ChillOut

Stunning news (in a bad way)… the Palais-Hepburn is closing its rainbow-topped art deco doors.

Palais-Hepburn was a fixture of ChillOut Festival for many years, and the impact of this iconic local venue creating a LGBTQIA+ friendly space cannot be overstated.

Thank you to Richard and his team for all the incredible memories over many, many ChillOut Festivals, mid year and fundraising events. The entire team at Palais-Hepburn were always so accomodating to us. We hope there is a rainbow for you after this very dark rainy day.

Walk into the weekend like...

[Photo of Kween Kong with backup dancers at ChillOut 2024 by Kate Arnott]

A very happy End of Financial Year to Meredith, our Volunteer Committee Treasurer. She's the woman who gets grants coming in and invoices paid so that the festival, you know, happens! Keeps the pride floats afloat, if you will. She attended a Pride Month information afternoon tea for Accor Hotel Group recently - they were a generous sponsor for ChillOut in 2024!

Meredith spoke about the history of Pride month from Stonewall Riots to today. She also talked about the events we run at ChillOut Festival and how, as a mature organisation of 27 years, we are now reaching out to support other parts of our community. Like our volunteer initiative "Raising Rainbows" and support for local schools to support their LGBTIQA+ youth.

On the panel they asked what they can do to make their staff and customers feel safe in the hotels. We spoke about gender neutral toilets, signs of Pride around, wearing Pride lanyards. Partaking in the Rainbow Tick is a great way to bring inclusion into any organisation.

Tourism providers being inclusive to LGBTQIA+ customers and staff is important everywhere, especially in our spa town that's home to the Big Rainbow!!!

Image 1: a group photo from the left is David Munoz (Accor), Amelia Jones (Pride Centre), me, Sandy Pell (Mother of Trans Child), Darren Lauder (Accor), Michelle Bradshaw (Accor).

Image 2: Meredith speaking at a lectern to a seated audience with rain or decorations in the background

Image 3: In the Panel Photo, from the left Darren, Michelle, Amelia, me, Sandy, and David.

Our committee met last weekend to start planning March 2025!

Did you know that we are a volunteer-run organisation that relies on grants, sponsors, ticket sales and donations to fund the biggest and longest-running LGBTQIA+ pride festival in regional Australia. 

We would be incredibly grateful if you are able to make a donation towards the Festival in 2025. Any donation over $2 is tax deductible.

Donations will help us keep some events at ChillOut Festival free for the LGBTQIA+ community to feel safe, proud, joyous and truly ourselves in country Victoria.

🌟 Join Kinetic, proud sponsors of ChillOut Festival! 🌟 Celebrate the Kulin Nation at their Community Information Session. Discover opportunities as Trainee Bus Drivers, Customer Service Officers, and Diesel Mechanic Apprentices. Celebrate community and explore your future with us! 🚍✨

Happy International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia from your ChillOut Committee! Has it got you thinking about how you can be involved with your community? How you can be part of facilitating q***r joy and safe spaces? Well, we'd love to meet you.

ChillOut Committee Meet & Mingle
Sunday 26th May.
10:30am to 12pm
Outside Panchos Cafe - Vincent Street Daylesford

Meet and greet and talk to the committee, learn about festival etc. We're always looking for new members and volunteers.

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You are warmly invited to attend Hepburn Shire Council’s community events to mark IDAHOBIT 2024, the International day against LGBTIQA+ discrimination.

They are getting in early, raising the Progress Flag and holding a panel on “IDAHOBIT-Eve”, Thursday 16 May.

🏳️‍🌈 At 3.30pm, join us to raise the Progress Pride flag on the Vincent Street flagpole (at “top roundabout”, cnr Central Springs Road).

👦👧👨👩 At 4.00pm, hear an engaging panel of speakers as they talk about experiences of discrimination, and what can be done in response (at Daylesford Town Hall). Including:
Ange Barry (she/her) former CEO JOY Media

Ro Allen (they/them) Commissioner, Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission

Dannii Karametos (she/her) keynote speaker, from JOY Media, “On life, gender identity and all things Greek”

Max Primmer (he/him) Victorian Seniors’ Week Award winner 2023

Hepburn Shire Mayor Cr Brian Hood (he/him)

Feedback closes this Wednesday, take the quick survey and have your say!

