| Daer Reader After two long years, it’s finally here. Tomorrow we will come home to Oxford Street for the 45th Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade. Over 200 floats and 12,500 marchers are ready to go, and here’s everything you need to know to plan your Parade day. Step 1: Introducing the Plan Your Parade Experience page. Bookmark it, save it, send it to your friends, print it out, fax it to your aunt. Consider it your pre-reading for the Parade. All the details below are available on the page. | | Download the Mardi Gras Parade map
Parade day favours the prepared. Whether you’re watching from the street or a ticketed Viewing Area, download the Parade route and pedestrian map to plot out your strut to Oxford Street, Flinders Street and Anzac Parade.Remember, if you’re planning to watch the Parade from the street the free viewing areas extend all the way to Moore Park so head there first to avoid the Oxford Street crowds! | | | Forecast is in: Sunny and 28 degrees!
The forecast for Parade day is a sunny 28 degrees, we recommend you brush up on NSW Health’s guide to heat safety in advance and remember to keep hydrated and pack your SPF if you’re arriving early. | | |  | Travelling to the Parade
Whether you’re coming by rideshare, public transport or walking there are plenty of options to make your trip to and from the Parade as easy as possible. Again, Parade favours the prepared so plan your trip.Travelling by train - If you are travelling by train, please check that the arrival and departure stations have facilities that meet your access needs.
- All patrons who register to the Accessible Viewing Area must alight the train at Central Train Station in 2023. From Central Station you will then be able to transfer to alternate public transport services or the free Mardi Gras accessible shuttle bus service.
- We remind you that Museum Station will be closed from 5pm on Saturday 25 February until 4am on Sunday 26 February.
Travelling by bus - Mardi Gras recommends any patrons travelling by bus to alight at Central Train Station. From Central Station, you will then be able to transfer to alternate public transport services or the free Mardi Gras accessible shuttle bus service.
- From 3pm, extra buses will run into the city from the northern beaches, the north shore, the inner west and the eastern suburbs. More details on these services will be available on the Transport NSW website.
- After the Parade, extra bus services will run on major routes out of the city until 3am.
- Some buses will be diverting from their regular routes due to major road closures which begin from 3pm.
Travelling by rideshare, car or accessible taxi - The large crowds and road closures around the Parade footprint can make it challenging for taxis and rideshares to safely drop-off and pick-up passengers in certain areas of the City, particularly around Darlinghurst and Surry Hills. An accessible taxi/rideshare drop-off and pick-up zone will be available on the corner of Albion and Bourke Streets, Surry Hills.
- Taxi and rideshare companies will not be able to take booking requests for pick-up in areas where there are road closures.
- Wheelchair Accessible Taxi (WAT) bookings can be made via Zero200. Bookings must be made prior to the Mardi Gras Parade night through Zero200.
| | | Road closures
Major road closures and widespread parking restrictions will be in place from as early as 3pm on Saturday 25 February and most roads remain closed until 4am Sunday. Motorists are urged to avoid unnecessary travel in the CBD and to expect delays as traffic will be heavy on detour routes.Pedestrian access across the parade route will be maintained at Riley St, Crown St and Albion St from 4.30pm until 7pm, after such time there is no pedestrian crossing of Oxford or Flinders Streets available until roads reopen.For detailed closure and clearway listings and maps, visit Live Traffic NSW. | | | Driving and parking
With carparks in the city expected to fill early and extensive restrictions on street parking in place, it’s best to leave the car at home and take advantage of the additional public transport services running to get you to and from Mardi Gras celebrations.If you have to drive and park your vehicle be aware that roads may close around your parked location. Vehicles are not permitted to drive on closed roads or exit car park driveways onto closed roads at any time unless at the direction of NSW Police.For parking options in the Sydney CBD visit City of Sydney – Parking. | | | Event safety
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras has been working closely with NSW Health, NSW Police, NSW Ambulance and other key stakeholders to ensure safety is the top priority for everyone at the Parade.In the event of an emergency, please: - Call 000 (triple zero) immediately for emergency services to respond.
- Notify the incident to our staff, security, volunteers or NSW Police on the ground near you. They will be able to assist you and alert Event Management for next steps.
In the event of an emergency, please follow the directions of emergency services (NSW Police, Fire + Rescue NSW, or NSW Ambulance) and our staff, security and volunteers. | | | Parade accessible transfer services
We provide various transfer services to registered guests with accessibility needs to help them travel to their Parade viewing area. These services include: - Accessible Shuttle Bus Service from Central Train Station to close proximity of the Accessible Viewing Area
- Accessible Buggy Service – to assist with travelling from the Shuttle Bus drop-off to the Accessible Viewing Area
- Accessible Parking
For details on the services available and download the Mardi Gras Parade VIsual Story visit the Plan Your Parade website. | | | Beat the crowds and tune in to Mardi Gras Parade on ABC
As our official broadcast partner, ABC is bringing Sydney WorldPride to screens across the country from tomorrow, Friday 24 February.Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade – Saturday 25 February 2023 | | | Celebrate the Parade at your local
To support local hospitality businesses, Meta and the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras have once again awarded 30 grants to venues around Australia to host official viewing events for the Mardi Gras Parade (25 Feb). Last year, the grants helped generate over $300,000 in revenue across 29 venues and created over 460 jobs for staff, performers and artists. If you can’t make the Parade in person, why not check out one of these venues and see what they have planned click here. | | | Pride care space running all night long
Uniting Church, Sydney Medically Supervised Injecting Centre, Kirketon Road Centre and the City of Sydney have come together to host a Pride Care Space by Sydney Town Hall. A space to get information, advice, hydrate, reconnect and recharge – the space will run throughout the Parade and into the night. | | | | |
