Friday 29th April

MardiGrass Passes Available Here

24th annual MardiGrass Opening

10:45am : Gather on the footpath outside Nimbin Hospital

11:00am : March for cannabis law reform from Nimbin Hospital across the road to the Police Station to deliver a request for them to treat us, and our choice of medicine and recreation, as part of everyday life - not a criminal matter.

Nimbin Hall/School of Arts

10:00am : Information Booth opens

The MardiGrass Family Cafe in the Town Hall is open all weekend serving healthy meals, local coffee and homemade hempseed cakes.

Midday - 6pm : Hemposium - Talks and forums on cannabis law reform issues

CLICK HERE FOR PROGRAM

Click here for Australian Medical Cannabis Observatory SURVEY

Featuring international speakers: Ajia Mae Moon & Dana Larsen [Canada], Abe Acton [Colorado], Coral Reefer [California]

Australian speakers: Klara Marosszeky, Prof Nick Lintzeris, Martin Ernegg, Dr David Caldicott, Torsten Wiedemann, Will Tregoning, Greg Chipp, Derryn Hinch, Bob Hopkins, Ray Thorpe, David Shoebridge, Fiona Patton, Dr Mehreen Faruqi, Dr Andrew Katelaris, Dr John Jiggens, Damon Adams, Glenn Druery, Hisashi Isogai, Radha Wilkinson, Wadzy Wadsworth, Dolph Cooke, Gabe Buckley

** Bubblebag Demo in the Hall garden Friday, Saturday and Sunday midday **

7.30pm : Great Green Cabaret

A fabulous fast-paced variety show featuring comedy, acrobatics, poetry, hip hop and salsa and flamenco dancers, plus singers and musicians...a grand mix of performers from Nimbin and all around the region including Sassy Salsa, Barkersvale Steppers, Willie McElroy, Pitts Family Circus, Arte Gitana, Sarah Stando & more!! Entry $10 or MardiGrass wristband

9pm - PICKER'S BALL

Itchy Dog Band

Ruffscales

The Blindfolds

Allsop Park

5:00pm MardiGrass Opening Ceremony

After the arrival of Chibo carrying the Hemp Olympix Torch with the Eternal Flame For The Victims Of Prohibition, the Bundjalung Custodians will do a smoking ceremony and welcome to country followed by a minutes silence to remember our Brothers and Sisters, Victims of this senseless War on Drugs. Captain Cook stayed at Botany Bay from 29th April to May 7th 1770 when he raised the flag 245 years ago.

Indica Arena

6pm : Comedy at the Laugh Grass Tent!

Comedy at MardiGrass 2016 includes “Laughing on the Grass” Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Disco Sistas tent every evening from 6pm.

Weed love to make you laugh with our comedy ! Do we have a line up for you ! ...Do we ?...ah....Yes ! That's lucky ! The comedians are turning up here at the Laugh Grass tent ! Plonk your ass on a chair as the professional comedians turn it on ! For free ! They offered to pay you to turn up, but we said no, that won't be necessary. Laugh ? The comedy is on ! At the Laugh Grass tent in Indica Arena with Disco Sista courtesy of the Nimbin Mardi Grass.

7pm : Movies and music by Disco Sista

"The Emporar Wears No Clothes" on Sat eve and a seperate historical doco on the Sunday
Ganja Music sessions (70s genre, modern genres) with a Main dance night Saturday

Dont Worry Be Happy Promo
Nimbin Mardigrass

Sow the Seed Grow the Weed
I love you Baby

Cannabis It's Just a Plant

Hemp Bar & Medical Cannabis Information Service:
This is the home of POT ART though there will be more next door in the Embassy also. Meet old hippies here and long time cannabis law reform activists. If you have any doubts about how absolutely racist and greedy prohibition is go and visit French Sam, Max Stone and Dave Cannabis who all live there. Armband entry only!

4.20 pm  Web Cam Broadcast begins at HEMP Party Bar and includes Church of the Holy Smoke MardiGrass Blessing with the sacrificial $US100 note lighting the joint on the very moment of 4:20. NimbinHempBar.com

6:00 pm   GREY POWER outside the HEMP BAR. Annual gathering of grandparents, parents and children for the POLITE SERVICE to capture evidence in images to record the proof that pot is anti-aging! www.BigJoint.org

Nimbin Cafe - The Oasis of Nimbin:

HomeGrown Chillout Area, meet the locals, acoustic musos welcome.

