Party with a purpose: Daylesford's ChillOut pride festival has been running for three decades

Starting in 1997, ChillOut Festival has been a pillar of the queer community in regional Victoria for 29 years. Hosted in Daylesford over the Labour Day long weekend, the festival is the longest running regional celebration of the LGBTIQA+ community in the country. 

The festival welcomes all sorts, and what started as an advocacy idea formed over dinner between friends has become a vessel to bring the queer community in country Victoria together. 

Each year during the festival run, the population of Daylesford triples. Last year, over 30,000 people came along.

A voice of authority: The Brolga spoke to festival president Matt Clarke about why the festival is so important – and what it means to the attendees. 

🗣️ “We’ve been so lucky, there’s been no resistance from the local community,” said Clarke. “It’s so welcoming here – it easily overpowers any negativity or homophobia. It’s a great platform to champion and enhance queer talent, especially in the youth.”

🙋‍♂️From festival goer to manager: Clarke began his partnership with ChillOut as an attendee himself, before seamlessly fitting into the top job in 2020. He said Daylesford serves as a haven for the community. 

• “A lot of people shy away from metro festivals, especially when they’re not out yet,” said Clarke. “Daylesford offers a safer space. We’ve had people come along that have lived in Melbourne 20 years and not felt safe to hold their partner’s hand. But here it feels different.” 

Inclusion beyond pride: In 2026, the festival is prioritising inclusion in all forms. This year, the festival has employed extra staff and volunteers to improve accessibility. Clarke said the change comes after the parent of a performer at a previous festival struggled to find accommodation due to her wheelchair. 

• “I’d hate for anyone to miss their son’s performance because of something like that,” said Clarke. 

It’s an apt reflection of what ChillOut is all about - bringing absolutely everyone together for a good time, no matter what. 

The secret to success: Clarke said there should be more events like ChillOut Festival throughout regional and rural Australia, but many obstacles stand in the way. 

“Organisations hit a lot of hurdles like red tape and homophobia. ChillOut is lucky because we own everything - our trademarks, risk management, our permits, so we don’t have to rely on external sources. The ability to own things and reach out to other groups needs to be promoted more.” 

Something to seek out: ChillOut is a jewel on the regional calendar. It encapsulates the reward of what a community coming together can achieve - an excellent party and a sanctuary for everyone to be themselves without fear or shame. If you want to tag along and visit Planet Love in 2026, learn more about the festival program here.