Victoria's Pride Regional Activations
Artwork by Elwyn Murray
To ensure statewide representation of LGBTQIA+ arts and cultures. Victoria's Pride commissioned community groups, organisations and artists in regional Victoria to facilitate involvement in Victoria's Pride event activities, either in the lead-up to or on the day of the Victoria's Pride one-day street party in Melbourne’s inner north.
Applications for the Regional Activation Programs 2023/2024 season will open in August 2023 - please register your interest at [email protected] to be contacted regarding an information session
To find out about the Victoria's Pride Street Party, visit midsumma.org.au/vicpride
Previous Years
The events below have now finished, but take a look to give you some ideas on how you can be involved in the future!
Ballarat Frolic Festival presents Summer Frolic
This year we're bringing PRIDE back to Ballarat and taking Ballarat to Victoria PRIDE! With 12 events over 4 days, there's something for everyone. This year’s summer program includes the return of the popular Frolic Cabaret, youth events, ND friendly events, an indigenous-led bushwalk, the Frolic Warehouse PRIDE Party featuring headliner Brendan Maclean, and a party bus taking Ballarat to Victoria Pride and back. Ballarat Frolic Festival is a unique, welcoming celebration of our regional LGBTIQA+ communities, artists, and connection. You may come with friends, or you may come alone - but either way you are welcomed and made to feel connected at Ballarat Frolic Festival.
WHEN: 9 - 12 Feb 2023
WHERE: At various locations across Ballarat.
BY: Ballarat Frolic Festival
Gippsland Pride Festival
LGBTQIA+ community and celebration across the 6 shires of Gippsland; Latrobe City, Baw Baw, Bass Coast, South Gippsland, East Gippsland, and Wellington. No excuse to miss out - We're bringing a little bit of Midsumma to you!
WHEN: 12 Jan - 12 Feb 2023
WHERE: Gippsland (across 6 shires - Latrobe City, Baw Baw, Bass Coast, South Gippsland, East Gippsland, Wellington)
BY: Gippsland Pride Initiative Inc
Gippsland's Day Out
'Gippsland's Day Out' is the first of its kind - A family friendly, outdoor, 1 day festival, in support of Gippsland's LGBQTQIA+ community. Drag performances, live music, DJ, kid’s activities & entertainment, food & drink stalls, and an indoor chill out (sensory) zone.
WHEN: 11 Feb 2023 12-7pm
WHERE: Gippsland Performing Arts Centre, Traralgon
BY: Gippsland Pride Initiative Inc
Greater Shepparton's Road to Pride and Inaugural Pride Ball
Goulburn Valley Pride Inc. will curate and showcase our ‘road to pride’. Commencing with a launch event at SAM (Shepparton Art Museum) and culminating in a celebratory exhibit and our first ever Pride Ball.
WHEN: 11 Nov 2022 (launch event) - 11 Feb 2023 (Pride Ball & Exhibit)
WHERE: Shepparton - Shepparton Art Museum (launch), GOTAFE, Greater Shepparton City Council, Library & MEAC (exhibit), The Woolshed @ Emerald Bank (Rainbow Ball)
ACCESSIBILITY: Wheelchair accessible
BY: Goulburn Valley Pride Inc
IDo Love Queer Disability
A series of hand painted photogravure portraits by PollyannaR celebrating Gippsland's queer disability community. Creative intimate illustrative portraits that are stylised around important themes and motives in each of their stories.
WHEN: 10 Feb - 3 Mar 2023 | 10am-2pm or by appointment
WHERE: Morwell (PollyannaR Gallery Studio, 211 Commercial Road)
My Self: Portrait Series
LINE (LGBTQIA+ In the North East) Wangaratta, supported and partnered with Midsumma, are coordinating My Self: Portrait Series focusing on sharing LGBTQIA+ stories, through the creation of a series of self-portraits. The program will focus on developing a snapshot of regional LGBTQIA+ community members. The project will include audio recording of participants sharing a story about their past challenges and future opportunities, to be listened to in conjunction with viewing their artwork, creating a legacy of permanent and tangible records of regional LGBTQIA+ life in 2023. The project will include an exhibition event, displaying the creations from participants at the newly created LINE Wangaratta Pride Hub.
