Kat Dopper gives us the rundown on Mardi Gras superstars, parties, Speedos and more
Sydney Mardi Gras sparty-maker Kat Dopper is shining a light on LGBTQI rights and she has some superstar power behind her in the form of Dua Lipa, Kesha and Sam Smith.
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What matters to party-maker Kat Dopper is having fun and shining a light on LGBTQI rights.
The founder and director of Heaps Gay, an all-inclusive Sydney party fraternity that spreads colour and love, is the creative director of this year’s Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
Under the Mardi Gras theme of ‘what matters’ she is helping to create a community united in rallying for inclusion, empathy, sustainability and belonging.
And she has some superstar power behind her in the form of pop princesses Dua Lipa and Kesha, who together with Sam Smith, will join the stacked line-up of performers and DJs at the sold-out Mardi Gras Party at the Horden Pavilion on February 29.
Dopper said the post-parade multi-sensory feast featured an incredible line-up of international and homegrown guests.
“We’re proud to present a stunning array of the best local and international DJs to have you dancing all night,” she said. “We can’t wait to see you in the dance floor”.
Mardi Gras is famous for its parties and one of the biggest is Sissy Ball, Australia’s biggest vogue ball, at the Enmore Theatre on Saturday.
“We’ve announce the categories and talent line-up including many acclaimed and iconic guests from the ballroom scene,” Dopper said.
“We’ve had huge numbers of people signing up to walk - and we’ll see who gets their 10s. “Mardi Gras also loves to lounge poolside and we’ve got two very different events at the Ivy Pool - the fabulously retro Kaftan Party where everyone dresses up in their finest summer fashions and the Pool Party where less is more and it’s Speedos galore.”
There is also a big focus on families with events like the Family Fun Day at Luna Park’s Crystal Palace on Sunday that is turning the world-famous theme park into a rainbow wonderland.
New for 2020 is the expansion of the Mardi Gras hub at the Seymour Centre that Dopper said provided a space to “gather, mix and mingle”.
The “wild selection” of theatre, music, dance, circus, cabaret and burlesque performers include Hot Brown Honey and Yummy.
MARDI GRAS PARADE
The Sydney Mardi Gras Festival runs until March 1. The Mardi Gras Parade is on Saturday, February 29 down Oxford and Flinders streets at Darlinghurst from 7.30pm. You can expect 200 dazzling groups and floats. Visit mardigras.org.au