With Mardi Gras celebrations dialled up for Sydney WorldPride, Oxtravaganza returns for its seventh year to bring glitz, glam, and glitter to Oxford Street. Partnering with more than 250 local businesses, and upwards of 140 queer artists, the Darlinghurst Business Partnership team have elevated this previously one-day festival into something that rivals fringe festivals across Australia.
Stephan Gyory, the President of the Darlinghurst Business Partnership and owner of The Record Store (Crown Street, Surry Hills), says, “we’re really excited for Oxtravaganza 2023. Hundreds of local indie traders and creatives are going to shine in the world’s spotlight, and we’re really looking forward to serving the tens of thousands of people who will be our guests over Sydney WorldPride; to share stories, good times, and the love. Bring it on!”
Audiences can expect events such as the Darlo Big Drag Brunch, Photo Exhibition, Art Galleries, Drag Story Time, and other activations over the two-week festival, including late-night trade and pop-up hubs in Sydney’s historic and iconic pride village.
Over the past two years, the fringe-style festival has directly employed 144 performers – from drag queens, to DJs, poets and writers, from dancers to singers, cabaret artists, and everyone in between.
With only a few weeks to go before the Sydney Gay And Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade storms the streets with glitter and glam, Lorraine Lock – Project Director and Curator for the local queer fringe-esque festival – says she’s excited for what’s on offer to audiences at Oxtravaganza.
“COVID really hit performers, so everything we do we are super keen to include performers in our work,” Lorraine says. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many local governments enacted lockdowns and quarantines which affected many, but the arts and hospitality industry felt the sting the most – many becoming unemployed in a day.
“During those years, the Parade moved away from Oxford Street. Whilst the festival continued to operate, on a smaller scale and limited capacity, the shift aided Oxtravaganza’s growth – going from a one-day event, to what it is now.”
With approximately 500,000 people expected to travel to Sydney for WorldPride – matching that, and more, with local audiences from across the country – it is projected that more than a million people are set to flood the city for this momentous moment in celebrating queerness and community.
“Right now, we have dozens of venues in planning mode – everyone is getting ready to celebrate as the Parade returns to Oxford Street, the Pride Villages come to town and we’re in the centre of the action. I think we’re all excited about throwing open the doors and hosting this massive celebration!”
When asked about how she thinks WorldPride will impact the city, Lorraine says, “first of all, looking at the programme it’s completely overwhelming – it’s basically a telephone book! We’re doing a lot of big events, events of impact like the Bridge Walk, and the Human Rights Conference. But from a personal perspective I went to the launch of WorldPride down at the Opera Bar, and the feeling in that space it was such a beautiful celebration, and it was really a coming together of the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies.”
“Everyone’s out here to have a good time, it’s a party! But there’s so much more on, that will have you stop and think.”
WorldPride Sydney is happening 50 years after the Gay Liberation Movement, with planning and communication involving the 78ers. “We are standing on the shoulders of giants; these people went out and fought for things on the street. The first Mardi Gras parade, Stonewall … these are things we would maybe take for granted which they didn’t have – not being able to be with your partner in hospital, marriage equality, all those things, which were hard on human rights!”
Not only will Sydney WorldPride be serving disco and feather boas, alongside the multi-faceted festival of Oxtravaganza, these events mark a moment in LGBTQIA+ history which shows the ripple effect of human rights advocacy, community, and compassion.
This is an opportunity for Sydney – and the world – to witness the next historical chapter, and Oxtravaganza will be part of that history: supporting local queer artists and businesses, alongside the celebrations of the power of love and pride.
Oxtravaganza takes place from 17 February-5 March.
