Established in 1988, the Tropical Fruits Inc are the premier LGBTIQ+ community social group in the New South Wales Northern Rivers town of Lismore – an area appropriately known as the Rainbow Region.
Taking place on Widjabul Wia-bal jugun, Tropical Fruits Inc are known for their community-led events and this year’s celebration will be no different, as they invite you to launch into another orbit – an extraterrestrial voyage to a love supernova.
This year’s mission is SPACE CADETS – an interstellar odyssey calling on every starseed, alien super stan, cosmic cowboy, and space witch to gather beneath the Milky Way on Widjabul Wia-bal Jagun. Expect astral communion, freaky ET love-making, gay space race propaganda, and an all-star fleet of artists steering us deep into hyperspace.
This is more than a party. It’s an intercellular convergence, a queer constellation like no zodiac the universe has seen, a festival love mission in zero-gravity. Together we’ll bend space continuum and welcome a new lightyear. We are the force.
SPACE CADETS consists of four dance parties: Camp Party (30 December), NYE Party (31 December), Pool Party (1 January) and the Recovery Party (1 January).Anyone who has ever been to a Tropical Fruits party will know how much fun they are!
Tropical Fruits have assembled a spectacular line-up of DJs and Performers including: Annabelle Gaspar | ayebatonye | Betty Grumble | Butch Le Butch | Charlie Villas | Chico De Soja | CHRS | Crescendoll |DAWS | DEEPA | Destiny Haz Arrived | DJ Magnus | ENN | Gaff-E | Gogo Bumhole | Hip Hop Hoe | Jase Lasso | Phasmahammer | Kitty Glitter | Ketia | Matt Vaughan | Martoya Jackson | Meggy Sue | Mutton | Neesha Alexander | Ruby Teys | Sani | Sarahtonen | Slo Dolio | Sprung | That Woman | The Deadly Good | Winona Router | with more to be announced…
The festival will also feature Tropical Fruits’ renowned Cabaret (NYE) and the Next Day Cabaret (NYD), as well as an arts & cultural program with panels, workshops & activities – or checkout the art exhibition. To keep up-to-date, visit the Tropical Fruits’ Instagram Page for details.
SPACE CADETS Festival Program:
Camp Party – Tuesday 30 December: 4.00pm – 11.00pm (campers only)
Prepare for launch sequence… Engage the thrusters! Lifting off with DJs, performances, and frivolity under the stars for those already docked at basecamp.
New Year’s Eve Party – Wednesday 31 December: 8.00pm – 6.00am
A smorgasbord of stellar sound. Two main stages (our mothership Arena & Trade the warp zone), live music in the Nest, a Sensorium chill nebula, cabaret glamour, art gallery orbits, and a firework supernova. The peak of our queer galactic communion.
Pool Party – Thursday 1 January: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Our New Year’s Day field mission to a wet and wonderful world. 1000 queers, one pool, pure slip-slop-splashery. Only available with the 3-party package.
New Year’s Day Recovery Party – Thursday 1 January: 4.00pm – 3.00am
The party reaches the edge of the known universe. Time feels different here. Witness the wonky wonders of our Next Day Cabaret + lock in for one supermassive interplanetary dance floor, as hyperdrive daddy Matt Vaughan takes us to our final landing place.
Camping:
Want to really make the most of your Tropical Fruits NYE experience? Each year the Lismore Showgrounds transforms into a wonderous Fruity world as our campsite fills with festival attendees from all over Australia and the world.
It’s a fabulous way to make new friends, share a drink or a meal in the communal kitchen area, have spontaneous campsite gatherings and enjoy events such as the exclusive campsite party on 30 December. The campsite operates 28 December 2025 – 4 January 2026. Camping numbers are strictly limited and needs to be pre-booked!
Volunteering:
Volunteers are the heart and soul of Tropical Fruits – they can’t present the NYE festival without your support, energy, and sparkle. Volunteering is fun and rewarding and a great way to connect with the Tropical Fruits community, learn new things, have great experiences and make new friends. You are essential to the success of the event.
Tropical Fruits hopes you will join them for an amazing SPACE CADETS Festival. Please plan, party safely, stay cool and look after yourself and your friends…
Tropical Fruits SPACE CADETS New Year’s Eve Festival 2025-2026
Lismore Showgrounds, Alexandra Parade, North Lismore
Event: 30 December 2025 – 2 January 2026
Camping: 28 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 (subject to availability)
Tickets: www.humanitix.com
For more information, visit: www.tropicalfruits.org.au or www.instagram.com for details and updates!
Images: Tropical Fruits New Year’s Eve Party (supplied) | Tropical Fruits New Year’s Eve Party – photo by Rohan Shearn