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Mardi Gras 2021 and COVID-19

2021 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras PARADE

Saturday 6 March at the Sydney Cricket Ground

Mardi Gras has received preliminary approval to proceed with the Mardi Gras Parade under a COVID Safe Event Plan.

In order to ensure the safety of Parade participants, spectators and the community at large, the 2021 Parade will be held at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Under the SCG's current COVID exemption, we can have an audience of up to 23,000 join us at the live event which we hope to be able to increase if there’s further relaxation of guidelines come March.

Parade partner SBS will broadcast the event live so everyone from across Australia can also tune-in to be a part of the celebrations from home.

PARADE TICKET UPDATE:

General public tickets for the 2021 Mardi Gras Parade are now exhausted. 

Mardi Gras Members can still redeem 2x complimentary tickets and purchase up to 2x additional tickets for guests. Transactions are limited to 4x tickets, and this offer is valid until the allocation is exhausted.

Under our current COVID exemption we can have an audience of 23,000 people at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). We are working with the SCG and NSW Health to increase the capacity should restrictions be relaxed.

We have also set aside 1,000 free tickets for those feeling the impact of COVID-19. We will have more details about this ballot and other ways to get involved with the Parade over the coming weeks.

Be the first to receive updates on Parade tickets - sign up here.

Click below for more info:

Why the SCG?
Not only is the SCG close to the Parade’s spiritual home of Oxford Street, but under the current health orders, it is also one of the safest venues for us to stage the event and meet requirements of Physical Distancing and Contact Tracing, two significant COVID Safe operational requirements of NSW Health.
Why is it not possible to stage the parade along Oxford Street?

Planning a large-scale event during a global pandemic is no small feat. When we were looking into options for the Parade, the health and safety of our community was always top priority, as well as how we could adopt COVID-safe protocols that are in line with Federal and State government directives.

Logistically, a Parade staged along Oxford Street this year would be very difficult to ensure strict social distancing measures and contract tracing without a complete overall of the Parade footprint.

Is the SCG a new permanent home for the Parade?

No, the Parade has only moved to the SCG due to current health guidelines that are a result of the global pandemic.

We look forward to the day when hundreds of thousands people can gather on Oxford Street once more, but COVID-19 has changed the way we do things in all aspects of our lives and the Parade is not exempt from this. We feel incredibly lucky to be able to give the community the opportunity to share their pride with the world, especially during this new world we’re all living in.

How can I book tickets to watch the Parade at the SCG?
Tickets to the Parade are $20 for Adults, group bookings of 4 are $50 and children and concession $15. Mardi Gras members will also receive two complimentary tickets each. It’s a small cost this year, but it helps us cover the cost of operating the event at the SCG under a COVID-safe model.

Tickets are on sale via Ticketek here.

If you’re a Mardi Gras member, on Monday 9 November 2020, you will be emailed a unique code to enter when booking your tickets to redeem them for free. Please contact reception@mardigras.org.au if you have not received your unique code.

My financial situation has changed so I can’t afford tickets to the Parade but would love to go. What should I do?

We want to make sure the Parade is as accessible as possible so we will be setting aside 1000 free tickets for those in our community who are feeling the impact of Covid-19. We will have more to say on this in the coming weeks.

Will the Parade be ticketed in the future?

No. The Parade will not be ticketed nor will there be a cost to attend beyond 2021. This ticketing change is a once-off and is a respond to Covid-19. 

I would like to make a group booking to attend the Parade. How many tickets can I book in one transaction?

A group booking can be made via Ticketek and you can book a maximum of 10 tickets in one transaction. Should you wish to book more than 10 tickets, you will need to make multiple transactions. 

I am trying to book tickets via Ticketek but am unable to select seats. How can I select seats?

At this time, you are unable to allocate a seat to your ticket but you can select the bay you would like to sit in.  

When you arrive at the Sydney Cricket Ground, please proceed to your allocated bay where you will be directed to a seat. To ensure we are complying with physical distancing guidelines, you will be asked to leave a seat empty between your booking and the booking next to you. 

How will the Parade be different in the new venue?

With a greater focus on community, our 2021 Parade will move away from large floats, centring instead on the outlandish pageantry of costumes, puppetry and props that make it such a phenomenon to witness.

The Parade will look different to how it has in the past, but the spirit of celebration and protest will remain strong. We will still have around the same number of community groups marching in the parade that we normally would, however the number of marchers per group will be capped at 40 to fit in with health guidelines.

How can I book Accessibility seating at the Parade?

We are dedicated to making our Parade accessible for all visitors. Read more about Accessibility at the 2021 Mardi Gras Parade here.

Could the Parade be cancelled if there is an outbreak?

While Australia is doing exceedingly well, it goes without saying that COVID-19 will remain a concern into 2021. 

As an organisation, our first priority is always to ensure everyone who attends one of our events remains safe and healthy. We’re working closely with NSW Health to monitor the situation and will keep you updated if plans change. 

Can I volunteer to help at the Parade?

Absolutely! It takes an army to host an event like Mardi Gras, and we would love all the help we can get. 

Applications for volunteer opportunities are open here. 

How can I apply to be a part of the Parade?

Parade applications will open on Monday 9 November 2020. All applications are assessed by an independent committee and approved based on how their application meets the criteria.

What are some of the COVID-Safety measures in place for the Parade?

Mardi Gras will roll out a range of health and safety initiatives at the Parade in line with local health guidelines, including:

Crowd Management & Social distancing

- Increased public transport to and from the event with additional Light Rail and Buses.
- Staggered arrival times for participants and audience.
- Seating will be sold with the required physical distance of 1.5m from other patrons.

Onsite Services and Medical Checks

- Temperature checks and screening at all entry points for parade participants and audience members.
- Medical teams onsite to ensure the health and wellbeing of the Parade Participants.
- SCG first aid response and medical services onsite for audiences.
- Face Masks will be mandatory for Parade Participants in the marshalling area.
- Additional cleaning programs will operate before and during the event to ensure high traffic areas and touch points are regularly attended to by onsite cleaning teams.

Education

- Mardi Gras recommends downloading the COVID Safe App.
- Mardi Gras recommends the wearing of facemasks on all public transport to and from the event and at other times when it's not possible to physical distance.
- Ticket holders are encouraged to stay at home if unwell. Tickets will be refunded with appropriate medical documentation in the instance a ticket holder is feeling unwell. 
What about other Festival events? Are they happening?

We are working with NSW Health on a number of different COVID-safe plans to stage additional events, like Fair Day and the Party, in 2021. 

Updates on the progress of this planning will be provided in the coming weeks when we have more of an idea of what is going to be possible.

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