An impromptu wedding has kicked off celebrations in Hyde Park ahead of the parade.
Thousands of people are preparing for Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade, with an impromptu wedding kicking off the celebrations in style.
This year's theme, Ecstatica, promises a mix of "pride, passion, and glitter-fuelled resistance" by lighting up Oxford Street in Darlinghurst through to Anzac Parade at Moore Park.
More than 150 floats will take part in the parade alongside 9,000 marchers to dance, sing and bedazzle the two-kilometre route, which was recently heritage listed on its 48th anniversary.
There were cheers, claps and tears as Jessica Luna and Carolina, who preferred not to reveal her surname, tied the knot in an impromptu wedding at Hyde Park.
Celebrant Stephen Christie was present to oversee the nuptials, with the newlywed couple telling the ABC the Mardi Gras wedding was completely last-minute.
"We were just gonna sign the papers and then do our ceremony later," Carolina said while patting away tears.
"We're still going to do a proper ceremony," Ms Luna said.
"But the date just kind of aligns, and you're like, what would be, like, better than just celebrate our love in this beautiful event, you know?"
Daniel Martinuzzo is marching with Midas Creations alongside his partner Scott Cowdell and cousin Michael Mastro.
Mr Martinuzzo said he was celebrating the fact that this year's afterparty had been cancelled.
In the weeks leading up to parade night, organisers pulled the plug on the much-loved Mardi Gras party, saying the $2 million bash was a major contributor to "significant financial loss", amid major sponsorship withdrawal.
"I totally understand where they're coming from," he said.
"When they come back, they'll come back bigger and better."
Meanwhile, Aurora Arsenic said her mother made her outfit for the parade, and that Mardi Gras meant she was able to "be myself".
"It means I'm surrounded by people in the community," she said.
Anthony Bansemer said he was "feeling very excited" about the parade.
"I'm feeling very honoured because Phoenix is my fiancé and him being an Aboriginal man and me being Thai," he said.
Marchers for Qtopia are donning pins bearing the image of late drag veteran Maxi Shield as part of their float to honour her long-standing legacy in Sydney's queer community.
The drag performer Kristopher Elliot died earlier this week after being diagnosed with cancer last August.
Jeremy Smith, Qtopia's artist ambassador, said they were coming out "big and loud" in celebration of such an "incredible personality".
"I feel like this is very much, a tribute to Maxi, and their indelible mark, she was such an icon."
Extra security for parade
The Bondi terror attack on December 14 means security is bolstered in the CBD and surrounding areas, with police confirming they will be patrolling the parade with long-arm rifles.
Despite citing "no immediate threat", assistant commissioner Stephen Hegarty said additional police presence was to "reassure the community, support crowd movement and target criminal and anti-social behaviour".
Less than 24 hours before the parade, the board of Mardi Gras made a decision to expel Pride in Protest over a series of comments and social media posts about the Jewish LGBTQ organisation Dayenu.
Mardi Gras CEO Jesse Matheson called the comments "offensive" and said they went against "the code of conduct and the values" of the event.