The Wagga Wagga Mardi Gras Festival Committee members (from left): Matt Luff, Christina Scurr, Helen Foley, Holly Conroy, Margot Schoonmaker, Cristy Houghton, and Alex Osgood. Photo: Supplied.
The Wagga Wagga Mardi Gras Festival is moving to beat the heat with a new, slightly later date announced for 2025.
The Mardi Gras committee has decided to move the event, traditionally held in early March, to April to make things a bit more comfortable for all involved.
The public turned out in force once again this year, and, while a good time was had by all, the scorching conditions took their toll on the thousands that lined the streets and on the marchers themselves.
Festival founder Holly Conroy said they reached the decision in response to community feedback.
“We want to ensure everyone has a great time and is comfortable, and this year’s parade was a touch warmer than we would have liked,” Holly explained.
“While we can’t predict the weather, we decided that shifting the date back a few weeks would increase our chances of cooler weather, because we want to create the best possible experience for both participants and spectators.”
Cristy Houghton and Holly Conroy celebrating the Wagga Wagga Mardi Gras. Photo: Supplied.
With an increasing number of Pride events being staged across regional Australia, Holly said that another factor was to avoid doubling up.
The ChillOut festival in Daylesford in Victoria was established in the 1990s and is one of the biggest and longest running regional Pride events.
With the festival held annually in mid-March and attracting tens of thousands of visitors each year, Holly said it was better for everyone if they avoided potential clashes.
“Pride events in rural and regional Australia are pretty special and we want to ensure that everyone can attend both events instead of having to choose between them,” she said.
“Wagga Wagga Mardi Gras is a celebration of diversity and community spirit, and with this new date, we can welcome even more people to join in the fun.”
Wagga Mardi Gras began in 2019, and after a COVID blip, the parade down Baylis Street was held for the fourth time on Saturday 9 March.
With more than 50 registered floats, hundreds of marchers and thousands of spectators, the event reasserted its claim to be “the biggest party that Wagga has ever seen”.
Wagga Mardi Gras aims to raise the visibility of the local LGBTQI+ communities in the Riverina with a chance to express their creativity and celebrate their identity with the wider community.
Holly said she was looking forward to celebrating once again in 2025 on Saturday 5 April.
“We’re really excited about what this means for our festival and for everyone who loves being a part of it,” she said.
“We also encourage parade entries, vendors, and entertainers to watch this space for upcoming details and announcements.”
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