Nimbin Aboriginal Arts & Culture Centre:

The Nimbin Aboriginal Arts and Culture Centre, in Sibley Street on the way to Peace/Skate Park will be open throughout the MardiGrass weekend with Bush Tucker, an Art Exhibition and a chance to talk with Local Elders. Australia's Aborigines make up 2 to 3% of Australians today, but comprise more than 50% of the juveniles in our jails. How can we live with this shame?

Bush Theatre:

6-11pm : Film Night! And Q&A with film makers! Click here for more details!

Other Roadside Attractions:

6pm: HEMP Embassy back verandah - HEMP Party members meet each evening

7pm: Nimbin Street Drummers * Please leave the street open for traffic!

Nimbin Hotel * Music *

MardiGrass 2016

in the village, green!

(-; fell free to come bearing buds ;-)

WHY SHOULD I BUY THE GOLDEN BUD PASS?

Because MardiGrass can’t happen or continue if you don’t.

Because it gives you free access to all events in Peace Park (The Home of the Hemp Olympix), the Town Hall and the Bush Theatre.

Because some events like the Comedy Cabaret and Joint Rolling will fill the Town Hall which has limited capacity and Golden Bud Passes get priority entry.

Because you are supporting cannabis law reform which is what MardiGrass is all about.

Because the Council and Police have given us so many rules and regulations to comply with, the whole event is in danger of folding if you don’t.

Because you can’t get entry into the Hemp Bar, Mullaways Magic Medicine Tent or other venues without the Golden Bud wristband.

Because the showground camping team are all volunteer legends who will look after you with genuine old style Aussie country hospitality and you’ll have a terrific weekend.

Because you’ll feel really good about yourself contributing to a worthwhile cause.

Because in years to come you can tell your grandchildren you were in the war on drugs

MardiGrass Weekend Passes and Camping

Weedledum and Weedledee

To Apply:

Market Stalls: Contact MardiGrass Stalls

Food Stalls: Contact Michael Balderstone

Musicians, Entertainers: Contact Michael Balderstone 66890326

Volunteers

Picking the perfect time to harvest.

Medical Cannabis Guide

Advertising space is available in the MardiGrass print program.
40,000 copies will be printed for 2016 and available all year from the Nimbin HEMP Embassy promoting the virtues of Cannabis for food, fuel, fibre, medicine and therapy.
You can place your advertisement for $300 at 82mm wide, 55 mm high in CMYK at 300dpi as a PDF, or jpg.
Larger sizes are available at the same width or as a 257mm X 50mm banner.
Contact us for your requirements. head@hempembassy.net
The deadline for print is Saturday 16th of April.
Ads will be automatically included on MardiGrass website program for 2016 as soon as we receive them.
We reserve the right to reject ads deemed not in keeping with the aims and objectives of the MOB. (MardiGrass Organising Body)

You can find previous editions of the 16 page MardiGrass print program online.

https://nimbinhemp.com/mardigrass/programs

When's that?

PARKING
Please park as directed and keep driveways clear.
This is important. BE AWARE OF NO PARKING ZONES. Visitors parking will be appropriately sign posted on the entrances to the village. RTA approved road traffic control will be in place during MardiGrass. Last year about $20K in parking tickets were issued and we have no doubt they'll be hunting your cash again this year.
SO PARK OFF THE ROAD
in one of the camping or parking areas.

SUNDAY RALLY FOR CANNABIS LAW REFORM
This main event begins at 2.30pm Sunday at the Western Carpark exit and will block traffic as the parade proceeds South along Cullen Street to the Police Station and then Cecil Street for about a hundred metres where we turn left just before the bridge, to enter the Hash Bowl Stage in Plantem Park..

A delegation will continue along Cullen St. to the police station to ensure they get the message, WE ARE HERE FOR CANNABIS LAW REFORM AND IT’S TIME THEY HELPED US.

CAMPING
Please camp in designated camping areas only, not beside the road. Council and Police are determined to get campers off the roadways this year, so be aware. Be super careful with rubbish, recycling is happening so please bother.

The Nimbin streets are glass-free zones during MardiGrass.

Remember it is a cannabis harvest festival not a beerfest but JUNGLE PATROL will provide breathalyser checks for drivers anyway.

WARNING
Be careful with your drug consumption. Especially cookies! They can be stronger than you expect. It is wise to eat half then wait an hour or so before you eat anymore. Don’t mix with alcohol.

If you feel woozy or have an injury or need help ask the JUNGLE PATROL or go to the Nimbin Hall Info Booth.

No loud drumming or amplified music after midnight and no dogs please!

The Game of Stones

Fire & Smoke

Short History of the Hemp Olympix

HEMP OLYMPIX in PLANTEM PARK Sat and Sun 11.30am

Entry is $2:00 for each event.


