Mardi Gras Sydney 2016 parties and celebrations trump lockout laws

Expect nothing but glitter and hot pants this Saturday, Mar. 5, as the annual Mardi Gras parade is on.

Over 10,000 people supporting self-expression and dressed in their best bright colours will turn up to the parade, which kicks off at 7pm on the corner of Oxford and College Streets.

Although the lockout laws, which have been hotly debated over the last few weeks, has dampened the overall mood of Sydney party-goers, participants at this year's Mardi Gras are expected to soldier on and continue their celebrations despite the lockout and service restrictions placed on the city.

For techno music fans, Subsonic Music is playing host at Zoo Project at Kings Cross, with early bird tickets at $25. Burdekin Bar, also on Oxford Street, is hosting its annual ‘Dirty Disco’ and it is set to be bigger than before.

Some venues such as Arq nightclub, which will open its doors early at 9pm and call for last drinks at 3am, have adapted to the laws by planning to reopen its service from 5am. The club on Oxford Street will also run double lines to ensure everyone is able to enter before the 1.30am lockouts.

However as a non-ticketed event, Arq anticipated to fill capacity rather quickly.

Other events have similarly reacted to the lockout laws and will be held in exclusion zones where the laws are not imposed. The official Mardi Gras after party, for example, will be held at Moore Park and costs $160 per ticket, although the event is expected to already be sold out with 12,000 people attending.

Newtown is another area that is expected to see the spillover of people not ready to go home, with places like Zanzibar on King Street hosting their own Mardi Gras Pride Party (it starts as early as 6pm and runs until 4am).

Meanwhile, world renowned The Boiler Room will be broadcasting a Mardi Gras exclusive house music event with 'queer institution' House of Mince, who is touring with Mr.Ties in Australia this month. The event description? "BYO glitter guns."