SAVE THE DATE | OUTintheOPEN Festival 10 – 19 Nov 2023

Posted by: | Posted on: January 10, 2023

This year’s theme, ‘These Are The Days Of Our Lives’ will highlight both positive and negative interactions that the LGBTIQA+ community are faced with every day.

Through music and art, food events, health and wellbeing seminars and much more, #OitO2023 will be a focal point for documenting LGBTIQA+ life through history to this very day, from dizzying romantic highs and lows, enduring friendships and good times, marching in solidarity with each other, acting often as a lifeline to one another, to the day-to-day functioning as a loving, living human being in the 21st century.

Inspired by the Queen song of the same name, ‘These Are The Days Of Our Lives’ is a chance to reflect on what’s been, what’s now, and what’s to come, good or bad … all with the reminder to do it with love.

“When I look and I find I still love you.”

Celebrating 12 years over 10 days in 2023. Carnival Day will be Saturday 18 November. Stay tuned for more info…

Got an idea for #OitO2023? Contact us today!


Support during the flood emergency

Posted by: | Posted on: October 19, 2022

Many people in the LGBTIQA+ community will often face specific challenges in natural disasters such as floods.

Our friends at LINE WangarattaGoulburn Valley Pride SheppartonOUT in the OPEN Festival SheppartonSlade Consulting and Rural Pride Australia in partnership with Uniting’s Diversity Project team have put together these helpful resources for LGBTIQA+ people experiencing flooding in their region.

#staysafe
#support
#Shepparton
#lgbtiqaplus
#communityspirit
#thediversityproject


Seen our flyer in your neighbourhood?

Posted by: | Posted on: October 1, 2022

Looking for tickets? Click on our fabulous poster/flyer below for a full list of events and access to tix!

Let us know if you’d like a copy for your shop window, school or business here.

Show your pride this October/November!

Posted by: | Posted on: September 29, 2022

Hi, Festival Friend,

Thank you for your continued interest and support of OUTintheOPEN Festival! Quite simply, 11 years in, we couldn’t continue to do it without you!!

This year we’re offering TWO options for your shop-front or business to proudly join us in getting OUTintheOPEN. 

If purchasing a large $25 rainbow flag (3′ x 5′) doesn’t tempt you, this year we’ve also got FREE laminated A4 signs (see below) with 1 of 21 different pride flag designs for you to choose from – with accompanying QR codes – so those walking the streets of Greater Shepparton can both see you’re a supporter of pride/diversity AND learn something at the same time!

Please let us know if you’re keen to jump on board with option A ($25 flag) or option B (laminated pride flag), and we’ll drop one by ASAP. 

If you can display the flags in your window for the OUTintheOPEN Festival 2022 period, October 31 – November 13, we’d be most grateful!

We look forward to hearing from you! Thanks again.


Are you REALLY a #FESTIVALFAN? Prove it!

Posted by: | Posted on: September 25, 2022


LOOK! Our 2022 event line-up is taking shape | Purchase your Festival Passes here…

Posted by: | Posted on: September 1, 2022

Click here to check out our amazing line-up of events for 2022 thus far! BUY FESTIVAL PASSES

 

GET YOUR FESTIVAL PASSES HERE | Your $65 and $125 Festival passes give you access to:

WEEKEND 1 | Saturday’s GLOW Roller Disco event, Saturday’s Homophonic! event and Sunday’s Transmansplaining event! WOW! | BUY FESTIVAL PASS

WEEKEND 2 | Friday night’s Sequins at SAM event, Saturday night’s Evening with the Divas event and Sunday morning’s BIG Community Brunch! WOW!BUY FESTIVAL PASS


MEDIA RELEASE | OUT IN THE OPEN – REIMAGINED | 3 MARCH 2022

Posted by: | Posted on: March 3, 2022

Goulburn Valley Pride is proud to announce the first meeting of the Out In The Open Working Group held at GOTAFE on Wednesday night was a great success.

Goulburn Valley Pride President Deb Chumbley said “ It was great to have an actual in person meeting and to see a passionate mix of old and new faces sharing ideas”.

Out In The Open, Shepparton’s annual Pride event showcasing and celebrating community diversity is this year scheduled for 31st October to November 13th with programming still in the early stages.

