30th 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.

Hemp Bar

This is the home base for the POT ART contest, the Polite Service and the HEMP Party. Meet old hippies here and long time Cannabis law reform activists. Coffees, teas, healers and archival MardiGrass footage. The Bar hosts Ghosts of MardiGrass Past! Join the HEMP Party here. And if you live in Victoria or NSW, please sign up and help us register state HEMP Parties. Armband entry only!

4.20 pm Web Cam Broadcast begins at H*EM*P*Bar NimbinHempBar.com. Followed by the second ever Hash Suppositorium… Everything you need to know about, something everyone needs to know about, but never talks about, and has probably been too embarrassed to ask about, includes a live demonstration…Remember, getting old is not for the squeamish.

6 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

Allsop Park

5 pm : 30th 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.

6 pm : HEMP Fashion Show

MCs: TBC & Miss Guidance
Come frolic with faeries and fashionistas ! Journey through local hemp fields of fashion and learn how you too can dress like a hemp faerie. Save the planet and wear hemp! Credits go to: Orenda by Juliska; Kashi @ Hemp Embassy, and Mad Hattery.

7.30 pm : Great Green Cabaret

Nimbin’s fantastic Great Green Cabaret returns for the 2022 MardiGrass. Featuring an amazing array of performance artists including international headline act the Hussy Hicks, plus singer Jex Lopez on the grand piano, Brisbane acrobat David Carberry, together with Bronte Webster from the Pitts Family Circus, dance ensembles the Veil of Dreams and Nimbin’s own Ganja Faeries, comedian Greg Sullivan, poet/host David Hallett and popular Nimbin singers Andrea Soler and Neil Pike.

Doors open 7pm, show starts 7.30 (no pre-booking) First in/best seated. Entry via MardiGrass wristband [only $20 for locals!]

9 pm : Picker’s Ball

Hosted by MC TBC

Musos TBA

Healers Tent @ Town Hall Garden

Open all weekend: Medical Cannabis meeting place, veterans lounge, advice and education from local and visiting experts, as well as herbal extraction and cooking demonstrations.

6 pm : Veterans Lounge

Speakers: TBC

Max and David Hill
Damon from SA
Ben from Sunny coast

Considering MardiGrass is a great national and international melting pot, it is a perfect opportunity to have an open meeting for all those currently advocating for medicinal cannabis access. We are doing our community a disservice by not having open and clear communication on the number and variety of cannabis users in Australia. We want this community united like never before and to make ALL voices across Australia be heard: healers, advocates and users.

Chai n Vibes - Indica Arena

6 pm : Comedy – Stoner Stand Up!

The Laugh Mob is back and celebrating 7 years at the best festival in the world: the Nimbin Mardi Grass! This year we present ‘Stoner Stand up’ hosted by the always lovable goofy Brit himself….Kyle Legacy (UK). He’s back with a bunch of loose units that are ready to make you laugh or at least stop you from passing out! This year we have Patrick Melton (USA, Comedy central), Ruven Govender (SA), Sam Kisajukian (SOLD OUT Edinburgh fringe festival), Lochlan brooks (slender man), Marty Bright (Doof comedy), Nic the hippy (just a legend) & Gavin Scott (GSW).

8 pm : Music