Victoria, Australia is throwing its own WorldPride bash!

WorldPride will be hosted Down Under this year in Sydney, Australia. Travel a little further south of the New South Wales border and you’ll hit Melbourne, a vibrant city that’s a cultural social center for Australia’s LGBTQ+ scene.

Melbourne, and the state of Victoria, is worth a side trip in itself. With Australia’s World Pride Day (February 17) approaching, Victoria is taking to the streets with spectacular events to honor the diverse LGBTQ+ community during the multi-week celebration.

Here is a lineup of the main events:

Melbourne

• Explore the variety of vibrant queer produced events that are a part of the Midsumma Festival. Midsuma Festival is Victoria’s main annual summer LGBTQ event. The 22-day community-driven event starts on January 21 and goes until Feb. 12 so you’ll want to do this before you head up to Sydney for World Pride. A few highlights below:
  • Midsumma Extravaganza: kicking off the Midsumma Festival is a dazzling and exciting show at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl featuring sets from comedians and musical performances.
  • Each Monday, there will be a new “Crafty Queers” interactive workshop focusing on a new topic, allowing participants to learn new creative skills in a welcoming space!
  • Midsumma Pride March in Melbourne is on Mar. 5 and is one week before Victoria’s Pride.

Regional Victoria

• Venture out of the city:
  • Find yourself somewhere over the rainbow in Gembrook, Victoria (just over an hour outside of Melbourne) at Gaytimes (February 17-19, 2023), a queer music and arts festival, where glamping, a sensational lineup and self-love await.
  • Also a short drive outside of Melbourne is the Chillout Festival (March 9-12, 2023), in Daylesford, Victoria, where Queer Country Pride is highlighted through spirited parades, vivacious performances and educational seminars. This is the event to head to after Sydney World Pride has wrapped.

• Daylesford recently made the Top 50 List of Aussie Towns, according to Australian Traveller magazine. Daylesford came in at #16 spot and was described as idyllic but with plenty to see and do as it’s located in the Hepburn Springs area where you can unwind from your long journey with a good soak in the local mineral springs. In addition to the springs, however, is a vibrant foodie scene, galleries, shops, and the iconic Lake House hotel.

With glamorous Sydney getting so much of the international spotlight for WorldPride, it’s easy to forget that Australia’s second most populous state, Victoria, has its own unique Pride events, both with urban diversity and country charm.