Spirits were high as thousands of revelers flocked to Australia’s “marijuana capital” for the Nimbin MardiGrass Festival and cannabis law reform rally.
The town, about an hour’s drive from Byron Bay in northern New South Wales, has a population of just 1,800 people and has held the popular festival annually since 1993.
The three-day festival, which ran from Friday to Sunday, attracted large crowds, who enjoyed a packed program of activities.
Attendees showed off their eccentric outfits and body paint as they marched and danced down Nimbin’s main street in the famous parade on the third and final day.
Many dressed in extravagant, colorful costumes, including the ‘ganja fairy’ dancers with their marijuana leaf fans.
Other revelers who helped carry ‘the big joint’ through the streets.
One woman skipped the green to dress as a giant joint, one that also appeared in the original parade back in the ’90s, hastily assembled from sheets and other household items.
Attendees have been calling for cannabis to be decriminalized in Australia since 1993.
Various stalls were also set up in the market selling drug paraphernalia, while speakers leading the fight for marijuana legalization gave talks.
One festival-goer wore a green costume over the weekend.
An enthusiastic reveler appeared dressed as a giant cookie and wearing a teapot hat.
A large crowd of spectators cheered and chanted “free the grass.”
Event organizers use the annual parade as a political protest rally to make their message loud and clear.
“We promised to demonstrate every year on the first Sunday in May until we are no longer criminals for using this herb,” the event’s website states.
‘The ban is an incitement, not a control!
‘MardiGrass will become a festival when we can celebrate the grass without fear of prosecution and persecution.
“When the police have a float in the street parade behind the Ganja fairies and the Big Joint, then we will really have a proper festival and celebration.”
Other activities over the weekend included the Cannabliss Garden Party, the Hash Suppositorium, the Hemp Fashion Parade, the Moonshadow Memorial Marijuana Music Awards and the MardiGrass Comedy Show.
This year marks the 32nd anniversary of the famous cannabis festival.
MardiGrass began as a peaceful demonstration following a prolonged police crackdown on marijuana in the region, to support its decriminalization in Australia.
MardiGrass organizing body president Michael Balderstone was delighted with this year’s turnout.
“We had 50 of our best hippies meditating to try to get some blue sky,” he told Lismore City News.
‘The police are here, but they are giving us a lot of space.
“We are not the problem and they know it.”
State MPs including Rachel Payne, David Ettershank, Jeremy Buckingham, Brian Walker and Sophia Moermond of the Legalize Cannabis party have supported the event.
This parade-goer donned an eccentric costume and colorful face paint.
A group of revelers were photographed holding a large joint.
Pets were also welcomed at the annual Mardi Grass festival in Nimbin, northern New South Wales.
MardiGrass has become an event where people can ‘celebrate the grass’ without fear of prosecution and persecution.
Freedom of expression encouraged at Mardi Grass Festival
It was all smiles at Mardi Grass this weekend
Revelers donned their green suits for the Nimbin MardiGrass ‘Big Rally’, which is billed as a celebration of marijuana and calling for an end to prohibition.
This year marks the 32nd anniversary of the famous cannabis festival.
One reveler donned a gold T-shirt with a butterfly for the Cannabis Law Reform Rally and Parade.
A festival attendee caused a sensation by dressing up as a hashish
“A lot of people are now prescribed marijuana for medical reasons and that has changed the ball game,” Balderstone said.
They will listen more to doctors than to hippies.
“We still have to look at what’s happening with driving (drug testing laws) and be able to develop our own.”
According to advocates, only about 1.7 per cent of Australians residing in the ACT have access to decriminalized recreational cannabis.
Festival attendees campaigned for cannabis to be decriminalized
Revelers were dressed in eccentric costumes, with many wearing bright green colors with ornate marijuana leaf motifs.
Festival goers showed off their colorful costumes as they marched through Australia’s marijuana capital.
The ‘ganja fairy’ dancers with their marijuana leaf fans are the highlight of the parade
People of all ages came out to celebrate MardiGrass in Nimbin over the weekend.
Recreational cannabis is otherwise illegal in all Australian states, although New South Wales is about to launch an inquiry into its ban.
Several countries have legalized marijuana for medical and recreational purposes, including Canada, the Netherlands, and Portugal.
More governments around the world have moved towards legalizing and regulating cannabis, including Uruguay, Malta, Thailand, South Africa and Mexico.