Parade Viewing Events

You’ve planned your outfit, dusted yourself with glitter and got your rainbow flags at the ready, now you just need to find the perfect place to celebrate the 2021 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade!

Well look no further, Mardi Gras and Facebook Australia today reveal 30 venues across Australia that have been awarded cash grants to host Mardi Gras Parade viewing events.

The dazzling spectacle of Mardi Gras will sparkle across the country, from regional outback areas to coastal towns and inner-city hubs, as the venues stage inclusive and COVID-safe nights of entertainment on Saturday 6 March 2021.

As well as screening the SBS Parade broadcast live, each venue will feature a stellar line up of queer entertainment, from drag shows, live music, DJ’s, comedy and more.

The Mardi Gras Parade Viewing Venues are:

NEW SOUTH WALES:

The Bank Hotel, Newtown
The Bearded Tit, Redfern
Bitter Phew, Darlinghurst
Burdekin Hotel, Darlinghurst
Café Fredas, Darlinghurst
The Colombian Hotel, Darlinghurst
Daniel San, Manly
Darlo Bar, Darlinghurst
Home The Venue, Sydney
Honkas, Potts Point
The Imperial Hotel, Erskineville
The Lass O'Gowrie Hotel, Whickham
Oxford Hotel, Darlinghurst
The Oxford Tavern, Petersham
Palace Hotel, Broken Hill
Lansdowne Hotel, Sydney
The Rainbow Underground, Woonoona
The Shakespeare Hotel, Surry Hills
Stonewall Hotel, Darlinghurst
Rex Tamworth and Forum 6 Cinemas, Tamworth
Taylors Rooftop, Sydney
Universal, Darlinghurst
Cue Bar, Wagga Wagga
The Winery, Surry Hills

QUEENSLAND:

The Wickham Hotel, Fortitude Valley
Backbone, East Brisbane
Crystalbrook Flynn, Cairns

VICTORIA:

Piano Bar, Bendigo
Piano Bar, Geelong

The Mardi Gras Parade Viewing Events Grants is a new initiative by Mardi Gras and Facebook Australia and part of their annual partnership, aimed at supporting hospitality venues, small businesses, and LGBTQI+ artists and performers impacted by pandemic over the last 12 months. The $100,000 grant fund has been awarded to venues to support them in hosting viewing events and employ LGBTQI+ artists.

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras CEO Albert Kruger said, “The Parade Viewing Party Grants have not only provided much-needed support to the hospitality and arts sectors, but they are also helping create safe spaces for our community to gather and be a part of our Parade audience."

“These venues will truly capture the spirit of Mardi Gras with each programming incredible entertainment. If you’re looking for a fun space to celebrate in style, you really can’t go past these venues,” said Kruger.