Sydney was transformed into a sparkling spectacle at the Mardi Gras parade, with bushfires, climate change and homelessness among the pressing community issues highlighted this year.
About 300,000 revellers turned out for the annual Oxford Street celebration of all things LGBTQI on Saturday night.
Mardi Gras chief executive Albert Kruger said the dazzling display of diversity brought people together to celebrate this year's theme - what matters.
"This year we collectively reflected on a number of issues facing our community," he said in a statement on Sunday.
"From LGBTQI homelessness to the Australian bushfires and climate change, many of this year's floats had a distinct point of view on the issues that matter most."
The volunteer heroes of Australia's bushfire crisis were crowd favourites among the 191 floats decked out for the parade.
NSW Rural Fire Service volunteer Sarah Paterson was one of about 80 RFS members taking part.
"After fighting fires through summer it's good for us to let our hair down," she said.
"I missed Christmas and New Years Eve because I was fighting fires, so this is like Christmas to me."
The parade drew a high-visibility police presence, with the riot squad assisted by members of the sniffer dog unit.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Tony Crandell said it was "disappointing" three people had to be removed from the parade for unauthorised entry.
"Their removal was done to ensure the event could continue to proceed in a safe and peaceful manner," Mr Crandell said in a statement on Sunday.
Police arrested 13 people during the festival for offences including assault, affray and drug possession.
Grammy Award-winning UK singer Sam Smith headlined the afterparty alongside American pop performer Kesha and Brazilian drag queen Pablo Vittar.
The Sydney Mardi Gras commemorates the '78ers, a group of protesters who were arrested and beaten by police when they tried to march as part of international gay celebrations back in 1978.
