Blending gay and lesbians arts and culture, live music, mineral spas, gourmet food, the ChillOut Festival engages the local community and business operators to welcome visitors to help celebrate a weekend of diversity. Held on the Victorian Labour Day Long-Weekend, the 2016 ChillOut Festival features 33 events over 4 days in Daylesford and surrounding areas.
Friday night kicks off with Mojo Juju at the Daylesford Town Hall heralding in a festival with a pinch of Bessie Smith, a sniff of Cab Calloway mixed with several shots of Tom Waits and Jack White. Mojo Juju will get the place jumping!
The railways are hosting High Teas on the line on both Saturday & Sunday at 3pm or join them for lunch or dinner on the Saturday only with the Bubbles, Beer & BBQ run. Saturday also features Mummy Queerest – a matinee at the Town Hall exploring Gay parenting with comedy, music and stories, followed by the annual Bush Dance on Saturday night.
With all the fun of the fair, Carnival Day on Sunday 13 March features multiple Golden Guitar winner Beccy Cole and Australia’s sweethearts of rock and pop, The Chantoozies, as well as gay disco rockers, The Blow Waves. They will be joined on stage by the fabulous Dolly Diamond and Luke Gallagher as well as special surprise guests and adventures throughout the day.
A ‘kid’s’ stage will come alive with magic and mayhem and include Cath Jaminson’s famous magic show and Kid’s Karaoke – where our younger (and maybe not so young) ones get to star! And don’t forget the annual parade through the main street of Daylesford which kicks Sunday off with a bang.
The King and Queen of ChillOut happens Friday night at the Savoia Hotel, the Daylesford Hotel chills out the whole weekend with special DJ’s, Drag bars and a recovery lunch on Monday. All this and so much more with many of the local businesses getting involved and running events across the weekend.
ChillOut is more than ‘just’ a LGBITQ festival: it contributes to the growth of the region; provides employment opportunities, and promotes the region globally as a leading destination for LGBTIQ tourism.
The 2016 ChillOut Festival runs 11 – 14 March. For more information and to view the full program, visit: www.chilloutfestival.com.au for details.
Image: ChillOut Festival Parade – photo by Philip Buchanan