It’s the happiest time of the year when the streets of Sydney are filled with colour, dance and don’t forget the incredible wigs.
According to Destination NSW, the annual Mardi Gras Parade attracts more than 25,000 interstate and overseas attendees.
While the biggest party with floats and dancing Queens will be held on Oxford Street, other parts of New South Wales are getting in on Mardi Gras this year, with their own celebrations to commemorate the annual festival.
For those looking for a new way to join in on the fun we have breakdown of other events going on around New South Wales:
BridgeClimb disco? Yes please!
Did someone say disco? And karaoke? Exclusively for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival BridgeClimb has both at the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
From 25 February to 9 March, beneath Sydney summer skies and a glittering mirror ball, you can dance like a diva to disco beats as you belt out your favourite karaoke classics.
Oxford Street strip parties
Step away from the parade and join in on celebrations at some of the city’s best-known gay venues.
You’ll give your dance shoes a workout at clubs like ARQ, Midnight Shift and Phoenix Bar.
For something a little more lighthearted, there’s the camp classics Stonewall and Palms, or entertainment hubs such as Slide, with its mix of cocktail bar, club and burlesque shows.
Check out Ireland’s float
If you are at the Oxford Street Parade be sure to look out for Ireland’s float, which will make an appearance for the first time in over ten years.
The float will be celebrating Ireland and its connection to Australia and is proudly supported by the Consulate General of Ireland and Tourism Ireland.
Ireland’s very own Panti Bliss will be joining the green and gold float alongside Australian DJ Dan Murphy. There will also be a sea of green winged dancers following the glittering shamrock laden float.
Pullman Sydney adopts the rainbow
Pullman Sydney Hyde Park is seeing every colour of the rainbow in the lead-up to Sydney’s 37th Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Located on College Street just moments away from Oxford Street, it’s safe to say the hotel has drag friends in all the right places.
Showing its support for the GLBT Community, Pullman Sydney Hyde Park has partnered with some of Sydney’s ‘highbrow’ Drag Queens to create a lobby display fit for a queen.
The display features outfits from Sydney’s biggest names in Drag including Verushka Darling, Claire De Lune and Maxi Shield.
In addition to the displays, the hotels reception has been transformed into a geometric, colour-changing rainbow, which will shine as a beacon of support for those marching in Saturday’s Parade. The hotel’s display will be available to see until 9 March, 2015.