Hi, we want to watch the broadcast live on iView and we’re in Queensland. Could you please provide times for the live broadcast of the parade in the different timezones please?

-Brian

Hi Brian, thanks for watching with us tonight.

Here’s a link to the ABC iView page where you can stream the parade. 

For our Sydney viewers, it will be 7.30pm, which is 6.30pm for our Queensland audience.

Expect to see our Prime Minister out on the street tonight.
He’s the first sitting leader to march in the Mardi Gras.

Earlier in the day he gave a hint about his “costume” (😏), saying it will be a casual affair:

“I will just be wearing clothes, jeans and a shirt. I won’t try and compete in the fashion stakes.

“I will be just going along and celebrating the victories of the past.”

The parade is back on Oxford St, after two years at the Sydney Cricket Ground due to COVID-19.

The feeling on the street is ecstatic.

Husbands Cole and Ash are here from Brisbane for their fourth Mardi Gras parade.

“This is pretty amazing, this is the big one.

“We’re looking forward to getting on Oxford Street and being part of the energy.”

For Craig and Chris, it feels like the Olympics.

“Sydney has a buzz just like the 2000 Olympics, where everyone wants to welcome you, and that’s something you don’t see in this city that often.”

 It’s a bit of a maze to get into the city tonight 🚧.

There are road closures and detours to work around the thousands of pedestrians.

Here’s a little list of what’s happening and how to get around it:

• Oxford Street is closed between College St and Darlinghurst Rd.
• Liverpool Street is closed between Elizabeth St and College St.
• Flinders Street is closed between Oxford St and Moore Park Road.
• Sections of College St, Wentworth Avenue, Bourke St, and Campbell St are closed, along with some nearby local streets.
• Anzac Parade is closed southbound at Moore Park and will be closed northbound from 5pm.
• Sections of Moore Park Road and Driver Ave will be closed from 6:30pm.
• From around 9pm until 1am in the CBD, sections of Elizabeth St, Castlereagh St, and Pitt St will be closed between Market St and Goulburn St to allow crowds to safely leave the city.

Thousands are lining up in dazzling costumes at the marshalling area in Hyde Park.

But so many agree the long wait is worth it.

Eddie Oba has been working on his for a year, he’s marching for Gay Pride Australia.

“It’s inspired by my African heritage and being World Pride, I’m standing up and spreading the message of equality.

“It’s all about enlightening people and opening up their minds.”

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume.

Hiya!

I’m Maryanne from the Sydney digital news team and I’ll be your blogging host.

Sit back, relax, grab a glass of your most colourful cocktail, as we follow the 45th annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade.