Scantily clad outfits, lots of green and one GIANT bong: Revellers in high spirits at annual Nimbin Mardi Grass
Spirits were high as thousands of partygoers 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 NSW, has a population of just 1,800 and the popular festival has been held annually since 1993.
The three-day festival, which ran from Friday to Sunday, attracted a large crowd who enjoyed a jam-packed activity.
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 were dressed in bizarre and colorful costumes, including the ‘ganja fairy’ dancers with their marijuana leaf fans.
Other partygoers who helped carry ‘the big tent’ through the streets.
One woman skipped the greenery to dress as a giant tent, a woman who was also part of the original parade in the 90s, hastily assembled from bedding and other household items
Participants have been calling for the decriminalization of cannabis in Australia since 1993
A series of market stalls were also set up selling drug paraphernalia, while speakers at the forefront of the fight to legalize cannabis gave talks
One festivalgoer wore a green costume this weekend
An enthusiastic reveler came dressed as a giant cookie, complete with a teapot hat
A large crowd of spectators cheered and chanted ‘free the weed’.
Event organizers use the annual parade as a political protest rally to make their message loud and clear.
“We have pledged to gather every year on the first Sunday of May until we are no longer criminals for using this herb,” the event website said.
‘Prohibition is an incentive, not a control!
“MardiGrass becomes a celebration when we can celebrate the herb without fear of persecution and persecution.
“If the police have a float in the street parade behind the Ganja fairies and Big Joint, then we will really have a real festival and party.”
Other activities over the weekend included the Cannabliss Garden Party, Hash Suppository, Hemp Fashion Parade, Moonshadow Memorial Marijuana Music Awards and 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, in support of its decriminalization in Australia.
Michael Balderstone, chairman of the MardiGrass organizing body, was delighted with this year’s turnout.
“We had fifty of our best hippies meditate to get a little blue sky,” he told the Lismore city news.
‘The police are there, but they give us plenty 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, from the Legalize Cannabis party, have all supported the event.
This parade goer wore an eccentric costume and colorful face paint
A group of revelers were pictured holding up a large joint
Pets were also welcome at the annual Mardi Grass festival in Nimbin in northern New South Wales
MardiGrass has become an event where people can ‘celebrate’ the spice without fear of persecution and persecution
Freedom of expression is encouraged at the Mardi Grass Festival
This weekend it was all smiles at Mardi Grass
Revelers donned their green outfits for the Nimbin MardiGrass ‘Big Rally’, which promotes itself as a celebration of marijuana and calls for an end to prohibition
This year marks the 32nd anniversary of the famous cannabis festival
One celebrant wore a gold butterfly shirt for the Cannabis Law Reform Rally & Parade
A festival goer made a statement by dressing up in a hash costume
“So many people have cannabis for medical reasons that are now prescribed and that has changed the game,” Mr Balderstone said.
‘They will listen to doctors more than hippies.
“We still have to look at what’s happening with driving (drug detection laws) and have the ability to grow our own.”
Only about 1.7 percent of Australians living in the ACT have access to decriminalized recreational cannabis, according to advocates.
Visitors to the festival campaigned to decriminalize cannabis
Revelers were dressed in eccentric outfits, many wearing bright green colors with decorated marijuana leaf motifs
Festival attendees showed off their colorful outfits as they marched through Australia’s cannabis capital
The ‘ganja fairy’ dancers with their marijuana leaf fans are the highlight of the parade
People of all ages came to celebrate MardiGrass in Nimbin this weekend
Recreational cannabis is otherwise illegal in every Australian state, although NSW is set to launch an investigation into the ban.
A number of countries have legalized marijuana for medical and recreational purposes, including Canada, the Netherlands and Portugal.
More governments around the world have moved to legalize and regulate cannabis, including Uruguay, Malta, Thailand, South Africa and Mexico.