I've been living in Sydney for ten years now, yet somehow, I never made it to the famous and vibrant Mardi Gras Parade—even though it happens just a few kilometers from the UNSW campus every year. With this being my final year in Sydney (well, technically, just half a year), I realised it was my last chance to experience it before moving to Canada.
My younger son decided to join me (how had he never heard about the Mardi Gras before?). We easily found a free viewing spot near the end of the parade route in Moore Park. Since I was still recovering from a fever, we stayed for less than an hour, but it was enough to see nearly 50 parade floats and groups—and to soak up the incredible atmosphere.
The event was colorful, energetic, and wonderfully diverse. The crowd included everyone from babies in strollers to centenarians on mobility scooters, with people of all backgrounds, body shapes, and abilities. The floats were just as varied, featuring everything from the Childless Cat Ladies to the City Mayor, with a strong presence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people leading the march. Costumes ranged from minimalistic to absolutely extravagant, and no matter how people dressed, the energy was infectious—everyone was having a blast.
It was a cool event to witness—so joyful and uplifting. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a great camera, and my phone isn’t the best for night photography, but I still managed to capture a few shots worth sharing.