By midday, Sydney’s Victoria Park had dissolved into glitter, sweat, and the gentle chaos of tens of thousands of queer people doing what we do best — finding each other. Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Fair Day returned on Sunday 15 February in a blaze of colour and connection, transforming the park into a living, breathing snapshot of LGBTQIA+ life in all its forms.
The day opened with a First Nations Smoking Ceremony, grounding the celebration in respect before the park filled with movement and sound. Everywhere you looked, something was unfolding. Impossibly pampered dogs strutted through Doggywood like they knew exactly why they were there. At Trans Camp, community members gathered in a space created by and for trans people. Nearby, brave souls butchered pop classics in the Karaoke Cave while crowds cheered them on regardless.
Queer couples cuddled in the sun without hesitation. Young people wandered wide-eyed through their first Mardi Gras. Elders watched it unfold, knowing how hard-won this visibility had been.