Tug of Drug War - Competing teams on opposite ends of a good strong new HEMP rope, try to drag their opponents over the centre line for victory.

Correct Weight - You've got vegetable matter, a baggie and no scales. Make up an ounce. Closest to the correct weight (28.349 grams!) wins.

Growers Ironperson Event - Involves lugging a sack of fertiliser and buckets of water around the simulated planting area obstacle course with a tick and leech infested lantana tunnel. The men's event is a 40 KG sack while the women contend with an 18 KG sack. The top five crawl into the final. A disclaimer must be signed to compete in this event.

Bong Throw & Yell - where entrants throw a bong full of stinking bong water as far as humanly possible whilst yelling ‘Free the Weed’ or something similar.

Joint Rolling (Must burn from one end to the other):
The five categories:
1. Speed Roll - Roll a standard three-paper joint as fast as you can. The three fastest go into the finals. Joints must include a cardboard filter, or will be judged incomplete.
2. Artistic Roll - Roll the most beautiful joint within ten minutes with as many papers as you like. The three best examples enter the finals.
3. Roll in the Dark - Athletes are blindfolded.
4. Adverse Conditions Roll - Dependant on weather conditions on the day and the judges' creativity.
5. Seed Sorting - ...separate the seed from the weed.

HEMP FRINGE OLYMPIX... to be held in Plantem Park whenever we get a chance, listen for announcements.
Correct Weight - as above
Beard Stash (other head hair is ok) - who can hide the most the best.
Pot Tattoo show – so long as our favorite herb features in your artwork.
Taxi Run – where Pigloose tries to catch a laneboy.

Volunteers still needed, especially early ones!

Early Volunteer Photos:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jiriholba/sets/72157651941091456/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009234294834&sk=photos

Cannabis is finally high on the agenda in Australia's parliament at last and we expect a big gathering for 2016 MardiGrass. Medical cannabis is suddenly acceptable and the hippies weren’t crazy after all. Weed experts from Colorado, Canada and Europe will join our own for three days of discussions, art, music, performance and humour in an atmosphere that has most people grinning ear to ear. So many gathered together thinking the same way has its own power and you will feel it when you are here.

Plantem Park is a natural amphitheatre behind the Town Hall and the MardiGrass main entry will be on the road beside the Hall. In the Park, Sativa Stadium is perfect for the Hemp Olympix Growers Iron Person Event and Bong Throw but the Joint Rolling competitions will be held in the Town Hall.
Annual events like the Hemposium Forums, Kombi Konvoy, Million Marijuana March, Pot Poetry and Pot Art, Pickers and Harvest Balls etc, are all in the program with some surprises as always.

Please contact the MOB if you would like to help, or even better come to the weekly MardiGrass Organising Body meetings every Friday from 5pm at the Nimbin HEMP Embassy."

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MardiGrass will become a Festival when we can celebrate the herb without fear of prosecution and persecution. When the Police Riot Squad have a float in the street parade behind the Ganja Faeries, Big Joint & POLITE, then we really will have a proper festival and celebration.
In the meantime, this annual event is a POLITICAL PROTEST RALLY.
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Nimbin MardiGrass 2016
This is our fourth year at our new venue for MardiGrass, behind the HEMP Embassy and Town Hall, right in the middle of the village. There is a natural amphitheatre around a stage and plenty of space for the HEMP Olympix and we will not get in the way of traffic or the skatepark. If it�s raining, some events will be moved into the Town Hall which is part of the same venue.
Sunday�s Twenty Fourth Annual Cannabis Law Reform Rally is now planned to march from the Western Car Park Exit along Cullen Street to the Police station, before going down to the Hash Bowl Stage for speeches.

Police are always concerned about our MardiGrass protest plans and we agreed people are not to trespass on the Police Station land nor blow smoke in any police faces. Either act will give cause for arrest.

Police want the MardiGrass weekend to be non confrontational and we agree. It�s critical we are peaceful protestors and respect is maintained. They want to emphasise they don't make the laws and they support our right to protest. We think secretly many of them would like to march with us, so impossible has their job got these days dealing with the popularity of cannabis.

To register for Jungle Patrol at MardiGrass, drop in or phone 66891842 or contact us at nimbinmardigrass@hempembassy.net or contact Heidi Glover phone: 02-66897589

Jungle Patrol Meeting

6:00pm Thursday 29th April

Back Verandah, Nimbin Town Hall

SAVE-A-Mate course

9.30 - 4pm Thursday April 29th at the Bowling Club

Contact:

Heidi Glover: Phone: 02-6689 7589

* Musicians and performers wanting to play should enter the busking competition.

* Local residents or businesses with special needs or requests please get in touch.

