News

EARLY-BIRD stallholder applications for CARNIVAL DAY are NOW OPEN! Early-bird closes 30 June.

CARNIVAL DAY is Sat 6 Nov 2021, to be held in Queens Gardens – complete your online registration NOW to secure your site!

Want to host your own event as part of OUTintheOPEN Festival Shepparton (28 Oct – 7 Nov 2021)?

OUTintheOPEN is Shepparton’s festival celebrating LGBTIQA+ pride & community diversity. This year we’re celebrating 10 years!

OUTintheOPEN was developed to address some of the inequalities faced by the local gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer (GLBTIQ) & allied communities and to build a more inclusive community in Greater Shepparton. EVERYONE is welcome to get involved!

OUTintheOPEN is a project led by Goulburn Valley Pride Inc. and is proudly supported by many other organisations and community groups.

The festival will consist of many events including a health/well-being forum at GOTAFE in October and a CARNIVAL DAY on the first weekend in November at the Queens Gardens. Other events will be held during the week across the City of Greater Shepparton. This is where YOU come in!

We are looking for Community Groups, Organisations, Performers, Venues, Events & Artists…

How to get involved…

Please complete the expression of interest form – feel free to make contact with us first to discuss an event or idea. We look forward to hearing from you!

Alternatively, please submit your proposal via email (details below) along with a preferred image (high res.) for marketing purposes on our website. Additional background information is welcome.

For more info contact Damien Stevens on 0418 511 562 or enquiries@outintheopen.org.au

Celebrating 10 years over 10 days in 2021. Carnival Day will be Saturday 6 November. Stay tuned for more info…

Got an idea for #OitO2021? Contact us today!

On behalf of all of us involved with OUTintheOPEN 2020 we would like to say a HUGE thank-you to everyone who attended, volunteered and supported the event this year!

We look forward to seeing you all again next year!!!!!

We want your feedback. Please take our short survey here.

Register NOW for a care pack, carefully put together by our OUT in the OPEN volunteers especially for our amazing LGBTIQA+ community. Featuring self care items, chocolate and more! Register here now! One of our friendly volunteers will be in touch and hand-deliver it to you!

NOTE: Pink box for illustration purposes only. Care package will be delivered in calico bags.

OUTintheOPEN is OPEN to everyone!

Everyone is welcome to join the fun and celebration of diversity with the LGBTIQA+ community. Friends, families and supporters are welcome to 2020’s reimagined OUTintheOPEN Festival. 2020 has of course brought on many challenges for families and communities alike. To help give the situation a bit more shine and sparkle, GV Pride have given their 2020 OUTintheOPEN Festival a shake up and are ready to provide a rainbow of amazing activities to put a spring in everyone’s step.

Speaking of steps, the 2020 Festival brings a new event to the OUTintheOPEN calendar. Registrations are still open for the GV Pride Fun Run/Walk which has been reimagined, becoming a step challenge over the 11 days of the OUTintheOPEN Festival starting October 22nd. No matter what your age or ability, whether you walk, run, roll, dance or sashay, join in to raise awareness and visibility for LGBTIQA+ communities – show your rainbow pride and celebrate diversity as a friend, family member, ally or LGBTIQA+ person.

Many of the activities of the 11 day festival are being offered this year using online platforms which means joining in is easy!! No need to wear a mask while attending the Carnival Day fun as it will be live streamed to wherever you are celebrating. Also back due to popularity is the spectacular kids event, Rainbow Story Time with Frock Hudson brought to you by GV Libraries, this event will also be easy to access from home as it has shifted to an online platform for 2020. For those that need an excuse to get out of your tracksuit pants and dress up these days, get your glam on for Frock up Friday sing along online. Watch out also for the opportunity to learn from the Easy Eye Makeup tutorial or join a forum relating to inclusive practice. To join the fun and find more of the online festival line up check out the OUTintheOPEN website.

If, however, you’re looking for some in person time, the BIG Lemon Tree Brunch is offering two sessions on Sunday the 25th this year to spread things out. For some evening socialising, there is always our Winner, Winner Schnitz for dinner event on Tuesday October 27th.

Check out the full line up of activities included in the OUTintheOPEN Festival and take the opportunity to register. Stay up to date by following the OUTintheOPEN Festival in Shepparton on Facebook.

Is OUTintheOPEN Festival looking for YOU?

This year our Festival team is looking for enthusiastic people to join our us for the 22nd October – 1st November OUTintheOPEN Festival weekend.

The following positions will join our Festival Team:

• Festival Director/Convenor (1)
• Festival Administrator/Logistics (1)
• Artistic Director (1)
• Secretary & Admin. Support (1)
• Treasurer & Governance (1)
• Volunteer Coordinator (1)
• Entertainment Coordinator/Stage Manager (1)
• Social Media/Marketing Coordinator (1)
• Fundraising & Promotions Assistant (1)
• Festival Volunteers (20)

Click here to apply. Please contact us for a ‘position description’ and ‘expression of interest’ form – we look forward to hearing from you!

Find us on Facebook @ facebook.com/OUTintheOPENFestival