The festival will transform the Central Highlands of Victoria into Queer Country.
Following last year’s slightly reimagined event, ChillOut Festival has announced its glistening program for 2022, celebrating its 25th year and bringing people together to celebrate LGBTQIA diversity anew.
From March 10 until March 14 (Labour Day weekend), Australia’s longest-running and largest regional pride festival will take place in regional Victoria’s LGBTQIA mecca of Daylesford once again, inviting visitors of all ages to dance, prance, chill and shake a tail feather across four days of fabulous festivity. While events in the capital cities might be a lot bigger, ChillOut retains a relaxed, down-to-earth atmosphere with plenty of opportunities to let your hair down, and has found a special place in the hearts of the LGBTIQ community across Australia – and the world.
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With a long history of being out and proud, next year’s event will continue to present a program as diverse as the queer community and its extended family of friends and supporters themselves, celebrating the 25th Anniversary of ChillOut Festival.
“A time for us all to bring our community together after being apart for so long,” the festival announced.
“Whether it’s dancing, tennis or bushwalking shoes you need, dust them off and be a part of what we are planning to be the biggest and best festival yet. Bring all the moves that missed their dancefloor debuts and remember what it feels like to be celebrating what makes us proud of who we are, together as one incredible community, where we shine the brightest.”
Guided by the brilliant theme ‘Our Time to Shine’, the festival will host a colourful program featuring the annual street parade, pool party, a photo exhibition, a car park disco, so much dancing, cocktail parties, choirs, bush walking, disco bingo, quiz nights, a tennis tournament, golf day, and even an 80’s foam party. Yes, there’s an 80’s foam party and we’re so ready.
Joining already announced headline act Ladyhawke—the project of New Zealand singer-songwriter Pip Brown —who will be taking to the Daylesford Town Hall ‘Ballroom Blitz’ event on Friday, March 11, the festival has also unveiled headline acts including Joel Bray and his latest work ‘Daddy’, and Australia’s queen of soul Kylie Auldist for a VIP party.
‘Sound Shell Saturday‘ will feature an all-ages Youth Stage, jam-packed with MC and Australian Drag performer Art Simone including Fashion Parade, classical music from Homophonic, LGBTIQ&A youth panels, DJ Bladerunner and special guest, Sheldon Riley. Further into the program, there’s also a ‘High Tea with Katherine Wolfgramme’ which sees the festival’s 2020 ambassador and trans pride ex-local returning to host a High Tea in the Atrium of the beautiful Convent Garden.
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The beloved Carnivale event will be hosted by the brilliant Nate Byrne (ABC) and Art Simone and feature huge performances by Sheldon Riley, DJ DuJour, Lady Lash, D Flowers, Leather Lungs, Scott Carne and Brian Mannix, as well as Ally Fowler’s 80s tribute to ambassador Molly Meldrum. Here you’ll feel the rhythm, the love, the banging drums and the atmosphere of a day in Rio de Janeiro in Daylesford… ChillOut style. It’s also the big day for all fur babies to show off their talents because ChillOut is totally dog-friendly.
For those that really like to party, there’s also a Poof Doof After Party with ‘CHROMADOOF’ on Sunday night. Spanning over two spaces including the Babylon Ball main dance hall and the Plastic Doll cabaret, expect high energy sets from Melbourne’s favourite queer DJs and performance artists over five hours of enigmatic raving.
As part of the celebrations, festival-goers are invited to gather around Lake Daylesford to take part in the planting of 25 trees. With the aim of creating a ‘Grove of Gratitude’, the symbolic initiative is to honour past and present LGBTQI+ community members as well as a special ceremony.
Mark your diaries now and start booking your accommodation. This is not to be missed.
ChillOut Festival goes down in Daylesford, Victoria from March 10 to March 14. Find out more and book your tickets at chilloutfestival.com.au