Each year, Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is one of the most anticipated, colourful nights on Sydney’s cultural calendar.

With this years celebration marking 40 years since the first parade and coinciding with the nation’s recent decision to say ‘yes’, it’s sure to be the biggest and boldest yet! With so many ways to celebrate, here are nine Mardi Gras events (in order of dates they’re occurring) to get amongst, and celebrate equality and love for all.

METAMORPHOSES @ OLD FITZ THEATRE: FEBRUARY 8 – MARCH 10
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The Tony Award nominated stage adaptation is reimagined for Sydney Mardi Gras 40 th anniversary. Dripping in sensuality and set in a body of water, the play takes Ovid’s poem of ancient Greek tales and propels them into a sensual, vivid space. Metamorphoses celebrates the primal body and examines the staying power of love and desire when faced with inevitable change.

If you don’t fancy crowds and boozy parties, this Red Line production gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the spirit of Mardi Gras without the likely hangover.

MARDI GRAS FILM FESTIVAL @ EVENT CINEMAS: FEBRUARY 15 – MARCH 1
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Sydney’s long running Mardi Gras Film Festival is back for it’s 25th year. The popular offshoot to Sydney’s LGBTIQ celebrations, will see 55 feature films and 69 short films across 71 sessions this year. Housed at Event Cinemas on George Street and Golden Age Cinema, the MGFF program offers star-power features like Paul Rudd’s Ideal Home
and Freak Show (starring Bette Midler, Abigail Breslin and Laverne Cox) as well as documentaries and international debuts.

In addition to the screenings, there will also be speed-dating, film making workshops and even the Top 25 queer films held at Event Cinemas festival bar throughout it all.

SOMETHING GAY, MARDI GRAS EDITION @ THE FLINDERS: FEBRUARY 24
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From local Sydney party outfit Something Else, comes the two-room experience of Something Gay; the Mardi Gras edition. Housed at The Flinders Hotel, Something Gay is a feel-good musical experience showcasing the techno and house DJs including Jennifer Cardini direct from Frances, as well as Matt Vaughn and Cunningpants, just to name a few.

PIXEL PARTY @ VALVE BAR: FEBRUARY 23
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There’s gay, there’s gamers, and there now there is gay-ming! Sydney Gaymers are taking over Valve Bar (just a heartbeat from Central Station) for a night of multiplayer console fun, gaming-themed drag shows and dancing to tunes provided by DJ Bandit. Swing by and geek out with a fun clash of characters, for one night only.

MARDI GRAS POOL PARTY @ IVY: FEBRUARY 26
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The heat will still be soaring in the closing days of summer, so there’s no better excuse to get the swimmers out and kick off Mardi Gras week, than a good ol’ fashioned pool party. Enter, the Mardi Gras Pool Party at one of the CBD’s most spacious venues, The Ivy. Expect all the flamboyant vibrancy of an inner-city oasis teaming with Speedo’s. Why not take a dip?

THE IMPERIAL HOTEL RE-OPENING WEEKEND: MARCH 2 – MARCH 4
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The historic and iconic LGBTIQ Sydney landmark, the Imperial Hotel, is back – and if that’s not enough excitement in itself, it’s just in time for Sydney’s Mardi Gras parade weekend. After closing in September last year for renovations, the doors are being thrown open once again to show off it’s fabulous new facelift and promising once again to return to it’s cult status as a queer hub. Extra good news: It sits outside the lock-out zone, so, no excuses not to party on.

MARDI GRAS PARADE @ DARLINGHURST: MARCH 3
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As the metaphorical jewel in the crown of Sydney’s Mardi Gras weekend, the Parade that stops the city marks one of the most anticipated, colourful nights on Sydney’s cultural calendar. A spectacle and a protest disguised as a party, a celebration of inclusion and acceptance, this years 40th anniversary Parade is set to be the biggest yet. With 200 groups taking part in the procession, spectacular floats and fabulous entertainment, the parade is not to be missed. Free for all, it is a festival of love wrapped up in glitter and fabulousness.

8. CHER @ HORDERN PAVILLION: MARCH 3
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After the parade ends, the Party truly begins and this year is undoubtedly going to be the biggest, boldest celebration yet because… CHER. IS. HERE! With rumours circulating early in the year that she might grace us with her presence, it was almost hard to believe (see what I did there) that the pop queen and longtime LGBTIQ icon would be confirmed as this years headliner, but dreams really do come true. Brace your glitter covered selves, because this is one for the history books! Tickets are sold out, but find yourself a way in.

HEAPS GAY PARDI GRAS – QUEERTOPIA @ MANNING BAR: MARCH 3
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From party starters Heaps Gay comes Pardi Gras, kicking off at Manning Bar and Gardens in Camperdown from
10pm. Queertopia promises a mesmerising, dazzling, larger than life party that celebrates the colour and energy of queer culture. Featuring three magical land-inspired rooms and two outdoor garden stages all in one spot, you can dance all night; inside or under a canopy of stars until your feet hurt… or 3am… whichever comes first.