Throughout the weekend, Nimbin's magic will be on show in unexpected locations continually, truly random events. As well,
there is the MardiGrass Market in the Community Centre with a full daytime program onstage. Also at the market is PotArt
in the Regional Gallery. Other locations have performers all weekend and are not to be missed, these include The Hemp
Embassy and Hemp Bar, The Rainbow Cafe, The Nimbin Oasis Cafe, The Museum and Da Joint, the E-Bar and Environment Centre
Chill and Music venue, Donato's Music Happening in Allsop Park (across from the pub).
The Town Hall is home to the Woodstock Film Festival who will be showing an extraordinary collection from their archives.
They are here visiting Nimbin for the 30th Anniversary of the Aquarius which starts 11 May. Other events in the Town Hall
are listed in the main program below.
Birth and Beyond, (across the road from the Town Hall and up a bit, then down a narrow passage!) is home to the all weekend
Bizarre Film Club showing movies like the following:
Head
PEACE PARK HEMP FAIR PROGRAM
Friday 2nd May 2003
3.30pm - Kombi Konvoy starts gathering at main beach car park near Beach Hotel at Byron Bay.
4.20pm - HEMP Olympix Torch, the Eternal Flame for Victims of Prohibition is lit in Byron and in Nimbin, Mardi Grass
goes live to the web at the Hemp Bar Toke-off in the village.
4.30pm - Kombis departs Byron Bay for Lismore led by Olympix Torch Runner to join traditional gathering at
Conservatorium Car Park, corner Magellan and Keen Streets.
5.00pm - 6.30pm - Welcoming music in Peace Park with Gabi and Asia.
Opening of Mardi Grass 2003 with MC David Hallet by local and Bunjulung Elders, includes a moment's silence for the
Victims of Prohibition, Nunakal Kanjeil the Mullet Fish Clan Corroboree, Mook and Shanto's Peacetrain, then dance to end
the Stupid War on Drugs with Red Eyed Frogs at the Annual Harvest Ball.
5.30pm - Hemp Olympix Torch & Kombi Konvoy leave Lismore for Nimbin.
6.30pm - Kombi Konvoy arrives in Nimbin for Opening Ceremony in Peace Park with MC David Hallet. Local and
Bunjalung Elders, a moment's silence for the Victims of Prohibition, Nunakal Kanjeil and dthe Mullet Fish Clan Corroborree,
Mook and Shanto's PEACETRAIN, then dance to end the Stupid War on Drugs with SKYJUICE followed by the
RED EYED FROGS at the Annual Harvest Ball.
Mardi Grass 2003 Programme - Cannabis Law Reform Rally
Saturday 3rd May – Hemp Fair all day in Peace park (Town Hall if wet).
9.00am – Stage opens in Peace Park with local musicians including Martin Preedy, George Scott etc.
11.00am – Ganja Faeries Pot for Peace Outside Dance Workshop at Allsop Park in the village. Bring a drum. All Welcome.
Noon - Official Opening of the Hemp Olympics by
Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, Hempress of Gaia.
HEMP OLYMPIX - First Heats
Rolling Commentary by S. Sorrenson's comedy team and guests.
Joint rolling -
speed roll
artistic roll
adverse conditions roll
roll in the dark
Bong throw and yell
Grower's Iron Person event
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At the end of the Olympix Heats, around 5pm, music takes over the stage in what is the beginning of the Picker's Ball with
Earth Reggae. First up is ILLICIT, local rappers grown up on Tuntable community followed by local north coast legend and
green activist Neil Pike before Earth Reggae kicks in.
Also in Peace Park, The "Tete A Tete Tent" will operate all weekend for head to head matters. Program includes discussions
leading Australian Cannabis researches. Industrisl Hemp at 1.00pm includes Dr Keith Bolton
talking on his local Mop Crop Hemp Trials. At 2.00pm Dr Andrew Katelaris from Sydney talks
about his Medical Cannabis research project.
