When someone dropped the pink streamers out of the bus window I knew
it was going to be a great day.
Everyone in the bus, route 69 from Oxford St, was excited
and the mood increased to one of anticipation as we got closer.
Fortunately the police were doing a good job preventing traffic jams
on arrival at Jubilee Park.
When we finally all piled off the bus the
first task was to find a place to park our esky.
There were stalls and people everywhere, blankets with picnics,
dogs cruising each other,
children running amok and everyone was wearing a grin.
People wearing jeans and t-shirts, people wearing singlets, shorts, hats,
sarongs and hopefully sun-block.
There were eve a few who really dressed for the occasion.
We finally found a place near number 2 stage and spread out in the shade.
Then it was time for shopping!
There were stalls of everything imaginable: food, drinks, clothes, leather,
jewelery, art, books, music, pet supplies, flowers and bric a brac.
My favourite was Mephisto who had a bed there.
I'm not sure if it was used by anyone.
Almost every community organisation was there giving out condoms or dunking
stars. There was even a sponsor or two.
As usual Ms Fair Day and the dog show filled the seating
and the grass in front of the number 1 stage.
Don't know much about what happened there cause I was
shopping or watching the number 2 stage all day.
I heard though that Ms Fair Day was a lesbian in military drag.
New this year was the fashion show.
There was non-stop entertainment at the number 2 stage
hosted by Jamie and Vanessa featuring the Soul Bitches, the Museum Ladies
Teresa Green, the Nana Obscuras, the Size Queen Club, Lana Turnip and more.
Some was awful but most was good.
We also had our own fasion show from Drag Bag.
The worst part of the day was the 5 minutes it rained.
Everyone huddled under the trees until it was over.
There was talk of going home, but by the time we were ready it had become a
nice day again.
Despite the rain and the sunburn it was a fabulous day.
I think we need to rename it because it was much better than fair.
See you all at the 1997 Mardi Gras Fabulous Day!
Panther <panther@pinkboard.com.au>
Photographs Copyright © 1996 Greg Berry and Paul Donnelly
panther@pinkboard.com.au