WHEN: December 2022 (workshop sessions) - 12 Feb 2023 (exhibition)
WHERE: Wangaratta (LINE Wangaratta Pride Hub, 18 Textile Ave)
TICKETS: FREE event
ACCESSIBILITY: Wheelchair accessible, there are some physical access limits due to venue
BY: LINE Wangaratta Inc.
Pop Up Pride 2022
Bendigo Pride invites you to join your rainbow family as part of the Victoria's Pride celebration. Live music, DJ Cliterally, drag from host Polly Filla, Gay Stuff Markets, Trans Clothing Swap, plus the launch of our oral history project and highlights of the 2023 Bendigo Pride Festival. Part get-together, part Queersmas Market, all fun.
WHEN: 3 December 2022 11am-4pm
WHERE: Bendigo (Town Hall, Library, Library Gardens)
TICKETS: FREE event
ACCESSIBILITY: Wheelchair accessible
BY: Bendigo Pride Festival
Pride Across the Ages Podcast Season 2
A second Podcast series capturing intimate, heartfelt generational stories of Pride over the years of LGBTQIA+ people residing in the regional shire of Mount Alexander.
Access new episodes here: 
WHEN: 9 Feb 2023 5:30pm (podcast launch event)
WHERE: Castlemaine - Goldfields Library (launch event). Access podcast on streaming services.
TICKETS: FREE event
ACCESSIBILITY: Wheelchair accessible, AUSLAN interpreted, audio described
BY: Queer and Now on Main FM 94.9
Q-Lit
Q-Lit is Victoria’s first queer writers’ festival. The festival will connect writers and readers in five regional areas and then bring as many regional writers and readers as possible to our Victoria's Pride event in Fitzroy & Collingwood on the 12th Feb 2023. Each one-day regional festival event will consist of workshops for primary and secondary aged children, masterclasses, author interviews, readings and showcase opportunities for local writers, both emerging and established, to share their work alongside our touring writers.
DATES: 15 Jan (Ballarat), 21 Jan (Shepparton), 22 Jan (Traralgon) & 12 Feb 2023 (Fitzroy/Collingwood)
TIMES: 10am-12pm (Primary and highschool-aged workshops), 1pm-4pm (Adult and VCE-ages masterclasses), 6pm-9:30pm (Showcase and social mixer)
WHERE: Ballarat (Sebastapol Library & Ballarat Piano Bar) Shepparton (Shepparton Library & The Aussie Hotel), Traralgon (Traralgon Library) and Fitzroy/Collingwood (Victoria's Pride Street Party)
TICKETS: FREE event
ACCESSIBILITY: Wheelchair accessible
BY: Scratch Arts
Queer-ways: Retracing Regional Footprints
Victorian artists, LUCIANO and George Keats are bringing their Queer-ways initiative to Wodonga, Daylesford and Mildura with their new project Queer-ways: Retracing Regional Queer Footprints. The Queer-ways team will be documenting the presence of the local queer community, representing historical and contemporary stories in an illustrated Augmented Reality map. To document local history, the artists invite the community to get involved, adding stories to a Digital Queer Map of Wodonga through their website. LUCIANO and George will also be running digital information sessions from the 21st - 30th of November 2022 which can be found on their website, and will be visiting each community in January 2023. The completed maps will be displayed locally to celebrate Victoria’s Pride and will also be on display at the Victoria’s Pride Street Party in Collingwood on Sunday the 12th of February, uniting all of Victoria's LGBTQIA+ community.
WHEN: Begins Oct 2022, to be presented at Victoria's Pride (12 Feb 2023)
WHERE: Wodonga, Daylesford, Mildura and Fitzroy/Collingwood (Victoria's Pride Street Party)
TICKETS: FREE event
ACCESSIBILITY: AUSLAN Interpreted
BY: Queer-ways
Queer & Koorie: A Showcase of First Nations LGBTQIA+ Mob
Find VACCA at the upcoming Gippsland's Day Out.
Come along and visit VACCA for a yarn, goodie bags and Cultural activities throughout the day!
