Feel-Good Friday: February 17 – We Like to Party
Good Friday #GoodFriday
Ah, the sweet relief of the work week coming to an end. It’s like taking off a pair of tight shoes and slipping into your favourite UGG boots. Even more exciting is that WorldPride is finally about to kick off in Sydney. The city is bursting with pride and rainbow-colored excitement, ready to celebrate everything that makes the LGBTQ+ community unique and fabulous. So let’s throw our hands up in the air like we just don’t care, put on our dancing shoes, and get ready to party like it’s 1999 (or 2023, but you get the idea). If you’re seeking ways to partake in Pride festivities and more, don’t worry, this week’s Feel-Good Friday has got you covered.
You’ll also love:
Feel-Good Friday: February 10 – The Scoop
Feel-Good Friday: February 3 – Rainbow Road
Feel-Good Friday: January 27 – Never Ending
Image: Supplied
Uber brings the Vengabus back for Pride
Get your gladrags on and prepare to party, because Uber is bringing the ultimate inner city disco on wheels to Sydney for Pride. Hosted by 90s pop icons the Vengaboys and drag queen royalty, the Uber Pride Ride is a free hop-on, hop-off bendy bus, helping festival-goers navigate around events easily, safely and with heaps of fun en route.
Following an exclusive first ride with the Vengaboys this Thursday 16th February, the Uber Pride Ride will be available to festival goers travelling around the heart of the festival during the weekends between February 17th – March 5th.
Each Pride Ride will include an exciting line-up of on-board activities, from drag bingo and Karaoke with Jojo Zaho, Carla from Bankstown and Coco Jumbo, to educational talks from Black Rainbow, an organisation advocating for the voices of first nations LGBQTIA+SB young people.
What’s more, for those getting amongst the Mardis Gras action, Uber is also shouting free Pool rides to the festival on the weekend of the 24th- 26th February. Just order an Uber Pool trip to Sydney festival locations between 12pm- 10pm on the 24th, 25th or 26th of February, and your trip will be covered, up to a value of $100.
Image: Supplied
Grown Alchemist Celebrates Australia’s Strong and Tenacious Women
In celebration of International Women’s Day, clean beauty brand Grown Alchemist is proud to announce the launch of its Beautifully Brave campaign, designed to champion the sheer resilience and determination of courageous women across the nation
In support of beautifully brave women, Grown Alchemist will be donating much-needed supplies to two female focused not-for-profit organisations; Women’s and Girl’s Emergency Centre (WAGEC) which offers support and assistance to women and their families experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity, and St Kilda Mums which provides essential items and care to families in need.
This isn’t the first time the biological beauty brand has partnered with WAGEC. In October 2022, Grown Alchemist held a private shopping event, donating the entire retail value of products sold to assist and support women. The event was a huge success, with over 1,200 full-size units of the brand’s natural skincare products sold raising $30,000 for the charity.
Beautifully Brave is a testament to Grown Alchemist’s commitment to promoting equality and empowering women and the brand encourages its consumers to support this campaign and make a positive impact on the lives of women and their families in need.
Launching Sunday 19th February until Wednesday 8th March, customers can enjoy 30% off and shop the entire Grown Alchemist range online and at the Retail Lab in Carlton, Melbourne as well as The Iconic, Adore Beauty and Amazon AU.
For every product purchased, the brand will donate the same product to women’s not-for-profit organisations in the hope to give women and their families a brighter future.
Check it out
Image: Supplied
Love is Coca-Cola Love Cans
Coca-Cola Australia is a proud supporting partner of both Sydney WorldPride and Sydney, Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras. The iconic drinks company will encourage Aussies to spread the love throughout the entire festival period with its limited-edition Coca-Cola No Sugar Love Cans, available at Pride events.
The Love Cans were first created in 2017 during the nationwide debate on marriage equality to showcase Coca-Cola’s support for the LGBTQIA+ community and as a reminder to #SayYesToLove. The Love Cans will be available via chilled sampling across the Opening & Closing concerts and Pride Villages, with Pride-goers needing to get in quick before the limited-edition pack is gone.
