The 7 Best Things To Do In Sydney This March

Madeleine is a Sydney-based freelancer who pretends she can speak…

March in Sydney is awash with arts festivals, International Women’s Day events and the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Celebrate everything that’s good this month while eating and drinking damn well in between.

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All About Women

As a prelude to International Women’s Day on March 8, All About Women returns to the Opera House putting #GirlsToTheFront for its fifth consecutive year. This cleverly curated event comes from a duo who have incredible klout; Danielle Harvey brought out the likes of George Michael and Cindi Lauper during her five years as executive producer at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, while Ann Mossop’s experience extends from such staple institutions as Sydney Writer’s Festival and the Seymour Centre. Together they’ve curated a line-up of must-sees including Geena Davis, Julia Baird, Giulia Enders, Clementine Ford, Zoe Coombs Marr and the return of Women of Letters. It takes place on Sunday March 5, and with tickets selling fast, you should get in now to confirm who runs the world.

Photo: All About Women

The Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade

March isn’t March in Sydney without Mardi Gras. BYO glitter and milk crate for this annual great-night-out. To wrap up a month of celebrations including men in underwear, musicals and a Madonna tribute, Oxford Street with explode with pride as 12,000 humans descend on the area.

With a 39-year history, this year’s theme ‘Equality’, while sadly falling on deaf ears in the political arena, is sure to be celebrated. So shake off your dance moves and revel in all the good things that we have. The main parade will kick off around 7.30pm on Saturday March 4, and snakes up Liverpool Street on to Oxford before taking a right hand turn on Flinders.

Image and lead: Jeffrey Feng for SGLMG

Party for a cause

St O’Donnell is a collection of locally-based legends making waves in the music and art space, both around Sydney and further afield. This March they’re putting on Just Cause, an event with goodness at its core. Featuring an epic line-up, they’ll be contributing 100 percent of the proceeds from ticket sales and cover charges towards RACS (Refugee and Casework Service), one of Australia’s leading refugee legal centres. On Friday March 17, for a mere $15 (or $20 on the door), Hudson Ballroom (formerly known as Goodgod Small Club) will go off with a Polographia DJ set, and the likes of Pluural, Passed Curfew and St. O’Donnell DJs ensuring you get down for a great cause.

Johnny Fishbone

If you’ve ever turned up only to be turned away at the uber popular Buffalo Dining Club (BDC) with no idea what to do next, your prayers have just been answered. Johnny Fishbone, from the team behind BDC, is located in the old Hinky Dinks space just a stone’s throw from its sister venue. Owners Peter Kypreos, Marcelo Garrao and Michael Fantuz have just put on the finishing touches on their newest venue. Celebrating seafood in the Spanish tapas-style wine parlour, there will be over-the-bar snacks as well as more substantial meals. There’s emphasis on the wine and attention to detail on the cocktail list, with a rotating menu of five on the go at any one time. And don’t stress, your carb requirements will be fulfilled because it wouldn’t be a venue by these guys without a house pasta. So whether it’s your destination, or a prequel to Buffalo, this joint promises great things.

Art Month Sydney

Where else can you find a congee breakfast tour, a Booby Dinosaur and cabaret all in the one festival? It’s Art Month Sydney and it’s a city-wide celebration of contemporary art in all its diverse forms. From exhibitions and workshops to precinct nights and artist studio visits, there’s something for everyone. Our highlights include some of the most covetable private collections opening their doors for the Collectors Space exhibition, and Art at Night returns with precinct-wide parties that combine art, performance, food and drink in the one late-night event. Art Month Sydney runs from March 1-20 and is jam packed with events, so make sure to plan accordingly.

Photo: Art Month Sydney

Pixies

It’s been a few years years since Pixies rocked out on Australian shores. Three, in fact, but they’re back this month on their world tour Head Carrier. Arguably one of the most influential and important bands to come out of the last three decades, this tour precedes their September 30 album release of the same name. Their unique sound of surf music meets punk rock will be reverberating through the Hordern Pavilion on Tuesday March 7.

Project: Gin

Without further ado may we present numero seven of the greatest things to do in Sydney this March: a gin-inspired celebration. A gin-spiration! Bombay Sapphire will bring together a cocktail and dining experience for ten days only, held in the gorgeous Royal Botanic Gardens. The ten vapour-infused botanicals found in the Bombay Sapphire gin will be brought to life through a public bar and a ticketed dinner event. Some of Sydney’s leading bartenders will be creating concoctions to enjoy at the pop up, or you can enjoy a sit down dinner and cocktail experience (tickets selling fast). The bar is open Thursday to Saturday from 4-10pm and on Sunday from 2-9pm.