Come along, enjoy an all abilities, all ages family day out. There will be live drag performances throughout the day, live music, DJ, kids activities & entertainment, food & drink stalls and indoor chill out zone.
WHEN: 11 Feb 2023 12-7pm
WHERE: Gippsland Performing Arts Centre, Traralgon
BY: Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA)
Self Created Celebration
Pride party celebration of LGBTIQA+ people in Regional Victoria, connecting and celebrating pride history and experiences across the Great South Coast.
Featuring Jawbreakers and Scotty So
WHEN: 10 Feb 2023 7pm
WHERE: Dart and Marlin
BY: Brophy Family & Youth Services
That's Soo Gay!
That's Soo Gay; from insult to strength! An open art prize & exhibition in Kyneton celebrating the richness of the queer community’s contribution to society.
WHEN: 26 Jan - 12 Feb 2023
WHERE: Kyneton (The Old Auction House, 52-56 Mollison Street)
BY: Macedon Ranges Accessible Arts Inc
The Regional LGBTIQ+ Condition
LaNCE TV will broadcast to C31 Melbourne and simulcast on Facebook an extended panel show unpacking what it means to be LGBTIQ+ in rural Victoria. The aim is to highlight the reality of what it means to be LGBTIQ+ and living in regional and remote parts of Victoria, and to compare and contrast those experiences against that of our metropolitan cohorts. Up to six panelists will act as a representation for the broader LGBTIQ+ community voice from across rural Victoria, and will be made up of a range of ages, genders, and other intersectional backgrounds.
WHEN: 25 Nov 2022 9pm
WHERE: Digital event (broadcast from LaNCE TV Studios, Ballarat)
TICKETS: FREE
BY: LaNCE TV
END OF 2022/2023 EVENTS
Queers on the Catwalk
Queers on the Catwalk is a project that supports LGBTIQA+ community members of all ages to express and celebrate identity through clothing and fashion. Selected clothing was chosen from an October workshop delivered by The Story Costumer and the TGD Clothing Swap.
Date: 19 November, 2021
Time: 6:30-8:30pm
Where: Macedon Ranges
Tickets: FREE event (strict numbers)
Accessibility: Wheelchair Accessible
Produced by Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health
PIRNBIAL
Sculptural work “PIRNBIAL” (Rainbow in Woiwurrung language) examines the dual correlation between traditional culture and identity from Vince Partington's lived point of view. Vince is a proud Nguri-Illum Wurrung / Dja Dja Wurrung/ Wurundjeri / Wemba Wamba artist.
Date: 21 November, 2021 - Late January, 2022; 13 February 2022
Time: Gallery Opening times: Wed-Sun, 10am-4pm. Melbourne Pride
Where: Hearth Gallery, 208 Maroondah Highway, Healesville; Crumpler Shop Window, Melbourne Pride, Fitzroy
Tickets: FREE event
Accessibility: Wheelchair Accessible
By Part One Props
STILL STANDING AFTER 40 YEARS
LaNCE TV Ballarat presents a live panel discussion with 5 rainbow representatives from across regional Victoria. Through the intersecting standpoints of culture, gender, disability and ethnicity, our panellists will reflect upon historical, social and legislative issues which still affect LGBTIQA+ Victorians after 40 years since the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Victoria.
Date: 3 December, 2021
Time: 8:30pm
Where: C31 Melbourne & Geelong, LaNCE TV Facebook page and supporting social media pages
Tickets: FREE event
By LaNCE TV
Ballarat Pride Weekend
The Ballarat Pride Weekend is a collection of events spaced out over two days. It's run by queer youth for queer youth, with a LGBT+ themed trivia on the Saturday, and a movie night featuring State of Pride, and a short film about LGBT+ Ballarat residents and groups on the Sunday.
Date: 3 December (Trivia Night), 4 December (Movie Night)
Time: 6:30pm
Where: Trivia: Pot of Courage, Barkly Square, 25-39 Barkly St, Ballarat East
Movie: Regent Cinema, 49 Lydiard St N, Ballarat Central
Tickets: Free (booking required): Trivia Night tix here, Movie night tix here
Accessibility: Wheelchair Accessible
By The Rainbow Alliance
Pop-Up Pride Bendigo
A Pop-Up Pride day in Bendigo to celebrate 40 years since the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Victoria. Includes drag performances, live music, stalls, Trans Clothing Swap at the Town Hall, short films from Bendigo Queer Film Festival, exhibitions and more.