Hepburn Shire Council are seeking community feedback on the draft Rainbow Action Plan to help refine the 39 proposed actions.

Provide your feedback on the draft (you can find it on the link below) by completing a short survey.

Hard-copy and large-print versions of the survey will be available at Council’s libraries and customer service centres.

Rainbow Action Plan The Rainbow Action Plan commits us to taking clear actions over the next 2 years, to create a more inclusive, safe and welcoming community for LGBTIQA+ people.

Looking for something fun to do over the extra long weekend? Palais-Hepburn have you covered with a brilliant lineup of entertainment! Tickets are hot!!!

🏳️‍⚧️

Trans Day of Visibility 🏳️‍🌈

Trans Day of Visibility (TDoV) is an international celebration of trans pride and awareness, to recognise the experiences and achievements of trans and gender diverse people.

TDoV is a moment when our trans, gender diverse and non-binary friends, family and neighbours can reclaim space and be visible on their own terms.

We will mark this occasion tomorrow (Thursday 28 March) at 9am with a community flag-raising event in Vincent Street, Daylesford, opposite the Post Office.

Why is a Day necessary❓
For many gender diverse people, the lack of representation, role models and community can be isolating and make it difficult to feel proud in their identities. By marking TDoV, we can all stand up against trans discrimination.

The biggest women-focused event we've organised in years - thanks to all who had a boogie at Funk Soul Sista last weekend!

📸
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ChillOut Festival celebrates LGBTQIA+ pride in country Victoria - and we are so proud of every single person who was part of our 27th festival this weekend.

Thank you to each and every person who attended ChillOut this year! It was hot, it was dusty, but we all had the best time!

Thank you to our volunteers for your hard work, collectively you all put in hundreds of hours in the festival hub, cleaning and setting up event spaces, behind the bar every day and night. We cannot do this without you. A huge thank you to JD and Julian for recruiting and coordinating a huge team of volunteers for this year's festival. We are so proud of you.

Thank you to our performers for bringing their talents, humour, glitz and glamour. There has been such amazing feedback, we are still on a high! We will get to you all personally soon.

Thank you to our sponsors and partners for providing the financial and material support that makes this all possible. You are all so important to us to ensure the sustainability of ChillOut for many years to come.

Thank you to our suppliers and contractors. Our marquees and structures were supplied by the wonderful team at Excel Events, thank you Patricia and your team.
Our lighting and production by Oaklands Production, thank you Jarrad and your team!
Cellarbrations at Daylesford, once again superstars for providing all we needed to keep our bars stocked over hot weekend!

Thankyou to the St John's Ambulance and emergency services for taking care of people in this heat. And our wonderful team of Auslan interpreters who worked really hard day and night.

Thank you to the Rainbow Angels for your solidarity supporting our drag story time sessions.

And thank you to every committee member for your leadership, teamwork and resourcefulness in bringing this fabulous festival to life.

There are so many people and organisations to thank, without ALL of you we cannot bring ChillOut to life! We are all going to take a well deserved break but standby for some highlights of ChillOut 2024 coming soon!

[Image description: Four committee members sit on float with a giant golden boot in the background at ChillOut Parade.]

📸

ChillOut Festival celebrates LGBTQIA+ pride in country Victoria - and we are so proud of every single person who was part of our 27th festival this weekend.

Thank you to each and every person who attended ChillOut this year! It was hot, it was dusty, but we all had the best time!

Thank you to our volunteers for your hard work, collectively you all put in hundreds of hours in the festival hub, cleaning and setting up event spaces, behind the bar every day and night. We cannot do this without you. A huge thank you to JD and Julian for recruiting and coordinating a huge team of volunteers for this year's festival. We are so proud of you.

Thank you to our performers for bringing their talents, humour, glitz and glamour. There has been such amazing feedback, we are still on a high! We will get to you all personally soon.

Thank you to our sponsors and partners for providing the financial and material support that makes this all possible. You are all so important to us to ensure the sustainability of ChillOut for many years to come.

