It is with great regret that we share that Fair Day will not take place in 2021, and instead will return on Sunday 20 February 2022.
We know how important Fair Day is for the community, and we share the disappointment you may be feeling with this news.
The team at Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras has worked tirelessly with NSW Health to find alternative solutions to bring our community a COVID-Safe Fair Day without compromising the spirit of the event. However, and even with the eased restrictions, we haven’t been able to find a format that aligns with the current government restrictions while still having that unique Fair Day atmosphere.
Fair Day is successful due to the large number of people attending and their ability to move freely around the Park. When working with NSW Health on COVID-Safe planning for the event, we didn’t want to be restricted to a heavily reduced capacity with limited attendees requiring everyone to be seated. It’s an outcome that we felt would impact the experience and enjoyment of those who could attend.
Fair Day is an important event to connect LGBTQI+ groups and organisations with the wider community, and although you won’t be able to meet them in person at Victoria Park in 2021, we wanted to provide you with a resource so you can still reach out and connect. We have pulled together helpful links to our past Fair Day stallholders and to the groups that had expressed interest in being a stallholder next year. We hope this small gesture supports these groups to connect with our community.
Many of you have also asked about the 2021 Mardi Gras Party. We are still working hard to make this event happen and holding onto the hope that it can. Much like our Parade, our Party requires approval from NSW Health to proceed. We will keep you updated on our progress.
In the meantime, we invite you join us on Saturday 6 March for the 2021 Mardi Gras Parade at the Sydney Cricket Ground. SBS will be broadcasting the event live so you can watch from home too.
We look forward to welcoming our communities to Fair Day in 2022.