2022 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Fair Day features First Nations Circle and four event stages

Fair Day – one of the largest free community events of the season returns to Sydney’s Victoria Park on Sunday 20th February kicking off the opening weekend of the 2022 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. For the first time, Fair Day 2022 will feature the First Nations Circle and will hold events across the day on four stages, catering for all tastes.

Fair Day 2022 will feature the First Nations Circle, presented in partnership with BLAQ Aboriginal Corporation and highlighting the importance of safe, celebratory spaces for LGBTQIA+ First Nations communities. It will be a meeting place, a space for conversation, learning, celebration and feature a community tent, elders tent, First Nations performances and stalls from Indigenous businesses including Nungulla Creative, Jarin Street, ACON Aboriginal Project, BLAQ, Gillawara Arts and TATU/NCIE.

Fair Day will feature 200+ community stalls, cocktails at boutique bars, the world famous Doggywood Pageant, and performances by the many ground-breaking and culture defying LGBTQIA+ artists on stage. Five specialty bars will cater to all tastes and serve up unique beverages and experiences along with four stages offering unique experiences across the day.

American Express Show Ring Stage: Hosted by Mon Schafter and Faustina Agolley, The Show Ring is the main stage at Fair Day. The morning’s program features a host of community talent and talks before the afternoon welcomes a line-up of stellar musical guests and performers, including rising superstar Clara Fable, The Black Divaz, indie-pop sensation Essie Holt, pop darling Katie Underwood, Zoe Badwi, Chase Zera, JËVA, Joelby, Eshaan and Midnight Pool Party.

Optus Arena: The Optus Arena plays host to the much-loved Doggywood Pageant, hosted by Kevin Kaila, where primped pups and their owners parade around in hopes of being crowned Best In Show.  In the afternoon, once the prized pooches have gone off to enjoy the park, audiences can settle back to watch ABC’s current and former hosts of RN Breakfast, Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly host a special live edition of The Party Room and an exclusive performance from Eric Avery, presented by Premier Network Partner, Optus. The Arena will also host a free one-hour human rights forum panel Sydney WorldPride titled Religious Discrimination and our Fight Ahead.

Under the Rainbow with Absolut: This is the absolute destination for tunes at Fair Day with DJ’s Kilimi, Sveta, Victoria Anthony and Mike Kelly pumping hits from under a giant inflatable rainbow from noon until Fair Day’s end.

Deloitte Community Sideshow Stage: Drag Story Time features diva Hannah Conda and a kids hour with DJs on the decks. Later in the day, wrestling and martial arts demonstrations will be held before  ETHAN, Clio and Fried Pork Chop “bring in the vibes”.

Although there’s no dedicated dancefloors at these stages, Fair Day has an exemption from the NSW Government and attendees are able to stand while consuming alcohol and dance.

The 2022 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival is supported by Principal Partner American Express, Government Partner and Sponsor of the Mardi Gras Festival, the City of Sydney, and Strategic Sponsor the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW. 

THE DETAILS:

What: Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Fair Day
When: Sunday 20th February 2022. 10am-9pm
Where: Victoria Park, Cnr Parramatta Road and City Road, Broadway
Entry: FREE

More information at www.mardigras.org.au 

Image top: Mardi Gras Fair Day. Credit: Jeffrey Feng Photography; image above: Mardi Gras Fair Day 2020. Credit: Markham Lane