The fashion and costumes of the Mardi Gras Parade!

The streets are alive with the sound of….Mardi Gras!

Tomorrow night the internationally renowned Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade will weave its colourful way through the city infront of thousands of spectators, in what is a highlight of the year for all involved. What better way to celebrate than to take a look at past costumes and the fashion of Mardi Gras! This year's theme is "History of the World" which promises to take you "on a sexy and baudy rollercoaster ride through the ages" according to the official website.

In keeping with theme, here's a little history of the Parade...

1978 - The first Mardi Gras Parade takes place in June to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in New York. 1981 - The Parade is moved to February. An estimated crowd of 5,000 attend. 1983 - The arts program is initiated. 40 floats participate while a crowd of 20,000 attend. 1988 - Australia's bicentennial year. An Aboriginal float leads the Parade with a gay Indigenous man dressed as Captain Cook. 60 floats participate while a crowd of 20,000 look on. 1994 - The Parade becomes the largest outdoor night-time parade in the world. 500,000 people watch. 1994 - The ABC films the Parade for the first time and shows it on primetime television the Sunday after the event. It receives the evening's highest ratings. 2008 - Mardi Gras celebrates its 30th anniversary!