Date: 3 December (Preparty), 4 December (Pop-Up Pride)
Time: 12pm-5pm (Sat)
Where: Preparty: The Piano Bar
Pop Up Pride: Bendigo Library Gardens, Bendigo Town Hall, Bendigo Library
Tickets: FREE event
Accessibility: Wheelchair Accessible
By Bendigo Pride
I Do Take Pride - Gippsland LGBTQI+ Icons & Activists
Artist PollyannaR is celebrating the LGBTQI+ icons and activists of Gippsland. The exhibition features watercolour portraits, documentaries, Ido photobooth & the Ido Support LGBTQI+ in Gippsland archives.
Date: 4 December 2021 - 12 February 2022
Time: Exhibition opening 11am. Open by appointment all other times.
Where: PollyannaR Gallery Studio, 211 Commercial Road, Morwell
Tickets: FREE event
Accessibilty: Wheelchair Accessible | Audio Described
By PollyannaR & I Do Support LGBTQI+ Rights Gippsland
Queer Country Pride - Our Time to Shine
An online exhibition that documents Queer community stories from older rural and regional Victorians. Award winning photographer Lisa White captures the essence of her subjects as they share recollections of changes over the past 40 years.
Date: 9 December 2021 - late 2022
Time: Online 24/7
Where: Online
Tickets: FREE event
Photography by Lisa White. Produced by ChillOut Daylesford Inc.
‘Pride Across the Ages’ Podcast
A podcast series covering the lived experiences of 10 LGBTIQA+ people who call Mount Alexander Shire home. Each podcast discusses experiences of growing up and coming out, with a focus on the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Victoria 40 years ago, pride now and into the future.
Date: From 17 Dec
Time: 24/7
Where: Online (podcast streaming apps)
Tickets: FREE
Accessibility: Transcribed copies of each podcast can be requested by emailing [email protected]
By Mount Alexander LGBTIQA+ Steering Group
Rainbow Signpost
A documentary produced in Bendigo by local community members, following the unique journey of two trans people. The film explores the difference between trans experiences across a 40 year generational gap, impact on community, social change and their significant others, while navigating the experiences of transitioning.
Date: 29 Jan, 2022
Time: 3pm (screening), 4pm (Q&A with director and film participants
Where: The Engine Room, 58 View St, Bendigo
Tickets: $20
Accessibility: Wheelchair Accessible
By Trans and Gender Diverse Bendigo and Beyond. See the trailer here.
Country Roads to Pride
Photographic exhibition by artist and regional transgender Victorian, James Mepham. Twenty portraits with accompanying narratives celebrate extraordinary trans, gender diverse and non-binary regional Victorians. The theme speaks to the unique journeys or ‘roads’ trans, gender diverse and non-binary people travel in life.
Date: From 29 Jan
Time: 11am
Where: Online Exhibition
Tickets: FREE event
Accessibility: Online
By Ballarat Community Health and Transgender Victoria
Wangaratta Road to Pride
A collaborative artwork by artist Lisa Bishop and local LGBTQIA+ community members depicting the individual stories along the road to Pride. The artwork and a behind the scenes documentary will be launched via an activation at the Melbourne Pride street festival, along with a blank canvas that will act as an interactive art piece for attendees to contribute their own story.
Date: 2 Feb (Wangaratta activation), 13 February 2022 (Melbourne Pride activation)
Time: 3-7pm
Where: Lisa Bishop Art Studio: SHOP 4/47 Conness St, Chiltern; Melbourne Pride
Tickets: FREE event
Accessibility: Wheelchair Accessible
By Lisa Bishop & April Huggins
Pride and intergenerational connection to socially isolated older people. In person events have been replaced with partnered activities and care packages being sent to participants of Switchboard’s Out and About program across Victoria.
