Wagga Wagga Mardi Gras
Saturday 9 March 2024
For the sixth year in a row Charles Sturt University is a proud sponsor of the Wagga Wagga Mardi Gras Festival – this year we’ve gone platinum!
Join the parade in our float!
Everyone in the Charles Sturt community – staff, students, alumni and their friends and family – are warmly invited to join our 2024 float!
Registrations have now closed.
What’s involved?
Float participants will walk alongside fellow and past students, colleagues, university leaders, friends, family and Allies along Wagga’s main street. You’ll be cheered on by the supportive Riverina community as you follow the rainbow Charles Sturt truck along the parade route!
How long is the parade route?
The parade route is approximately 1.5 km long, it will take approximately 15 – 20 minutes (e.g. walking or wheeling). There is likely to be some waiting around at marshaling areas as floats are assembled and getting ready.
What will I wear?!
Registered float participants will get a Charles Sturt branded rainbow t-shirt (white or black – subject to availability) to wear in the parade and keep. In the interests of sustainability, if you’ve got a t-shirt from a previous year, please consider using it again.
The rest is up to you! So get creative - get the sewing machine out, stitch on your sequins and sparkles, and come along in your brightest to help make our float vibrant and wonderful! As a sustainable university, we encourage up-cycling and recycling as much as possible!
Anything else I should bring?
The parade will proceed in all weather conditions. Make sure you have appropriate weather protection to suit the weather/conditions on the day.
It will most likely be hot, so wear a hat and sunscreen and bring water. The parade still goes ahead it if it’s raining, so check the forecast beforehand to make sure you’re prepared.
Anything I shouldn’t bring?
Pets are not allowed in the parade.
Other restricted items include fire, open flames, pyrotechnics (fireworks), flares, fire batons, fire breathing, sparklers, sparks, welding, weapons or imitation weapons, hazardous or flammable goods and goods prohibited by law.
Wagga Mardi Gras also strictly control the use of projectiles (including glitter cannons), remote-controlled devices including any kind of drone, remote controlled helicopters, places and cars.
The Wagga Mardi Gras Committee and Charles Sturt are committed to being as environmentally sustainable as possible.
If you are intending on using confetti or glitter, it must be bio-degradable and water-soluble, and the use of non-attached balloons is prohibited.
Anything else I need to know before registering?
The parade and start area are alcohol and drug free zones. Other restrictions include all forms of nudity, solicitation of funds, and campaigning.
Laws relating to the use of public space, car registration, driving under the influence, the consumption of alcohol and other drugs all remain in place during the parade.
The waste from each entrant is the responsibility of the group; take home everything you bought to the parade.
The Wagga Wagga Mardi Gras parade is a public event and may be broadcast. Footage and photographs of your participation in the parade may be released to the media by the parade organisers without your consent.
The university will take photos and videos of the float and participants to be used in media about the event, social media posts, and other materials. Your registration and participation in the parade is considered consent to use photos and videos.
Participation in the Charles Sturt University float is an official university activity. Please remember our values and your responsibilities under the staff Code of Conduct and Student Charter.
Meeting places and times (for float participants)
Look for the Charles Sturt rainbow truck! If you miss us at the carpark, please make your way to the start of the procession on the corner of Morgan and Baylis Street to find us.
- By 4:20pm: Wagga Oasis Swimming Pool Carpark. Please be prepared for sunny and hot weather. Once you see the truck moving, be ready to assemble and move with our group to the next marshaling location (see below).
- 4.30pm – 5.00pm: Participants and truck will move to the corner of Morgan and Baylis Street. We will be waiting at this location while a Smoking Ceremony and Welcome to Country occur and the first floats begin the parade.
- 5.00pm – 5.30pm: parade procession down Baylis St. The parade will start at 5pm sharp!
How else can you be involved?
Following the procession, Charles Sturt will have a VIP area set aside to continue the celebrations at the family friendly after-party event at the Victory Memorial Gardens..
There’ll be chairs and a marquee so you can sit down and enjoy the celebrations. You’ll hear from Charles Sturt representatives and meet our mascot, Charlie
You’ll hear from our senior leadership team, be able to have your photo taken with our rainbow media wall and visit our marquee to learn more about the Ally Network and other LGBTIQA+ initiatives at Charles Sturt.
More details about these events are available at Wagga Wagga Mardi Gras Festival.
Registrations have now closed.