Wagga Mardi Gras set to shine as LGBTQIA+ community celebrate after two year hiatus

Wagga LGBTQIA+ Community will finally be able to celebrate Mardi Gras after a two year absence.

Wagga’s annual Mardi Gras is taking place this Saturday for the first time in three years with celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer/questioning, asexual (LGBTQIA+) community.

There will be many events taking place over the four-day festival starting Thursday with a short film festival and finishing on Saturday night with a march through the centre of town.

Just like in Sydney this event is one of celebration and time to let your hair down and have fun.

March 5, 2022: Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade, SCG, Moore Park. Picture: Damian Shaw

Holly Conroy came out aged 37 in 2016, and was the first person in Wagga to be openly trans is organising the event.
She said “Wagga needed something like this to give people a chance to come out and be real to themselves”.

Holly Conroy on the front right is excited for what is an event that celebrates diversity and inclusiveness for all

Ms Conroy had a light bulb moment with the idea of a Mardi Gras for Wagga after speaking with friends and a documentary crew from SBS.

“Expressing the idea to friends and the town, they all know me,” she said.

“[They told me] it won’t happen”.

But the first Mardi Gras in 2019, went off without a hitch it saw 15,000 people attend the event.

“I was terrified when I saw so many people, I couldn‘t believe it,” she said.

“To be honest I was so nervous before the event because 20 minutes before it looked like a normal Saturday in Wagga but the moment hit 4pm people were everywhere”, said Conroy.

The past two years have not seen the Mardi Gras event happen due to Covid -19 but now the excitement and the nerves are coming back.

“We are going to blow the roof off and I am super pumped for all the events which start Thursday”, said Conroy.

Ms Conroy said the event was important for people in the LGBTQIA+ community, and those coming out as it created acceptance, as well as the support of the town, family and friends.

Ms Conroy said she would keep her attire “low key” and was aiming for comfort.

“My Mardi Gras shorts, a t- shirt and thongs that’s who I am, it keeps it easy for me,” she said.

The event, which is held on Bayliss St includes a parade of floats to a set of music and with all trimmings of a party.

There will be food trucks on offer and family fun atmosphere with a afterparty in the Victory Memorial Gardens to celebrate long into the night.

One group that will be excited by the event is the team at the Wagga Pole studio.

The studio has been an annual contributor to the event with their dazzling floats.

Jen and Geoff Spinner identify as a straight Ally which means a heterosexual person who supports and accepts equal civil rights, gender equality and the LGBTQIA+ community.

The couple are so excited for the Mardi Gras celebration and went down memory line gave an idea of the first Mardi Gras all the way back in 2019

“It was such a nervous day because we didn’t know if the town would accept us but when we saw six to five rows back of people on the main streets we were so happy that the town accepted us”, said Mr Spinner.

“I think it is going to be an amazing set of events, we are going to be bright and true to ourselves”, said Mrs Spinner.

Both were tight lip on what float will be roaring up Bayliss street.

But they gave a sneak preview, telling the Wagga News onlookers would be treated to a pole at the back of a very colourful ute.

Before the main event on Saturday there will be a Drag show which consist of the Top five Gold Coast top queens at the Que Bar on Friday night.

There will also be a short film festival showing off LGBTQIA+ Films at Charles Sturt University on Thursday and the main event which starts on Saturday at 4pm.

For those who cannot make it you will be able to listen to the whole event on 93.1 FM live across Wagga on Saturday.