Date: 6 Feb
Where: Across Victoria
Tickets: FREE. Please note this is a private project for Out & About members to access Melbourne Pride Activities - not open to the general public
By Switchboard Victoria
SELF(ie) PRIDE
A five-channel video work celebrating LGBTQIA+ led expressions of PRIDE and visibility in the Central Goldfields region.
Date: 1-9 Feb, 2022 (Tues/Wed/Thurs only, Maryborough); 10-16 Feb, 2022 (Bendigo, 13 Feb Opening Night)
Time: 10am-3pm (Maryborough), 10am-5pm (Bendigo)
Where: The Atrium, Go Goldfields Centre, 1 Nolan Street, Maryborough; Dudley House, 60 View Street, Bendigo
Tickets: FREE event
Accessibility: Wheelchair Accessible
By Martin John Lee
Queer Histories
An exhibition celebrating the lives of queer people from the past.
Date: 11-16 Feb, 2022 (Opening function 13 Feb, 2pm)
Time: 11am-5pm
Where: Dudley House, 60 View St Bendigo
Tickets: FREE event
Accessibility: Wheelchair Accessible
By Denis Chapman
Pride and Diversity Wings
Launch of the Warrnambool Pride and Diversity Wings mural. Southwest Victoria Pride and SWTafe welcome you to the launch of this mural, and invite you to take photos and share your pride.
Date: 11 Feb, 2022
Time: 12pm
Where: SWTafe, 197 Timor St, Warrnambool
Tickets: FREE event
Accessibility: Wheelchair Accessible
By Southwest Victoria Pride, SWTafe, James Cody-Davis
Camp
Camp Photography Series celebrates the lived experiences of 30 LGBTQIA+ artists who are living and working throughout regional Victoria. Make your mark and add yourself in to the giant map of Victoria, which will act as an artistic representation of an LGBTQIA+ census of Victorians.
Date: 13 February 2022
Time: 11am
Where: Peel Street Park, Melbourne Pride, Collingwood
Tickets: FREE event
Accessibility: Wheelchair Accessible
By Scratch Arts
Goldfields Pride
A podcast and report sharing LGBTQIA+ stories from the Goldfields region reflecting on the ‘Road to Pride’. The stories will then be presented to local councils and service-providers to say “we’re here, we’re queer, include us”, with recommendations on what local councils and service-providers can do to improve LGBTQIA+ inclusion.
Date: 13 February, 2022 (report and podcast released)
Time: N/A
Where: Online
Tickets: FREE event
By Sean Mulcahy
Think About It? Did It!
A portrait exhibit/installation of regional Victorian LGBTIQA+ elders sharing their stories and history as we celebrate and commemorate the 40th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality. A series of podcasts will compliment the portraits, capturing the joys and sorrows of being LGBTIQA+ over the last 100yrs in regional Victoria.
Date: 18 March - 3 April, 2022 during Shepparton Festival*
Time: 8pm (opening)
Where: GOTAFE Common Ground Café, 152-200 Fryers Street, Shepparton (Exhibit); One FM 98.5 (Podcast)
Tickets: FREE event
Accessibility: Wheelchair Accessible
By Goulburn Valley Pride Inc
*Podcast originally played during OUTintheOPEN Festival 2021 on One FM 98.5 ‘Pride in Diversity’ Radio Show.
END OF 2021/2022 EVENTS
What is Victoria's Pride?
A landmark program of pride events and projects returns to Victoria each summer as part of a state-wide celebration of LGBTQIA+ communities. Victoria’s Pride (previously Melbourne Pride) is held across the state from December to February, with events in regional and rural areas. The tour of state-wide events culminates in a full day-and-night street party in Melbourne’s iconic Gertrude and Smith Street precinct on Sunday 11 February 2024 (one week after the annual Midsumma Pride March.)
Victoria's Pride Street Party
Sunday 12 February 2023 / 11 February 2024
Melbourne’s iconic Gertrude and Smith Streets was once again transformed into an extravagant street party – with two live music stages and performances from musicians and artists – to celebrate Victoria’s diverse LGBTQIA+ communities, and it will be back on Sunday 11 February 2024.
