Sydneysiders enjoy a sea of rainbows for 2021 Mardi Gras festivities – but it will be VERY different from last year
- Sydney’s Mardis Gras Season is officially underway but with big Covid changes
- Some of Sydney’s famous walkways including Coogee beach have been painted
- The 43rd Mardis Gras Parade will be scaled down this year for Covid safety
- British pop star Rita Ora will headline the event after coming to Sydney to film
Sydneysiders awoke to a colourful start on Saturday morning as their usual walkways had been transformed into giant rainbows as part of the city’s 2021 Mardi Gras celebrations.
A 50-metre long rainbow walkway has been painted on the Coogee Beach promenade as part of Randwick Council’s support for diversity and the local LGBT community.
The rainbow follows the existing shape of the lower promenade at the bottom of the Coogee Beach steps forming a natural rainbow shape and a colourful new backdrop to the famously well-photographed spot.
A freshly painted rainbow on Sydney’s Coogee Beach promenade marks this year’s Mardis Gras season
Two women and a dog strive for the ultimate Instagram shot on the Coogee rainbow
A footpath at Equality Green in Sydney’s Prince Alfred Park has also been painted in the rainbow flag this week, commemorating Australia’s Marriage Equality Legislation.
Just over three years on from the historic vote for marriage equality in November 2017, the City of Sydney has unveiled this permanent 90-metre tribute.
The brightly coloured footpath joins also Sydney’s rainbow crossing in Darlinghurst.
A man cycles along a rainbow path in Sydney’s Prince Alfred Park on Saturday after it was decorated for Mardi Gras
The rainbow crossing in Sydney’s Darlinghurst is one of many new footpaths marking equality and diversity in the city
The rainbow flag symbolising LGBTIQ pride is now flying over Sydney Town Hall signalling the official start of thecity’s 2021 Mardi Gras season.
This year’s Mardi Gras theme is ‘rise’ celebrating resilience and strength in a year of challenge and hardship.
The Mardi Gras 2020 parade was the city’s last major event before coronavirus lockdowns began.
“One weekend we were laughing, dancing and kissing on Oxford Street, and in an instant, life was drained from our city,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.
Celebrations will culminate in the 43rd Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade on March 6, albeit in a COVID-safe way, this time at the Sydney Cricket Ground (pictured, revellers in 2019)
A maximum of 23,000 spectators will be allowed into the SCG, as the parade moves away from the traditional large floats (pictured, the 2019 parade)
Mardi Gras chief executive Albert Kruger has said it was important to give the community a creative platform
Celebrations will culminate in the 43rd Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade on March 6, albeit in a COVID-safe way, this time at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
British pop star Rita Ora will headline the event to be broadcast live by SBS.
A maximum of 23,000 spectators will be allowed into the SCG, as the parade moves away from the traditional large floats and instead focuses on the sparkling costumes, puppetry and props.
Mardi Gras chief executive Albert Kruger has said it was important, despite caution around large gatherings, to give the community a creative platform after the devastating impacts of the pandemic.
Clover Moore said the event would be crucial to the economic recovery process in Sydney and will have the emotional effect of breathing life back into the city.
Events include queer dating tips, trans storytelling, drag shows and kinky cabaret.
Rita Ora (pictured), who has arrived in Australia to film The Voice, will lead this year’s festivities
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