Australia’s travel industry was at the centre of delightfully eccentric celebrations in Sydney over the weekend, as participants of the city’s 41st Mardi Gras parade.
Seductive angels, colourful pilots, stunning drag queens, Super Queer-oes and even a few Freddie Mercurys flooded the streets of Sydney on Saturday night where they embraced diversity, toasted love and partied the night away during (and well after) the loud and proud parade.
Some 12,000 people are believed to have made their way down Oxford Street for the annual event on some 200 freshly decorated floats inspired by everything from unicorns, cultures, football and much more.
Celebrities such as The Veronicas, Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Courtney Act and Bianca Del Rio were among the thousands of fearless gatherers, along with Kylie Minogue who’s surprise apearance was received by a warm rainbow welcome.
Joining the glitz and glamour of the 41st celebration were several travel industry brand who couldn’t have been more excited to be part of the grand event.
Among them were Qantas who captured attention with its celebratory Airbus A380 float featuring rainbow livery and specially-appointed drag flight attendants.
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Qantas’ presence was described by attendees as “amazing”, particularly due to its family focus that saw partners and children of staff members dance on and walk alongside the float.
Also grooving down Oxford Street on Saturday was a bright double-decker bus from Big Bus Sydney. The tour vehicle showed its love with a giant rainbow flag hanging off its top deck and a group of party-people waving unity signs and the familiar LGBTIQ+ flag.
In the lead up to the parade, Big Bus Sydney was also offering guests free access to select Mardi Gras festival’s theatre, music, dance, circus and cabaret shows.
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