Around Daylesford

While the capital cities have Mardi Gras and Midsumma, out in regional Victoria, Daylesford has ChillOut. The festival is Australia's premier and longest running regional LGBTQIA+ pride festival, taking place on the March long weekend every year.  This year the theme is 'Rainbow Circus Spectacular', which sounds about as camp as it gets. The festival will host more than 50 fabulous events, feauring beloved performers like disco diva Marcia Hines and drag queen stars Spankie Jackzon, Frock Hudson and more. Highlights of the five-day celebration include the iconic pride street parade, plenty of family-friendly events, a pool party, a community carnival and multiple massive dance parties complete banging beats courtesy of top-notch DJs. The ChillOut festival has been going for more than two decades thanks to the work of its parent organisation, also called ChillOut. The festival aims to reduce homophobia in regional schools and groups as well as instil a sense of pride throughout the community regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Thousands of people are expected to flock to Daylesford for the celebrations, so if you're keen to join the party, check out the full program and book tickets here.  Looking for queer parties in Melbourne? Here are the best gay bars in the city.