Where to party in Sydney this Mardi Gras

Parade night at the Imperial is a multi-level celebration of queer diversity. For the best seats in the house, the Up Bar is hosting a VIP Parade Viewing Party, which includes a delicious drink on arrival, an Italian grazing feast, and a five-hour bottomless beverage package (5-10pm). Your host is none other than Drag Race’s “glamour bug bitch” Etcetera Etcetera. Not feeling very important? Never mind, there’s a Basement Parade Viewing Party too, with Imperial grande dames Farren Heit and Doreen Managini (5-10pm), a Drag N' Dine event, an Impy Gras Party – and, for the next day, a Recover, Reheat & Repeat party. It's going to go off on every level.

On parade day, the Vic on the Park will host the Inner West's most epic Mardi party. Hosted by the Dollar Bin Darlings, it's kicking off at midday, with free entry all night long. There'll be DJs, go-go dancers and queer bands playing tunes of pride.

One of the true MVPs of Sydney’s queer clubbing scene, POOF DOOF is putting on a rave to remember hot on the heels of the Mardi Gras parade. They promise this one will go down in history as their biggest serve yet. A legendary line-up of DJs from our shores and abroad (including UK stars Absolute, Josh Harrison and Ty Sunderland) will be helping you doof until dawn. It runs from 8.30pm on parade night, all the way through until 6am.

Get ready to dust yourself with glitter and catch all the action of the parade at this notoriously queer-friendly Darlinghurst pub, where the furniture is as eclectic as the locals. The Darlo Bar fam will be welcoming peeps in from midday, while the DJs and entertainment – hosted by Raquel Feltchwill – kick off from 4pm. Entry is free and they're not taking bookings, so just head on in and join the party.

The gentlemen of Surry Hills and their fashionable dogs often congregate at the Bero, and this pub always pumps it up for Mardi Gras season. On parade day, they're throwing an extra special live screening of the parade in the courtyard on their huge screen – just a few strides away from all the action in Taylor Square. Rock up for a drink between floats, walk in after the parade, or join them beforehand (the party starts at 2pm). No bookings required – just walk on in and join the party.

With drag shows on perennially, you could argue it’s always Mardi Gras as this Oxford Street club. The festive flair is turning up for parade night, with a party featuring an all-star cast: Eli Crawford, Tina Bikki, Shanny T Bone and Champagne. The party starts at 8pm and tickets are just $20 at the door. DJ Adam Love will be on the decks from 5-10pm, while Division 4 will have you dancing from 10pm through to close.

Get in the Mardi mood before the parade at the Pav. They'll be serving up three hours of free-flowing drinks, roaming canapés and Poof Doof talent as the entertainment. It's on from 11am to 2pm, so make sure you pace yourself if you're going to kick on all night.

Watch the parade live on every TV screen available at this stalwart Newtown pub, with entertainment all night. If you just want to dance, their resident DJs will be spinning tunes in the public bar all the way from 6pm to 4am (with free entry, woot!). They'll also be hosting a recover party with DJs and Bloody Marys from 4pm on Sunday.

When Queer Christmas comes to town, the big ol' pub at the centre of the Cross goes full camp. Their ground floor will convert to a Pride Pub, with a free-entry Parade Viewing Party from 6pm. If you venture up to levels one to four and the rooftop beyond, you'll enter a range of mystical queer clubbing parties, all with a slightly different flavour.

The quintessential Sydney gay bar and tried and true favourite of the ‘Pink Mile’ is going all out for its parade viewing party, with a ticketed event including 1.5 hours of drinks and canapés from 6-7.30pm in the level one Cocktail Bar. Enjoy the parade from there until 9.30pm, then stay on to party into the early hours of Sunday.

The Star Sydney has transformed into Rainbow Central for WorldPride. Think drag queen performances, disco dancing and rainbow cocktails, a spectacular acrobatic aerial show, and it's all free entry. On parade night, Beverly Kills will be performing from 9pm.