Big Gay Weekend is returning after its debut in 2011!

As well as supporting the Sydney Mardi Gras Parade Community Grants Scheme, this time around Mardi Gras is sharing the fundraising love with the NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, Queer Screen and Harbour City Bears.

The weekend kicks off extra early, and celebrating the return of the Scissor Sisters to Sydney, with an attempt at the Worlds Biggest Kiki, with a mass dance video shoot taking place on Thursday 27 September at a yet-to-be-disclosed location in the Sydney CBD.

Then it’s time to reclaiming the Golden Mile with the return of Big Gay Friday, where a $10 wristband allows entry into all of the participating venues on the strip. All proceeds raised will be split between the NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, Sydney Mardi Gras Parade Community Grants Scheme, and the participating venues.

Queer Screen, Harbour City Bears and Mardi Gras take over all 4 levels of The Oxford Hotel on Saturday night for We Love Saturday, a one-off fundraising bash featuring a who’s who of the including Kate Monroe, Kam Shafaati, Matt Vaughan, Jake Kilby and many more.

There’s plenty of party action across the weekend, with some of Sydney’s best-loved party brands and promoters providing a smorgasbord of events for every taste – from fabulous glamour and drama at Glitter Ball and Diva Fever, to down and dirty at Action, Rezerection and DILF, and everything in between!

Big Ideas Day on Saturday at The Beresford will be a hothouse of creative energy, giving Parade float groups, participants and creatives a chance discuss and develop their ideas for the 35th Anniversary Parade in 2013, with members of the Parade production and creative team on hand for advice.

And if you’re in need of a little retail therapy in amongst all the celebration, join in the movement and Shop Local in postcode 2010.

Read on for a full rundown of this year’s Big Gay Weekend:

With Scissor Sisters returning to our shores later this month with their Magic Hour tour, they’re getting a big Sydney Mardi Gras welcome. The band have taken the world by storm with the instructional dance video accompanying their infectious new track Let’s Have a Kiki , and now they have asked to see how we do it Sydney style!

So together with flashmob supremo Dan Murphy from Rock Your Box, plans are to attempt the WORLD’S BIGGEST KIKI! Come and help us show the Scissor Sisters what Sydney’s made of. The video shoot will take place at 6pm on Thursday 27th September in the Sydney CBD (location to be advised), Check out the Let’s Have a Kiki page for rehearsal times and registration.

Take back Oxford Street and show the Golden Mile.

Buy a $10 wristband to gain entry into all of the supporting venues. All proceeds raised will be split between the NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, Sydney Mardi Gras Parade Community Grants Scheme and the participating venues. From Slide’s Just George Dinner and Dance Party to Stonewall’s three floors of non stop partying, there’s no way you’ll be calling it an early night! The Big Gay Friday fun will be the Stonewall Hotel, The Colombian Hotel, Bitch at The Standard, Kinselas, Polo Lounge, The Supper Club, and Slide.

Many of the shops and services throughout postcode 2010 are run by gay people for gay people. This spring season, kicking off with the BIG GAY WEEKEND, the 2010 Darlinghurst and Surry Hills Business Partnership will run a SHOP LOCAL promotion. Special offers from local shops, restaurants and services will printed in the pages of the City News and the City Hub. Plus the SHOP LOCAL guide will also be distributed to shops and residents throughout the precinct. Hit up the Shop Local page at love2010.com.au for more details.

Got a burning idea for a float but don’t know how to make it a reality? How do you want to use the Parade to make a difference? Come on down to The Beresford Upstairs for our Big Ideas Day, on Saturday 29th from 12-4pm. Help develop and brainstorm ideas for next year’s Sydney Mardi Gras Parade. This is a free public event for Parade veterans, newbies, creatives and those who merely have a desire to share their ideas or spectate. Visit the Big Ideas Day page for more information

With a packed lineup of top-tier DJs and performers across all 4 levels of the Oxford, WE LOVE SATURDAY is a fantastic opportunity for all corners of our community to come together for a night of great tunes, spectacular shows, and good times with friends old and new. With all profits going straight back to Harbour City Bears,Queer Screen and the Mardi Gras Parade Community Grants Scheme, good karma will be coming your way too! Featuring GI Jode, Kate Monroe, Alex Taylor, Greg Boladian, Jake Kilby, Luke Leal, Matt Vaughan, Avra Cybele, Kam Shafaati, Frankie Shin, Colin Gaff and more to be announced.

ACTION (Midnight Shift, Saturday 29th September)

ACTION returns for the Big Gay Weekend after a 2 year hiatus. This event will be produced in a similar vein to their legendary ArtHouse Hotel parties where there was cutting edge dance music pumped out of the speakers to a predominantly male crowd. The DJ lineup is headed by ACTION stalwart Alan Thompson supported by the beautiful Sveta, along with Garry Todd and John Devecchis who will all bring a fresh sound to the Midnight Shift Club. Eyebyte Visuals will be employed for the evening to shake up the feel of the venue so you can expect stimulation in more ways than one!
Date: 29 September 2012

GLITTER BALL (The Metro, Saturday 29 September)

Sure, you can go to a party. But wouldn’t you prefer to go to a ball? The Glitter Ball. After jaunts in Singapore and Shanghai blowing minds, the Glitter Ball returns to its spiritual home, The Metro. Produced by Rhys Bobridge and with performances by queens so fabulous they are practically empresses. The theme: Fashion Freaks (Think “Christian Roll Over And Dior.”) Make sure it hurts, make sure you look outrageous. We know you’re all freaks for fashion, this time we really want to see it

REZERECTION – THE SLEAZE EDITION (Basement Club at the Imperial Hotel, Saturday 29th September)

KX76 Productions & BANG Clothing present the original and infamous sellout men-only underwear and swimwear dance party RezErection: Sleaze Edition 2012 for the first time ever on the Saturday night of a long weekend. Featuring hot local and visiting guys, gogo boys and a 360 degree visual and viewing new venue experience…
DJs Johnny Blue Boy, Adam Cox, Chip and Brett Austin.