After being limited to mostly online events including a livestreamed carnival day for the past two years with COVID -19 and imposed restrictions the theme for this years festival is “Reimagined” and will see Carnival Day return with music, drag performers and sparkles to the Queens Gardens.

“I’m excited to re-imagine this year’s festival and be back out in the open,” said festival Co-convenor Georgina Poort.

Out In the Open Artistic Director Nicole Wells said, “It was a productive and inspiring meeting of passionate individuals, working as a team to bring our community together through inclusion and celebration”.

Out In The Open provides a safe and inclusive space for our regional LGBTIQA+ community to be their true selves. It provides visibility and representation.

Out in the Open attracts many visitors to the region boosting tourism and local spending.

For further information please contact Deb Chumbley 0429 523 772.


THANK YOU!

Posted by: | Posted on: November 7, 2021

On behalf of all of us involved with OUTintheOPEN 2021 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!!!!!


Join CARNIVAL DAY ‘online’ this Sat 6 Nov!

Posted by: | Posted on: November 5, 2021
Reimagined this year from Queens Gardens, to an online extravaganza, this Saturday 6 November, join the OUTintheOPEN crew LIVE from 1pm. It will be a family-friendly afternoon of drag queens, local musicians, shout-outs and celebrations of 10 years of OUTintheOPEN history. Read more…

MEDIA RELEASE | OUTintheOPEN Festival Shepparton turns TEN!

Posted by: | Posted on: October 14, 2021

OUTintheOPEN Festival 2021 is here! From October 28 through November 7, whether online or in person, you can celebrate with us no matter where you are! Our big event, Carnival Day, will be online this year on Saturday afternoon November 6…and it’s our 10th birthday! Join superstar drag co-hosts Frock Hudson and Pattie Choux as they bring local music, fun and frivolity to your screens while showcasing 10 years of OUTintheOPEN’s fondest memories ‘live’ online.

Numerous events fill the Festival calendar this year, starting off with a bang at GOTAFE! Our “Think About It? Did it!” launch is first up, where you will view portraits and read anecdotes of regional LGBTIQA+ elders experiences, as we celebrate and commemorate their joys and sorrows, acknowledging the 40 year anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality. Their full stories/podcasts will be shared on ONE FM 98.5’s Pride in Diversity radio show each Thursday night during the Festival.

Thorne Harbour Country, and Uniting’s Diversity Project in partnership with LINE Wangaratta will host a sexual health forum and an ‘LGBTIQA+ Regional Community of Practice’ professional development event with a focus on workplace inclusion journeys. The Val’s LGBTI Ageing & Aged Care team will be “Celebrating & talking LGBTIQA+ histories” and (20th century) impacts, exploring the community development/growth from social disapproval to overcoming adversity, celebrating the achievements we have made!

If you’re looking for some more in-person events, the BIG Milestone Café & Bistro Brunch will be offering two sessions on Sunday October 31, and the BIG Lemon Tree Brunch on Sunday November 7 offers the same. Perhaps you’d prefer an evening meal at our “Winner, Winner, Schnitz for Dinner” event on Wednesday November 3? Either way, we’d love to see some friendly faces.

“Many of our 30+ Festival events have been re-imagined ‘online’ which means no masks, stay in your pjs, sip a glass of wine or 2, and attend from your couch (or backyard picnic blanket)! From trivia nights to queer nature connections, family-friendly rainbow story time sessions to business networking, there’s something for everyone!” says Festival Co-Convenor, Damien Stevens-Todd. “Even with lockdowns and restrictions we have big plans to celebrate! Whether online for singalongs or in person at our art therapy sessions, you can celebrate with us wherever you are! Just don’t forget to jazz it up with all things rainbow, sparkle and shine; we want to see it all! Show us your pizazz – tag us on Instagram or Facebook!”

With less than 2 weeks to go we are so excited to see everyone get involved and “out in the open” – help us celebrate the last 10 years of what has been Greater Shepparton’s own OUTintheOPEN Festival celebrating LGBTIQA+ pride and community diversity in all it’s forms! Absolutely everyone welcome!

Visit www.outintheopen.org.au/events-2021/ to check out all the events or phone Georgina Poort (Co-Convenor) on 0401 168 229 for more information.