ChillOut’s off and racing
Daylesford’s ChillOut Festival is on again this Labour Day long weekend with the inaugural ChillOut country race day finally set to get galloping.
Cancelled last year due to wet weather, the ChillOut Country Races at NMIT Kyneton Park have been rescheduled for this year’s festival on Saturday, March 10.
Plenty of fun is planned trackside (besides the horse racing), including food and wine stalls, live music and a big screen to watch all the action from Flemington.
The race day is part of the four-day regional LGBTI festival, which draws thousands of revellers to Victoria’s spa country every year.
The festival will kick off with the regular Slowest Lunch at Sault restaurant on Friday, March 9. An auction at the event will raise money for the Hepburn Shire State Emergency Services Unit.
An official opening party will start proceedings at Daylesford Town Hall on the Friday night from 6pm, offering festival-goers a chance to meet the locals and mingle.
For sports lovers, the ChillOut Golf Tournament is back at Hepburn Springs Golf Club to launch the Saturday morning activities.
Those who like a bit of rough and tumble may prefer to check out the annual roller derby bout between rivals Ballarat Roller Derby and Dragon City Derby Dolls (Bendigo).
On the same day, drag icon Vanessa Wagner (pictured) will test your sexual knowledge at Twisted Rodeo at the Palais. Meanwhile, gastronomic delights will be the focus at Lunch in the Park at the Hepburn Pavilion Café with fresh local produce and jugs of sangria available.
Then it’s all aboard a food and wine train on Saturday night, travelling through Wombat Forest to Musk with local wines and cheeses and a blues band.
Saturday night also sees the return of one of the most popular events of the festival, the annual bush dance, held at Daylesford Town Hall.
For music lovers, a great night of song has been planned at The Old Hepburn Hotel with Cream, featuring Sal Kimber, the Monique Brumby band, the Rosie Burgess Trio and more.
Following Carnival Day at Victoria Park on Sunday, which usually draws a strong crowd, the annual dance party will be held at Daylesford Town Hall with a saucy burlesque theme and DJs Peter McNamara and Miss Eleni.
Seasoned ChillOut performers Cyndi Boste and Michelle Parson will sing up a storm across town at the Old Hepburn Hotel.
There is plenty more on offer during the four-day festival. Tickets are on sale now and program guides are available around Melbourne.
INFO: ChillOut runs from March 9 – 12. More at www.chilloutfestival.com.au
