It’s the silver jubilee anniversary for ChillOut this year. The festival, which began locally in 1997, is held each year on the Labour Day long weekend. It is the largest LGBTQI festival in regional Australia.

ChillOut director Emma Ireland, who moved to Daylesford 12 years ago from Fitzroy, sees this year as “a fabulous opportunity to celebrate diversity.”

This year’s theme is a “our time to shine.” A chance to get out and have fun in a relaxed, COVID safe environment.

There will be a pool party at the Daylesford pool, a photographic exhibition by Lisa White with guest artists Rynelle Walker and Suzy Sarina.  The Poof Doof After Party will return and there will be shows, events, dancing and, of course, the street parade.

ChillOut is on from the 10th to the 14th of March. The program, tickets and updates are available through the website