Sydney Mardi Gras Hits the Heights
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and strategic partner Destination NSW have announced they are thrilled with the phenomenal success of this year’s Sydney Mardi Gras Festival, Parade and Party on Saturday.
Marriage equality crusader Shelly Argent OAM was this year’s Chief of Parade and there were more than 9100 participants and 134 floats working their way up the parade route to the thunderous applause and cheers of the hundreds of thousands of people lining the streets.
[ Also Read: Gay-Straight Campaign to End Homophobia in Sports ]Among the cavalcade of spectacular floats was Sydney Mardi Gras much anticipated entrant, K25, which saw over 130 dancers pay homage to singer Kylie Minogue and her 25 year career in the music industry.
The K25 cast wowed audiences as they danced their way up Oxford Street with elements of the fabulous float made up with Swarovski crystals. The float made a pit-stop at Taylor Square to perform for Minogue who was viewing the parade and eagerly awaiting her namesake float from the Club Tropicana party.
“Kylie’s visit is a very special gift to Sydney this year and our K25 float was a way of returning that love back to her,” said SGLMG CEO Michael Rolik. “It was just one of a myriad of amazing entrants that made this year’s parade one of the most exhilarating we’ve ever seen. We are a very proud community this morning.”
The Parade judges were Brian Thompson, Gary Carsley and Francesca Zambello.
As the world’s biggest festival of its kind celebrating LGBTQI diversity pulls in record numbers of people to Oxford and Flinders streets to view the parade, including international visitors from South America, Europe, USA and UK. The 35th Mardi Gras Parade will take place on 2nd March 2013.
