP-UP GLITTER STATIONS to add some serious shine and
sparkle on major event days throughout the festival! Presented by Archie Rose, glitter stations will
pop-up at Forrester’s on:
• Fair Day – Sun 18 Feb, 12pm – 2pm
• Bondi Beach Party Day – Sat 24 Feb, 2pm – 5pm
• Parade Day – Sat 2 March, 5pm – 7pm
Sip & Strut Drag Affair
Shimmy on down to Coogee for the very lively, 100-per-cent-naughty Sip & Strut Drag Affair. Includes an Absolut Rizz Fizz cocktail on arrival, three-hour bottomless drinks package, roving bites by Jimmy’s Chicken, DJ sets, games and drag performances from Dammit Janet, Rhys Lightning and Ivy League.
DJs – Jacqui Cunningham, Chrs Ndrsn
Hosts – Kalin Klein and Dominique Topp/ Performances – Dammit Janet, Rhys Lightning and Ivy League
Saturday 17th February - Coogee Rooftop, 11am – 2pm
$125 per person (includes Bobby Goldsmith Foundation and ACON donation)
Bottomless Brunch and the Best Drag in Darlinghurst
Legendary Darlinghurst pub, Taphouse is leading with love and celebrating Mardi Gras with a line-
up of epic events this year from 15 Feb – 3 March. From an all day bottomless offering with a frozen cocktail on arrival (perfect for pre-parade fuelling), to an extravagant rooftop brunch hosted by Drag Queens, Dominique Topp and Danni Issues, there’s plenty of action across all three levels of Darlo’s favourite pub. Plus, the pubs’ central location puts it smack bang in the middle of the parade and celebrations, so whether you’re planning a pre-parade party, looking for a place to kick your heels off, or keep the energy going – Taphouse is the place to be!
Slip & Slay Bottomless
Taphouse’s new bottomless offering is available all day and here to slay! Launching 15 Feb, feast
on a menu of Chinese tasting platters and get the party started with a 2-hour beverage package –
sipping on craft beers, wines, prosecco, and a frozen cocktail on arrival. Featuring a selection of signature snacks and hero mains, created by Taphouse Head Chef Sam Ng, dip house-made spring rolls into sweet plum sauce, devour steamed BBQ pork buns, and douse steamed pork siu mai with fermented chilli sauce, before tucking into a main dish served with steamed rice – choose from Mongolian lamb; sweet and sour pork with capsicum and strawberries; hot and numbing chicken; and egg noodles with marinated tofu. For those with a sweet tooth, save room for dessert - soft, fluffy steamed longevity peach buns!
Mardi Gras Party
Date: 02 Mar 2024 Prepare to be devoured by debauchery at the Mardi Gras Party as the adult playground of pleasure and performance comes to life at the biggest overnight LGBTQIA+ party in Australasia. 10 hours. 10,000 people. 6 venues. 50+ artists. For decades the dancefloors of Mardi Gras Party have taken the world into its hypnotic grip with renowned performers joining acclaimed international and interstate DJs – showcasing the epitome of LGBTQIA+ celebration down under.
Spanning six venues, cruise through immersive spaces filled with the historic and cutting-edge sounds of house, techno, pop, electronica, nu-disco, club and R’n’B.
Drag bingo & Caviar Bumps
Giddy up for the 46th Sydney Mardi Gras Parade with a cheeky afternoon of bingo and (caviar)
bumps at Bar Morris. On Saturday 2 March, the intimate Italian restaurant and bar with ritzy art
deco flair will host drag bingo with drag royalty Dakota Fann’ee on the mic from 12-2pm. For
$25pp, each ticket includes 10 rounds of bingo – expect sass, sparkle and plenty of sangria!
Located in the lobby of the revamped Hotel Morris in Sydney’s CBD, Bar Morris will serve up a dynamic Italian menu of snacks, shares and substantials from Head Chef Rosy Scatigna. On the day expect the likes of Italian Gildas (Scatigna’s take on the popular Spanish pintxos w’ Italian sopressa salumi, pimento stuffed olive, guindilla pepper and mozzarella bocconcini, $6); Fried
prawns with saltbush and yoghurt aioli ($18); and the Club Morris (mortadella, grilled chicken,
and truffle mayo, $26), a ‘Rainbow’ Semifreddo dessert topped with hundreds and thousands
($16), plus more. Star of the show will undoubtably be serves of Caviar bumps with frozen vodka ($36). Pop a spoonful of caviar in your mouth, roll it around (do not chew) and finish of the experience with a
mouthful of icy ‘Tilde’ vodka – a low–intervention, Australian ‘raw’ vodka. The minimally filtered
style lets the natural flavour of out ingredients shine through, creating a velvety smooth spirit with
intriguing depth and complexity!
Date: Saturday 2nd March
Time: 12pm – 2pm
Tickets: $25pp - sevenrooms.com/xgNhm9Cs (includes 10 rounds of bingo).
& Juliet Mardi Gras Performance
In partnership with Michael Cassel Group in association with MTM/LeyLine and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, the international smash hit musical & JULIET will host a special Sydney Mardi Gras performance on Friday 1 March 2024. In an evening to empower and celebrate the queer community, witness the inspiring and poignant new musical followed by an exclusive post-show Q&A. Hear from the Australian production’s cast and creative team as they discuss the LGBTQIA+ presence throughout the show and how they bring their own identities to the stage. With exclusive activations throughout the Sydney Lyric Theatre, this will be an electric evening you won’t want to miss.
Date: 01 Mar 2024
Ticket Price From: $79.00 https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/event/13005F34A9A73102?did=mgpreview
Drag Trivia
Feeling Sydney drag royalty, Felicity Frockaccino will host not one, but THREE drag trivia events at
Woolly Bay Hotel! The FREE events will run on the last Wednesday of every month, kicking off with
the first trivia night on Wednesday 28 February. Filled with plenty of sass and kick-ass comedy,
drag trivia with Felicity Frockaccino is not to be missed – get a team together and test your general
knowledge over some schooners and schnitty!
Dates: Wednesday 28 Feb, Wednesday 27 March & Wednesday 24 April
Time: 7pm start
Tickets: FREE event! For more info and to book a table, visit woollybayhotel.com.au/
Apollo The Party
Apollo The Party is rocketing through the stratosphere to a soundtrack of high energy, pop, camp, and electric music anthems to take us on a journey across the LGBTQIA+ universe, uniting all people, of all sexes, colours, and nations! This blockbuster daytime dance party unites the full galaxy of queer folks under a kaleidoscope of mirror balls and confetti! An experience of meteoric proportions filled with big bangers.
Tickets: https://www.apollotheparty.com.au/
Recovery Rooftop Session
Keep the party going after Parade Day with a recovery rooftop session on L2 of the Woolly Bay
Hotel! Arturo’s rooftop will host the ultimate pride closing party on the Arturo’s rooftop on Sunday
3 March. With DJs plugging in from 2pm ‘til late, toast to an unforgettable festival and dance until
the sun goes down whilst enjoying gun barrel views of the harbour and finger wharf below. Sunday
rooftop sessions will also run throughout the festival in February, including Sunday 18 and Sunday
25.
Date/s: Sunday 3 March (live music on the rooftop also running on 18 and 25 Feb)
Time: 2pm start
Tickets: FREE event! For more info and to book a table, visit woollybayhotel.com.au/.
Pre-Game Mardi Gras Party