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PARTY HEART-Y AT WORLDPRIDE SYDNEY!
Party Heart-Y
At WorldPride Sydney!
Sydney hosts WorldPride 2023 with a full week of fun-in-the-sun events
By Noel Hoffman
Photos courtesy of Daywash Events
Over a million LGBTQ travellers will be Aussie bound this February to experience WorldPride Sydney from February 26 through March 6. It is the first time the annual Pride event – with its parades, festivals and other cultural activities – will be hosted in Australia, and the timing couldn’t be better. 2023 marks the 45th anniversary of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and the fifth anniversary of marriage equality in Australia. Both are certainly causes for celebration, and the city is doing it in grand style!
Daywash Events, Sydney’s premiere gay party organizer, will present six massive official Pride Amplified extravaganzas, including Candyland XXL and the Circuit Festival Waterpark Day at Raging Waters amusement park. All parties will feature live acts, stunning decor (including laser and light shows), and performances by some of the world’s most famous international circuit DJs. A portion of
the proceeds from all Pride Amplified and Daywash events will benefit programs including ACON (AIDS Council Of New South Wales), the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness Program and Father Riley’s Youth Off the Streets. “Daywash parties are always over-the-top spectaculars but in celebration of Sydney’s WorldPride, we are going even bigger and better than ever before,” says producer Johan Khoury. “We are also partnering with the largest international circuit festivals to produce a week unlike anything anyone has seen.”
“Guapo Fiesta” kicks off the week’s festivities on Sunday, February 26. Dubbed São Paulo’s sexiest party, this will be Guapo Fiesta’s Sydney premiere. It will take place at The Argyle, a colossal venue with multiple rooms that will offer the thousands of attendees a range of chill and flirt zones, and will feature a sensational DJ lineup including Brazil’s Rafael Berreto and resident superstar Mario Backman.
The next morning, the fun moves to The Ivy Club for Candyland XXL, the week’s first outdoor afternoon event. Candyland is a signature Daywash party and always a crowd favourite. For WorldPride, partygoers will be treated to a double extra-large dose of the event. Upon entering, the scenic decor will make guests feel like they have entered a magical candy factory. Rainbow-coloured popcorn, fairy floss and flavoured snow cones will be served for free at multiple candy stations. The evening will also include jaw-dropping performances, delicious go-go boys and DJs Dani Toro (from Spain) and José Rendón (from Dublin) spinning the dance floor until 10 pm.
Tuesday and Wednesday will be days of rest and recovery. LGBTQ+ travellers may use this time to visit the local sights, including The Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Taronga Zoo. Plan to spend a day at one of Sydney’s beautiful beaches: Bondi Beach is the most popular. A Sydney Harbour cruise is also a must, as is the Aboriginal Dreaming Tour,where visitors will learn about the culture of Aboriginal people.
The party picks up again on Thursday, when Brazilian adult performer Diego Barros makes his Sydney debut at Anaconda. Known as the ‘Magic Mike’ of Brazil, Barros is often called one of the world’s sexiest men. He has over one million followers on Instagram, and a very popular OnlyFans page. He will perform two nude shows plus a meet-and-greet. Between performances,
DJ Rafael Barreto will keep the dance floor moving with his highenergy Brazilian beats.
On Friday, Daywash partners with the world’s biggest gay party producer, Matinée, to host the Daywash Circuit Festival Waterpark Pre-Party Sydney 2023, taking place at the Raging Waters amusement park in Sydney. The entire park will be closed to the public and open exclusively for Daywash attendees. Guests will be able to enjoy all the rip-roaring rides and attractions, including Sydney’s largest water slide, without the long lines. Two dance floors will be set up on the grounds. Matinée resident DJs Phil Romano and Dani Toro will headline the main stage at the Beach Wave Pool Main stage. A second stage will be set up at Dinosaur Lagoon. VIP cabanas and party buses are available as special luxury adds-ons.
The Friday fun continues when Daywash and Matinée regroup for a second phenomenal adventure, The Temple of La Lecha White Party. Matinée superstar DJs Kingstone (from Paris) and Liza Rodriguez (from Brazil) take over the indoor and outdoor stages. Matinée promises a level of production that is above and beyond anything seen before, with laser and light shows and the crème de la crème of sexy international go-go dancers.
On Saturday night, the iconic Sydney venue, Kinselas, hosts an Arab night! All four levels of Kinselas will be open to partiers for the “Club Arak” event. The Chapel underground will pay homage to Arab divas with live musical performances. The street-level basement bar will be a chill-out space with amazing Arab tunes and drinks. The middle bar will be the women’s space and the top level will be the main dance floor, where DJ Chadi will be spinning the latest and greatest of Arab dance grooves. Then, on Sunday, daddies, leather men, shirtless boys, bearded hotties and everyone in between will converge at the RAM party. Hosted by Daddy Ersin, RAM was born and bred in New York City’s underground club scene and has toured the biggest gay cities around the world, selling out venues at San Francisco’s Folsom Party, Dallas Pride, and more. Rules don’t apply on the RAM dance floor as the vibe is extra-cruisy with unfiltered testosterone. Resident USA DJ Joe Pacheco, popular for his thick and thirsty beats, will headline.
The week wraps on Monday, March 6, with the Kiki Gay Pool Party Finale, taking place at The Ivy pool. Set high above the bustling streets with the gorgeous Sydney skyline as backdrop, the pool party will be the perfect way to wind down the week’s festivities. There will be surprise pop-up DJs and performers, VIP cabanas, bottle service and additional special luxury add-ons.
