ChillOut Festival 2023

ChillOut Festival 2023

ChillOut, Australia’s number one Queer Country Pride festival, ­is held in the gay capital of regional Victoria – Daylesford! From humble beginnings, ChillOut has grown to become the biggest and longest-running Country Queer Pride event in regional Australia, and the largest festival in Hepburn Shire.

• Visiting for Chillout? Labor Day Long weekend is one of the busiest times in Australia, marking the highlight of the Summer season . Book your hotel or apartment early to ensure you have a place to stay.

When is Chillout Daylesford?

• ChillOut began as an annual festival of the Springs Connection, a local gay and lesbian business group in Daylesford. The first festival was staged in 1997 and each year the festival is held over the Victorian Labour Day long weekend in March.

Daylesford Chillout Festival Program

• Across two weeks from the end of February through to March, the festival transforms the Central Highlands of Victoria into “Queer Country”.
• There’s a carnival, a champagne bar, even a parade through the town. There are plenty of cowboy hats and flannelette shirts. Unlike your average bush dance, however, in Daylesford the cowboys will be spinning one another around the dancefloor.
• Events culminate in a final weekend of parties. Awaiting the 2023 program.
• Stay in the heart of Daylesford and enjoy easy access to all the parties and parade at the Albert Guest House, rated “Fabulous” by guests. The hotel has beautiful self contained apartment suites as well as 5 boutique heritage style rooms.

Chillout Festival Parade

• Sunday, March 12th 2023 – The parade is held on the final Sunday of the event. it starts at 10 am and makes its way down Vincent Street. The parade ends at 11 pm.

Chillout Parties

• Highlights not to be missed include the Thick and Juicy Chill Out BBQ and party and the Poof Doof Drag Jamboree. Other events include the “Daddy” Party, the  Bush Dance and Soul Disco.

Chillout Pool Party

• Saturday, March 11th 2023 – Daylesford Pool is transformed into the biggest pool party this side of Melbourne. Entertainment and activities throughout the day. Hosted by Frock Hudson, tunes with DJ Casio and special guests synchronised swimmers ‘The Floating Cows’.
• Stay just a 3 minute ride from the pool at the Daylesford Art Motel, offering 5 star luxury accommodation with spacious rooms and a “Fabulous” experience.

Gay Daylesford

While events in the capital cities might be a lot bigger, ChillOut retains a relaxed, down-to-earth atmosphere with plenty of opportunities to let your hair down, and has found a special place in the hearts of gay men and lesbians across Australia – and the world

• Daylesford is a charming town. The roads are wide and lined with trees; a grand post office, topped with a turret, stands at one end of the main street; a turn of the century pub with a wide balcony shading the footpath below, at the other.
• The town of 2500, at the foot of the Great Dividing Range, is one of the increasing number of regional towns and outer suburbs LGBTI Australians are calling home. It is just over a one-hour drive from Melbourne.

Where to stay during Chillout Daylesford

The following hotels are currently trending with our readers:

Hotel Frangos,   Central Springs Inn,   The Royal Hotel,    Pendower House B&B.