It's a parade of firsts at this year's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, despite it being the 38th edition of the iconic Sydney event.
Up to 500,000 revellers are expected to line Sydney's Oxford and Flinders Streets on Saturday night.
They'll see Labor's Bill Shorten atop a float as the first leader from one of the two major parties to take part, as well as the first float to feature Olympians and Paralympians under one banner.
But among the 175 floats and beneath the 230 kilograms of glitter, a group of founding marchers will be celebrating much more than diversity for the first time.
On Friday morning, NSW Police seconded last week's apology from the NSW government to the so-called 78ers, the group of activists subjected to violence at the hands of officers during the first Mardi Gras.
Members of the group were bashed by police when they descended on Darlinghurst in June 1978 to protest against the criminalisation of homosexual acts and discrimination against the community.
"For that, we apologise," said LGBTI spokesman Detective Inspector Tony Crandell on behalf of Commissioner Andrew Scipione at the 38th parade launch.
"We also acknowledge the pain and the hurt that the police actions caused at that event in 1978."
One of the 78ers, Joseph Chetcuti, said the apology was a "very, very important step" in the LGBTI community's plight almost four decades on.
Fellow 78er Steve Warren said the march remained an example of "grassroots community action leading to positive, special change".
Up to 12,500 participants are expected to pound the pavement at this year's parade, themed Momentum.
Organisers say a promising weather forecast means a big crowd is expected.
Mr Shorten will be the cherry atop the Rainbow Labor float, while Australian Greens leader Richard Di Natale will be aboard his party's Transcend Bigotry, Transform our Communities float.
Some of Australia's top athletes have joined forces for the Rio-themed #OneTeam float, comprising more than 80 Olympians, Paralympians and their supporters for the first time, ahead of the Olympic Games in August.
Gold medal-winning Olympic swimmer and float co-ordinator Daniel Kowalski said the team aimed to prove "there is no place for homophobia in sport".
Austrian singer and 2014 Eurovision Song Content winner, Conchita Wurst, said she was looking forward to the "beautiful" festival but voiced concerns over the disconnect between Mardi Gras and Australia's lack of same-sex marriage legislation.
"I don't really know what people are afraid of because nothing would happen except that more people would be happier than before," Wurst said at her Sydney Opera House concert on Thursday night.
Drag songstress and Mardi Gras global ambassador Courtney Act has taken to wearing a rainbow ring on her wedding finger as a personal protest against the issue.
