Daylesford's biggest and most colourful festival will return in a slightly different format in the new year.
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Regional Victoria's biggest LGBTQIA+ celebration - the annual ChillOut Festival - will return next year, with events to be hosted across two weeks from February 27 until March 8.
An all-inclusive, family-friendly festival celebrating the diversity and positivity of the LGBTQIA+ community, organisers promise ten days of events that have been carefully curated to bring joy and colour in a safe environment for its 24th year.
From wellbeing activities to family-friendly theatre and arts events as well as the famous (and COVID-safe) street parade, a special Queer Health Expo and the festival debut of the award-winning podcast and live storytelling project Queerstories with host and director Maeve Marsden - there will be something for everyone.
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Festival-goers are also invited to gather at Lake Daylesford on March 3 to participate in the planting of 30 trees, which will form a Grove of Gratitude.
It is an initiative to celebrate the impact the event has had on the community for more than two decades and to honour the past and present community members.
A ceremony will follow the planting.
ChillOut Festival Director Michele Bauer said the community planting would be an enduring and natural reflection of the community's gratitude.
Daylesford has always held a special place in the hearts of the LGBTIQ+ community. It is a magical, transformative place and this gesture is living memorial for everyone to enjoy and reflect upon.
- Michele Bauer
"Daylesford has always held a special place in the hearts of the LGBTIQ+ community. It is a magical, transformative place and this gesture is living memorial for everyone to enjoy and reflect upon,'' Ms Bauer said.
Announcing the festival's return, organisers also announced that prominent media figure Patricia Karvelas would be its ambassador for 2021.
Karvelas is the presenter of Radio National's popular Drive program and has been a senior journalist in the Australian media landscape for 15 years, beginning her professional career in broadcast journalism at the ABC and SBS as both a producer and presenter.
As part of ChillOut 2021, Karvelas will host a must-see, must-hear in-conversation event.
ChillOut Festival takes place in Daylesford, Victoria from Saturday, February 27 until Monday, March 8. Tickets and further information can be found at chilloutfestival.com.au