Thank you to our suppliers and contractors. Our marquees and structures were supplied by the wonderful team at Excel Events, thank you Patricia and your team.
Our lighting and production by Oaklands Productions, thank you Jarrad and your team!
Cellarbrations at Daylesford, once again superstars for providing all we needed to keep our bars stocked over hot weekend!

Thankyou to the St Johns Ambulance and emergency services for taking care of people in this heat. And our wonderful team of Auslan interpreters who worked really hard day and night.

Thank you to the Rainbow Community Angels for your solidarity supporting our drag story time sessions.

And thank you to every committee member for your leadership, teamwork and resourcefulness in bringing this fabulous festival to life.

There are so many people and organisations to thank, without ALL of you we cannot bring ChillOut to life! We are all going to take a well deserved break but standby for some highlights of ChillOut 2024 coming soon!

[Image description: Four committee members sit on float with a giant golden boot in the background at ChillOut Parade.]

📸 Michelle Donnelly Photography

Just in case you couldn't see how cute you all looked through the cloud of dust you danced up, don't worry, our photographer Michelle Donnelly Photography got some great shots.

One of the things that makes this weekend especially fabulous is how much local businesses commit to the theme!

Congratulations to the WINNERS of the 2024 ChillOut Decorations Competition:

Best Window: Vinnie's Op Shop

Best Staff costuming: Hair & Beauty Retreat Daylesford (again!)

Best Exterior: Palais-Hepburn

WHAT'S ON TODAY - SUNDAY 10 MARCH

Find a program and book tickets at the Festival Hub at 94 Vincent St, or on our website: www.chilloutfestival.au

We're not sure if we set the world record for the biggest drag story time, but our hearts are the fullest they've ever been. Thank you to everyone who came to Youth Muster in the Park and Australia's Biggest Drag Storytime, and a very big thankyou to the Rainbow Angels for their proactive protection of our rainbow families and young community members.

📸

More shots from last night.

Where will you be dancing tonight?
These parties start at 8pm tonight and have tickets available:

Funk Soul Sista celebrates q***r women in music
📍Town Hall

Bush Dance
📍Victoria Park

Thick N Juicy
📍

Underwear and PJs party
📍 .jays.coffee

silent disco
📍 Meet at Visitor Centre

About last night... 100% of you were fabulous at 100% Dance!

📸 Michelle Donnelly Photography

WHAT'S ON TODAY - SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2024

Find a program and book tickets at the Festival Hub at 94 Vincent St, or on our website: www.chilloutfestival.au

We're off to a gorgeous start this weekend. Thank you to everybody who participated in the Grove of Gratitude planting bee and Opening Night last night. Happy ChillOut Festival!

Find the full program at www.chilloutfestival.au/program
You can book tickets at www.chilloutfestival.au/tickets or at the Festival Hub

Photos by Michelle Donnelly Photography

Welcome to Daylesford! A big thank you to Biggin Scott - Daylesford for their support, including these very bright signs so people can find the shuttle bus stops.

You can pick up your shuttle bus wristband from The Festival Hub at 94 Vincent St, or at the Jubilee Holiday Park.

Shuttle buses (kindly supplied by Skybus!) will run approximately every 30mins:
Friday 4pm–3am
Saturday 8.30am–3am
Sunday 8.30am–2.30am
Monday 8.30am–12noon

The Festival hub is located next to the tourist information centre at 94 Vincent St, Daylesford. Come in and say hello to our friendly volunteers who can try to answer any questions you may have. You can also buy merch, event tickets and shuttle bus passes.

Festival Hub Opening Hours are:
Thursday: 12pm – 6pm
Friday: 9am – 6pm
Saturday: 9am – 6pm
Sunday: 11am – 1pm, 3pm – 6pm
Monday: 9am – 12pm

WHAT'S ON TODAY

Find a program at the Festival Hub at 94 Vincent St, or on our website: chilloutfestival.au/program

Thank you to everybody who came to the Grove of Gratitude planting this morning. Tonight we'll turn in the rainbow lights at the Town Hall and then you really know it's ChillOut Festival 2024!