Sydney Mardi Gras Parade: Crowds descend for iconic Mardi Gras parade

Revellers in their sparking and rainbow finery have filled Sydney’s Oxford St for the 47th Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade. See all the pictures here.

Revellers have filled Sydney’s Oxford St and surrounding streets for the 47th annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade on Saturday night.

Revellers took to the streets ahead of the parade’s 7pm start time, in which about 11,000 people on more than 200 floats will make their way from the northern end of Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, down Flinders St, before finishing at Anzac Parade, Moore Park at about 11pm.

From 6pm, Hyde Park was filled with people in their Mardi Gras finery, with this year’s theme: Free to Be.

Sydneysides get ready for the Mardi Gras parade. Picture: NewsWire / Ben Symons

Bec George from Architecture with Pride gears up for the 47th annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade. Picture: NewsWire / Ben Symons

Fellow revellers from the float, Childless Cat Ladies donned on matching robes. Picture: NewsWire / Ben Symons

Fruits from Brazil will also be marching in the parade. Picture: NewsWire / Ben Symons

Colours of our Community will be one of more than 200 groups marching on Saturday. Picture: NewsWire / Ben Symons

Jen from Newcastle Pride at Sydney Opera House staff float. Picture: NewsWire / Ben Symons

“Our theme is about making a statement to embrace and rejoice in our unique individuality as well as our collective identity,” Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras chief executive Gil Beckwith said.

“It is about the bravery to rise for each other in the darkest of times and protect the progress we’ve made, using it as a springboard toward the progress we deserve.”

As is tradition, the parade will be led by Dykes on Bikes, LGBTQIA+SB First Nations communities and the 78ers, the name given to the activists who marched in the first Mardi Gras parade in 1978.

Drag King Magnus Opium gearing up for the parade. Picture: NewsWire / Ben Symons

Kimberly Yvette, Guy Fenton, Kaela Macinnes from Oz Queer Hags. Picture: NewsWire / Ben Symons

Sydney’s Oxford St ahead of Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade. Picture: NewsWire/ Tim Pascoe

Authorities have also warned motorists to avoid streets near the parade, with road closures on parts of Flinders St, Oxford St, South Dowling St and Moore Park Rd between 5pm to 2am.

From 9pm to 11.30pm sections of Elizabeth St and Castlereagh St may also be closed to allow pedestrians to leave the CBD.

While motorists will be able to access Cleveland St and William St, NSW’s Transport Management Centre has urged people to allow considerable travel time.

Extra trains and light rail services will continue until 2am, with NightRide buses and rail replacement buses set to take over into the early morning.

However, Museum train station in the CBD will be closed between 5pm to 4am due to the large crowds.

Originally published as Sydney Mardi Gras Parade: Crowds descend for iconic Mardi Gras parade