Once a year every year thousands of members of the LGBTQIA+ community descend on Victoria Park for Mardi Gras Fair Day - one of the biggest events on the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras calendar. After the the disruption of COVID Fair Day made a return in 2022, and then went all out in 2023, supercharged by the already large Mardi Gras festival becoming part of the even larger Sydney World Pride 2023 festival.

I was lucky enough to spend Fair Day today with my fabulous friend and leatherworking wonder woman Pippa from Hell for Leather at her stall, which was packed full of leather goodies such as belts, harnesses, collars, cuffs, floggers, paddles, skirts, corsets, and my personal favourite - bondage bears! 

All four bears at the Fair found a new home on the day, including one destined for a new home in Sweden! It was lovely to see each bear head off to its new home in such safe and caring hands. Other visitors went left with all sorts of new leather gear and a few even got measured up on the spot for a new custom garment. I think the leatherworkers creed must be 'never leave home without a tape measure!'

I spent most of the (very hot) day in the shade and tranquility of the the Hell for Leather marquee. Once things cooled down a bit in the afternoon I ventured over to the nearby NSW Police Recruitment stall to check out their latest patrol car and enquire about the new latex police uniform policy. To my amazement the recruitment officers claimed to know nothing about it! Oh well, I guess I'll just have to stick with my maid job then :)

If you'd like to see more photos of Fair Day check out the official Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras website, or just search for Mardi Gras Fair Day in Google, Instagram or Facebook and you'll be flooded with images and videos. See you at Fair Day next year, happy Mardi Gras :)