SATURDAY night's Mardi Gras is tipped to be one of the biggest in the event's history as the colourful parade celebrates 35 years in Sydney.
Mardi Gras organisers said around 10,000 performers on 110 floats would take part in a parade of "tapestry, fun and frivolity".
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras CEO, Michael Rolik, said 2013 promised to be one of the event's biggest years, with hundreds of thousands of people expected to line the traditional route down Oxford Street.
Mr Rolik said a key feature this year would be the participation of people who took part in Sydney's first Mardi Gras march in 1978.
"This year's parade celebrates 35 years history, from very humble beginnings," he told reporters on Friday.
Creative director Ignatius Jones said the lead float would be "dedicated to the 78ers, the first generation".
He said the float would be surrounded by young protesters carrying parade "season posters" from 1978 up to 2013.
The two key "1978ers" participating in the parade would be media personality Julie McCrossin and the "godfather of Mardi Gras" Ron Austin, organisers said.
Mr Jones said every major political party had entered a float this year and that for the first time the armed forces would be "proudly marching in uniform".
There was also a big youth presence in the parade this year, he said.
"There are quite a number of floats concentrating on youth, actually built by youth, dedicated to such things like sexual identity, bullying, depression and even youth suicide," he said.
A number of "Bob Katters" would also take part in the parade, organisers revealed, with performers dressing up like the maverick Queensland MP.
Police said around 1000 extra police would be on duty for the event.
Assistant Police Commissioner Mark Murdoch said officers would be out in large numbers to ensure "that everyone enjoys Mardi Gras and goes home in the same condition they left home".
The high visibility police exercise, named Operation Cromwell, would target antisocial behaviour and alcohol related crime, he said.
He said the whole of the Mardi Gras parade route was an alcohol free zone, and that people who tried "to use alcohol in those areas will have it confiscated".
Illicit drugs were another concern for police, he said, noting that sniffer dogs would be "part of the arsenal" for policing the event.
He also advised people heading to the CBD for the parade to take public transport as many streets along the parade route would be closed.
Rehearsing for her role atop the City of Sydney's official float, singer Paulini said Mardi Gras would be "a bright night" even if it rained.
"It's all about unity and we're going to have a lot of fun," she said.
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