MardiGrass

MardiGrass is a cannabis law reform rally and festival held annually, since 1993, in the town of Nimbin, in north east New South Wales, Australia.

Concerned about bad publicity some of the townsfolk decided to come up with a more peaceful form of protest that ordinary people could comfortably join.

In the evening of this historic event, Bob Hopkins channelled the spirit of the Plantem for the first time and he and his friends, after adopting Winston Churchill's V for victory sign, vowed to hold MardiGrass annually until the war on cannabis was over.

The protest rally and parade is held on the first weekend in May, and is the core element of MardiGrass; the centre of a festival weekend containing events such as the Hemp Olympix, including Joint Rolling, Bong Throw and Yell and Growers Iron-person events; also including the Nimbin Cannabis Cup, Harvest Ball, Picker's Ball, live music and dance parties.

The "Protest Rally and Parade" is held on the Sunday, gathers opposite the police station and then marches away, through the village to Peace Park, accompanied by the traditional "Big Joint" and dancing Ganja Faeries.