Last night visitors from around the country (and the world) came to Sydney to celebrate the 36th annual Mardi Gras parade.
300,000 Mardi Gras revellers watched the pride parade and celebrated throughout the city, with a record 144 floats travelling down Oxford Street.
Despite heavy rain, the spirits of those who turned up to watch the celebration were high, with many merrymakers dressed in sequins, bright colours and outrageous make-up in typical Mardi Gras fashion.
The topic of gay marriage was significant theme in the parade this year – as was Russia’s anti-gay laws, with a Vladimir Putin puppet featured in the parade. To give you an idea of the parade, here are some images of the night from LGBTI organisation Same Same.
Oral B featuring Delta Goodrem. #sydneymardigras pic.twitter.com/Y8sf3H0q30
— SameSame.com.au (@samesame) March 1, 2014
“Exterminate homophobia”. #sydneymardigras pic.twitter.com/Bum12gK003
— SameSame.com.au (@samesame) March 1, 2014
We’re looking through our @SydneyMardiGras Parade and Party pics now! The first galleries will be up this morning. pic.twitter.com/3H7e9vk9Zw
— SameSame.com.au (@samesame) March 1, 2014
Samantha Jade performing her hit “Fire Starter” at RHI. #sydneymardigras pic.twitter.com/BXXw4rndtO
— SameSame.com.au (@samesame) March 1, 2014
Tina Arena on the stage! #sydneymardigras pic.twitter.com/kjZAOp03nJ
— SameSame.com.au (@samesame) March 1, 2014
Although there was literal rain on the parade, the Mardi Gras festival was just as flamboyant and fabulous as ever.
Top Comments
I work at the only school to have a float in the parade in Sydney.
macquariegrammarschool.edu.au
It stopped raining an hour or two before the parade... If you note in the photos, we all look pretty dry. (Yes, I say we, that's me in the pink feathers in the third photo - so gloriously thrilled to be there!)
It was a truly exellent night - as it always is - can't wait for next year!