Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas today announced ChillOut will receive $50,000 from the Government’s Regional Events Fund for the 2024 Festival.
ChillOut Festival is Australia’s premier regional LGBTIQ+ arts and cultural festival, held annually in the villages of Daylesford and Hepburn Springs. The Festival is Australia’s oldest and longest running regional queer festival and now attracts almost 30,000 visitors, filling accommodation and restaurants in the region.
“We are proud to support Australia’s premier regional LGBTIQ+ arts and cultural festival because it encourages people to visit regional destinations and enjoy the wide range of experiences on offer,” said Mary-Anne Thomas. “Chillout will be a fantastic event that is set to bring more visitors to the Hepburn Shire, providing a boost to local businesses and jobs.”
In 2024, the Festival will be held from Thursday 7th March to Monday 11th March 2024 (Labour Day Weekend). The festival is made up of over 55 diverse activities and events, including visual arts, live music, comedy, cabaret, parties, sport, social events, and public forums. This includes ticketed and free events from a range of LGBTQIA+ artists and performers. ChillOut has continued to raise the profile of the Hepburn Shire as a visitor destination.
The $20 million Regional Events Fund is a critical component of the state government’s $633 million Visitor Economy Recovery and Reform Plan which supports festivals, sports events, creative exhibitions and other cultural celebrations.
Since 2016, the Government’s Regional Events Fund has funded more than 300 events across the state.