Image: Supplied
SKYY Vodka is Launching a Sailing-Inspired Pop-Up Bar
Ready, set, sail. As the Official White Spirits Partner of the KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix | Sydney and the Australia SailGP Team, SKYY Vodka, the only vodka enriched with the taste of Pacific Minerals, is launching a bespoke pop-up bar inspired by the ocean and sailing.
Set in the heart of Barangaroo at the SailGP Event Village, Watermans Cove – SKYY, SEA and SAIL visitors will be able to catch all the action of the event via a large screen while sipping on a SKYY Highball. As part of the pop-up, open from 18 – 19 February, guests can also experience a full cocktail menu and watch live SailGP athlete Q&As, a race boat ‘fly by’ parade and display of the Australia SailGP Team F50 race boat.
On the eve of the event (Friday 17, February), Sydney-siders and visitors can get their hands on a ticket to the exclusive launch party. Guests will be able to experience SKYY Vodka’s unique profile as the only vodka enriched with the taste of Pacific Minerals for a fresher vodka soda. Adding to the spectacle, renowned Australian host Scott Tweedie will be hosting a live Q&A with Australia SailGP Team driver Tom Slingsby.
Alex Wong, Head Chef of Lana, has also come on board for the official launch party and created a vodka and sea-inspired menu, aligning with SKYY Vodka’s history and flavour profile.
The SailGP Event Village is free to access all weekend by the public. For visitors who want to catch the action early – they can get their hands on a launch party ticket at Eventbrite.
Check it out
Image: Supplied
Bundaberg Distillery Opens Its Doors to Host One-Time Only Wedding CeRUMony
Love is in the bear! The famous Bundy distillery has opened its doors to celebrate love in a one-time only ceRUMony! Bundy is looking for one lucky couple to say ‘I do’ in front of the big bear himself and get hitched at the famous Bundaberg Distillery.
One Bundy loving couple will get the chance to host their wedding ceRUMony at the Bundaberg Distillery for them and 40 guests. Bundy will fly the two love-bears to Bundaberg for the big day and cover accommodation, transfers to the wedding and up to $10,000 towards their wedding reception or honeymoon.
The best part is that the Bundy community will help the couple out with those tough decisions, and weigh in on key elements of the wedding… Bundy yellow coloured wedding dress anyone? All they need to do to win a special Bundy Wedding ceRUMony is to share their love story and how Bundy has played a role.
Check it out
Image: Supplied
House of Absolute: Your Chosen Family Under One Roof
Make yourself at home. Absolut, as supporting partners of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and Sydney WorldPride 2023, welcomes you to House of Absolut: a touring LGBTQIA+ celebration that unites the people you call family with experiences and parties across Gadigal Land (Sydney), as curated by adored queer talent throughout February 17 and March 5, 2023.
House of Absolut, in partnership with Merivale, is throwing open the doors to the Ballroom-dedicated House of Homes at The Alex in Alexandria, which will launch with a Housewarming Party. Alongside this will be the Rainbow Routes queer history bus tour, the Rainbow Routes Express shuttle and more during Sydney WorldPride 2023.
Check it out
Image: Supplied
Little Creatures teams up with the nation’s favourite drag artists for Sydney WorldPride
To celebrate queer joy, diversity and inclusion across the LGBTQIA+ pride festival, Little Creatures has teamed up with the nation’s favourite drag artist and RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under star Art Simone, along with the glamorous drag performer Philmah Bocks. Entertainment personality Justin Hill is also taking part in the festivities. Additionally, they’ve returned as the official beer partner to Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and WorldPride 2023, along with it a plethora of glittering events and experiences on offer, from Fair Day to Domain Dance Party. The beer brand has also released limited-edition Sydney WorldPride packaging across Australia.
You’ll also love:
Feel-Good Friday: February 10 – The Scoop
Feel-Good Friday: February 3 – Rainbow Road
Feel-Good Friday: January 27 – Never Ending