It’s the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras time of the year, a time where we celebrate our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex communities. More than just the fabulous Parade on the 7th of March, here are our picks for the festival events to keep an eye out for…

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Fair Day

Hosted two weeks before the Parade at Victoria Park, Fair Day offers all-ages a day akin to those sugary school-fetes, with food, rides, market stalls, comedy, dance and live music. However, this is a fete with that rambunctious Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras tinge.

Where: Victoria Park
When: Sunday 22 February, 10am – 8pm.

Our A-Gender

‘Our A-Gender’ is an exhibition staged by Boomalli Aboriginal Art at their Leichhardt gallery by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists in the LBGTI community. This is an exhibition focusing on gender equality, marriage equality, health, social and political issues in the realm of cultural identity.

Where: Boomalli Aboriginal Art Gallery
When: Wednesday 18 February, 6pm

Queer Thinking

Queer Thinking is a day-long event that aims to challenge, inspire and provoke through exploring a broad range of topics and perspectives, from trans-gender identity and issues affecting young people. Speakers include the likes of Pauline Pantsdown to Paul Mac and Jonny Seymour (above).

Where: Seymour Centre
When: Saturday 21 February 2015

Zvonimir Dobrovic

Zvonimir Dobrovic is the founder, curator and producer of both Queer Zagreb and Queer New York, a festival featuring an experimental program of queer works at an international scale. Dobrovic has been invited by Performance Space, for their 2015 International Lecture Series, to deliver a lecture focusing on his curatorial practice and to question what “queer art” is.

Where: Carriageworks
When: Monday 23 February, 6pm

Femme Smut

Behold, a night of erotic readings and spoken word in celebration of femme identity and desire hosted by Sydney Femme Guild. All femmes will be encouraged to read, sing, or slam their own or someone else’s smutty lit. The vibe will be supportive and inclusive; so if you got the smut, don’t be shy.

Where: Gasoline Pony
When: Tuesday 24 February, 7 pm-10.30pm

Jurassic Lounge

Jurassic Lounge has been granting audiences a unique after-hours access to the dinosaurs, wild animals and precious gemstones of Australian Museum’s collection with the goal of having a giant party.

For Mardi Gras, Jurassic Lounge have invited drag artist Carmen Geddit, DJ Sveta, Andea Darling and performers from Sydney’s favourite underground queer party, Unicorns, alongside the staples of Jurassic Lounge, that include the Silent Disco, Date Roulette, photo booths, crafts, giant games, stick insects, live reptiles.

Where: Australian Museum
When: Thursday 19 February, 6.30pm – 9.30pm

Happy Mardi Gras! Photographic Exhibition

Opening the vaults, City of Sydney presents their collection of C. Moore Hardy’s two decades of documenting the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras with this photographic exhibition.

Where: Surry Hills Library
When: 3 February – 27 March

Gaybies 

“Won’t somebody please think of the children…” – don’t worry Helen Lovejoy, writer and director Dean Bryant is. Gaybies tells the story of children who’ve grown up with gay parents. Written in response to interviews with children aged four to forty, Gaybies looks at family life honestly and with great humour and wisdom.

Where: Darlinghurst Theatre Company
When: 6 February – 8 March

Inside/Out

Inside/Out is a purpose-built space produced and directed by artist Sebastian Zagarella. The artist invites audiences into an expansive installation encouraging audiences to contemplate and engage with the reality of life-defining illnesses – in this case, HIV. The exhibition shines a light on the notion of an illness being ever-present and the blurred line between inside and out.

Where: Pine Street Creative Arts Centre
When: 19 February – 14 March

Blue Wizard

With ‘Blue Wizard’, comedian Nick Coyle’s aim is to make the gayest one-man show ever. So say hello to as much cheap spectacle, camp theatre magic, costume design and song you can think of to tell the story of a gay alien who has to learn to live like an ordinary human being.

Where: Belvoir St Theatre
When: 19 February – 15 March

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More on Mardi Gras 2015:

Anna Hay’s top picks for the Mardi Gras Film Festival

Jeff Khan and Emma Maye Gibson (Betty Grumble) from Day For Night on Canvas