Then Australian Hemp Historian John Jiggins does Pot Politics at 3pm.
Also this is where you can meet Chicken George, aka The Plantem, Ghosts Who Tokes, and other locals to share
pot knowledge with stories, experiences and learning.
2.00pm - Legal advice session with Steve
Bolt.
3.00pm - Australian Premiere of Home Grown Nimbin Propaganda
- video activism at its Most Gonzo
"21st Century Prohibition - We're Just Doing Our Job".
4.20pm - Global Million Marijuana March
happening in a 216 cities (growing every day) around the planet - this weekend is
celebrated in the Nimbin HEMP Bar.
Saturday Events at the Town Hall in between movies from the Woodstock
Film Festival and Amanda's Amazing Sandwich Kitchen.
7.00 - 9.00pm - BIG Comics and Poets Show.
S Sorrensen - Local poet and comedian. Runs Laughing Lizard COMEDY Lounge in Lismore. Folk Festival favourite around Australia. Older, bolder, still wondering...
Christine Strelan - Poet and Novelist from Lillian Rock.. Huge folowing for her performance poetry and her published novels.
Alan Glover - Based in the Hunter valley, Alan is one of Australia's best stand - up comics. Recently toured Europe. Heaps of television work.
David Hallett- - Top performance poet. Published and a favourite with the ABC radio and TV. Founder of the acclaimed Stand Up Poets!
Greg Sullivan - Brisbane based comedian. Big, fat and funny. Comedy writer for Triple M radio. Much in demand in Australia and overseas for his hilarious comedy show.
In the village:
Midnight Comedy at the Oasis Café from 11pm.
Midnight DOOF - Dance for Drug Law Reform – Just outside the
village.
Mardi Grass 2003 Programme - Cannabis Law Reform Rally
Sunday 4th May - Hemp Fair all day in Peace Park.
Peace Park stage opens EARLY with Performer's blackboard led by Kelly.
10.00am - HEMP OLYMPIX 2nd Heats
Joint Rolling, Bong Throw and Yell, Grower's Iron Person Event followed by
Grower's Iron Person Final
11.00pm - Seed Swap.
12.30pm - Prepare for Cannabis Law Reform March - assemble Cecil street, opposite Police station.
1.00pm - CANNABIS
LAW REFORM RALLY.
Led by THE BUNDJALUNG PEOPLE AND GANJA FAERIES everyone joining in, proceeds down Cullen Street, Sibley Street,
ending up in Peace Park. Nimbin is one of 200 (216 at last count) cities around the planet marching this weekend for
cannabis law reform.
STAND UP AND BE COUNTED
3.00pm - HEMP OLYMPIX FINALS
Joint Rolling and Bong Throw and Yell.
4.00pm - Drawing of Cannabis Cup Judges Raffle. Tickets for a chance to be
a judge in the Cannabis Cup available all week-end at Hemp Embassy and info booth outside Town Hall.
5.30pm - Cannabis Cup - Location not to be announced!.
Sunset - Closing Ceremony Magic with Radio Jupiter includes presentation of Cup around 10pm.
Midnight Comedy at the Oasis Café from 11pm.
This is our eleventh Mardi Grass and although PEACE is the obvious theme of the times, this is a cannabis cultural gathering and is
a great opportunity to enlighten yourself and others with any knowledge you have on this extraordinary herb.
The $20 entry ticket will get you into three venues all weekend:
PEACE PARK HEMP FAIR
NIMBIN TOWN HALL (WOODSTOCK FILMS AND FORUMS)
AND BIZARRE 24 HOUR FILM FESTIVAL IN THE BIRTH AND BEYOND HALL.
Volunteers needed!
If you wan to help contact the Nimbin HEMP Embassy
by ph: 02) 6689 1842 or email hemp@nrg.com.au
Please remember Mardi Grass is put on by Volunteers
Don’t Give Them A Hard Time!