* If you want to get involved as a volunteer please come a week or two before or drop in and write in the book when and what you want to do, what skills you have, contact no etc etc.

We are especially looking for people with a NSW traffic control certificate who would be available to assist us over the MardiGrass weekend. Please contact Heidi if you would like to be a part of this very important task. Special Privileges apply!

If you are not local, contact nimbinmardigrass@hempembassy.net

Safety First: Parents, Teens and Drugs

* BUSKERS 'Grassed Stand.
Designated busking zones for MardiGrass 2016. The winner of the 'most popular' busking performance during the big weekend, whoever collects the most "tokes", gets to play on the Town Hall Stage after the Rally on Sunday. Keen buskers can register for their preferred locations at the Town Hall info booth or at the Embassy on the day.

* Pot Art entries need to be into the HEMP Embassy by 4.20 Friday before, although that is very late. Entries are accepted from April 1st and this year some shop windows have their own artist so follow the Pot Art Trail along Cullen Street.

* The Hemp Rope Tug-O-Drug War is a ramped up event in the Hemp Olympix again this year so get your team of 5 (five) together. All five team members have to have something in common! Once again we have a Police versus Polite event scheduled for mid-day Saturday to kick off the HEMP Olympix. Recently the Police fooled us by turning up an hour late by which time our star performers had wandered off and they subsequently soundly beat our weakened team which was hastily scratched up from the crowd and included children! It must not happen again this year so if you fancy yourself in the Polite team get in touch please for the gruelling training sessions. (lol)

* Kombi Konvoy details are HERE.

MardiGrass POLITE PLOT!
The Nimbin POLITE SQUAD was created in response to the Police Riot Squad raids on April Fools Day 2008 on the HEMP Bar and Nimbin Museum. This years MardiGrass Polite recruitment drive is looking for more overalls and bodies to fill them, and for the first time our new division, the Polite Undercover Surveillance Squad (PUSS) is taking enrolments and there are unlimited vacancies left. Bring a camera if you have one and a mobile phone for Undercover Polite work. POLITE Missions have taken the BIG JOINT to Sydney and Canberra to meet Obama. They've certainly made their presence felt from the HEMP BAR-POLITE BUREAU attached to the Embassy. As ambassadors for cannabis law reform and advocates of medicinal cannabis, the POLITE will champion the cause again at this years' Rally, carrying the parade flagship BIG JOINT at 2.30pm on MardiGrass Sunday. During the big weekend, Nimbin POLITE will coordinate with Jungle Patrol. They will document all civil liberty complaints and also witness the behaviour of law enforcement. New 'Undercover Operatives' will be trained to mingle with the crowd and detect suspicious activities! Watch out for a MardiGrass warm up at the now annual April Fools Day Polite Raids.

MUSIC

The first Hemposium talks and discussions begin on Friday at midday in the Town Hall and the opening ceremony is at dusk with the Bundjalung Custodians in Allsop Park outside the Hotel. Movies are on in the Bush Theatre along with the Friday night street drumming and bands in the Hall.
Saturday’s main events include the heats of the Hemp Olympix, Forums and workshops on all aspects of cannabis, the Kombi Konvoy, 4.20 Mass Enlightenment and the evening Harvest Ball. More music in Mingle Park, at the Oasis and on the Market Stage.
Sunday has the finals of the Hemp Olympix, more Forums, Pot Poetry and the main street float parade and rally with the Ganja Faeries and Polite Big Joint preceding the rally speakers.

This is a not for profit event sponsored by the Nimbin HEMP (thats Help End Marijuana Prohibition) Embassy which is run by volunteers and dedicated to ending the ridiculous war on cannabis, one of the planet's most useful plants. We need you to buy an armband to support cannabis law reform and we guarantee you a great and educational weekend at Nimbin's Yarndi University.

The Lismore City Council and NSW Police are vowing to be tough on roadside camping and we recommend you go into one of the official campsites. If you are visiting for the day only we have off road carpark sites for you separate from camping areas.

Traffic controllers would be with the Jungle Patrol.

NTV-HD: Turn on, tune in and chill out.
nimbintelevision.net | YouTube | Justin TV

You're all welcome to the MardiGrass Organising Body (MOB) meetings at the Embassy each Friday from 5pm.

Check out the 2NimFM radio podcast site at http://nimbinradiomedia.libsyn.com/ This site includes podcasts of many of the 2NimFM radio programs broadcast during last MardiGrass. They will be recording events over this MardiGrass and posting new material as it comes in.

While at MardiGrass, Tune your FM radio to Nimbin's own NIM FM 102.3, broadcasting and interviewing live from venues around the village.