29th Annual MardiGrass Opening Protest

3:15pm : Gather on the footpath outside Nimbin Hospital

3:30pm : March for cannabis law reform from Nimbin Hospital across the road to the Police Station to deliver a request for them to join us in asking to be allowed our choice of medicine and recreation, as part of everyday life – not a criminal matter. We wish them well for a peaceful safe community weekend ahead for everyone. They respect our right to protest and we have to acknowledge it’s the politicians who ultimately make the rules, not them. However, we always like to check in case there are any police willing to cross the floor and march with us over the weekend in support of separating cannabis from the other illegal drugs which are nothing like our sacred dried herb.

1993 was the year when Bob Hopkins surrendered to Nimbin Police in protest of Cannabis prohibition during the first MardiGrass rally.

Allsop Park

5 pm : 29th MardiGrass Opening Ceremony

Opened by Councillor Vanessa Ekins, Mayor, Lismore City Council

Bundjalung-Widjabal dancers will herald 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, and Cannabis in particular which accounts for more than 70,000 arrests in Australia in recent years; more than ever before and no sign of decreasing. The biggest jail in the country is currently being built near Grafton in Nth NSW, not far from Nimbin.

Nimbin Town Hall

This venue features the MardiGrass Info Booth, Hemposium conference, Hemp Olympix, as well as cabaret, comedy and music, along with the Healers Tent and Veterans Lounge in the garden. The Town Hall Cafe on the Town Hall verandah is open all weekend serving healthy meals, local coffee and homemade hempseed cakes.