Carnivale ChillOut Festival (Photo Credit: Michelle Donnelly)

Stay for ChillOut Festival in Daylesford After Sydney WorldPride 2023

October 10, 2022 Vacationer Staff

LGBTQ+ revelers should consider staying after the Sydney WorldPride 2023 to keep the festive vibe going at the ChillOut Festival in Daylesford, just an hour drive from the airport in Melbourne.

From humble beginnings in 1997, ChillOut Festival has grown to become Australia’s largest Queer Country Pride festival. The annual festival is culturally important and nationally celebrated as an LGBTQ+ Pride event, supporting and representing Queer pride for all regional people around the country.

This year, ChillOut is scheduled for March 9-13, 2023. It follows the week after the Sydney WorldPride 2023 (February 24 – March 5, 2023), which is just another reason why international LGBTQ+ travelers should extend their festive holiday in Australia.

And if you act now, you can purchase early bird ticket bundles that include tickets to four events at ChillOut 2023 for only $145.

Celebrating queer country pride in Daylesford next March, all your festival favorites are coming back in 2023 – Ballroom Blitz, Bush Dance, Carnival Day, and the POOF DOOF Afterparty, as well as the new femme night Hey Hunny!

ChillOut has two incredible parties on Saturday night for you to choose from – Bush Dance or Hey Hunny! So, you can buy Ticket Bundle 1 to go to Bush Dance or Ticket Bundle 2 to go to Hey Hunny on Saturday Night, March 11, 2023.

Parade at ChillOut Festival (Photo Credit: Michelle Donnelly)

Carnivale
Sunday, March 12 – Victoria Park

Find your wings at Carnivale – set up a picnic for a day of community, laughter, singing, and joy hosted by the local favorite MC duo – Nate Byrne and Art Simone. The event features Kate Miller-Heidke, DJ Eddie, and Cerulean (Miss First Nation 2021). Special guests will also include Dean Arcuri, Elektra Lite, Tuck Shop Ladies, Freddie Merkin, Gabriella la Bucci, Jude Munroe, Rudy Jean Rigg, Karen From Finance, the stunning Jude Perl and Diva Flores, Diamond and York, Greg Gould and DJ Du Jour! Visit the beautiful Rainbow Square where you can enjoy some fun face paint, glitter lips, a trans clothes swap, and rainbow storytime. Market stalls, food vans, and a live radio broadcast from Joy FM and Sally Goldner from 3CR will also be on-site for the Carnivale event. Note: No glass and no BYO alcohol.

Art Simone on the road in the country. (Photo courtesy of ChillOut Festival)

Karen From Finance (Photo courtesy of ChillOut Festival) — Art Simone on the road in the country. (Photo courtesy of ChillOut Festival)

Ballroom Blitz
Friday, March 10 | 8 pm to midnight | Victoria Park

Picture it: Victoria Park from 8 pm, lit up like a firefly – it’s Ballroom Blitz! DJ Eddie will warm up the floor with special guests DJ Du Jour, 90s rock legends The Lost Girls, and your favorite queens featuring Diva Flores. The headliner is to be announced soon.

The Lost Girls at ChillOut Festival (Photo Credit: Michelle Donnelly)

POOF DOOF
Sunday, March 12 | 7 pm to midnight | Victoria Park

Join your tribe at Vic Park for POOF DOOF’s annual ChillOut After Party! Finish the festival off with five hours of enigmatic raving with special guest DJs and performance artists.

Hey Hunny!
Saturday, March 11 | 7 pm – 1 am | Daylesford Town Hall

This new saloon lounge event to celebrate all things femme is for women and their non-binary and gender-queer friends who identify as gals. Join a phenomenal lineup of incredible acts from all over the country, such as Tuck Shop Ladies (VIC), Jude Perl (NSW), Hussy Hicks Trio (SA), This Way North (ACT), DJ Eddie (NSW), Holly Kercheval (NT), Michelle Parsons (VIC), DJ Casio (VIC), and special burlesque guests.

Jude Perl (Photo courtesy of ChillOut Festival)

Bush Dance
Saturday 11 March | 8 pm to midnight | Victoria Park

Come down for the hoedown at ChillOut’s favorite event. The Bush Dance has a new home at Victoria Park, which allows for endless line dancing and thigh-slapping fun times. Local fave cowboy and weatherman Nat Byrne will host the event with special guests Greg Gould, Brenda Bressed, DJ Du Jour, Freddie Merkin, and cowboy-girl dancers. Get a taste of country pride. Swing your partner and feel the love with the stunning Devil Goat String Band, and local farmer and dance-caller, Bruce! Tickets sell out quickly for this one, so, get them quick.

Nate Byrne (Photo courtesy of ChillOut Festival)

This year there will be more shuttle buses to and from Daylesford. Less driving is encouraged for a safer and waste-free festival.

Just FYI… refunds are not available for individual events within the bundle. If you apply for a refund under our Terms and Conditions, you will need to refund the whole bundle and purchase tickets to each remaining event individually.

Don’t waste time! Stick around after Sydney WorldPride 2023 and stay for the ChillOut Festival in Daylesford! Grab your ticket bundles now! And don’t forget to check out Vacationer’s Daylesford travel guide too!