The ChillOut Festival took its message of diversity and inclusion to the main street of Daylesford on Sunday morning in a colourful celebration.
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Around 1000 people lined Vincent Street, many dressed in rainbow colours, to watch more than 50 community groups and organisations in the ChillOut Festival Parade.
One of the founders of ChillOut participated in the parade, driven in a car as part of the Hepburn House aged care facility float.
"It is really great to have her still be a part of it 23 years later," ChillOut Festival director Michele Bauer said.
Trentham Youth Group, Daylesford Primary School, Ambulance Victoria, CFA, Victoria Police and welfare organisations like Berry Street and CAFS were among the dozens of organisations featured in the parade.
Watch the best of the ChillOut Parade in the video below.
Transgender advocate Katherine Wolfgramme said she felt a sense of elation and pride during the parade.
She returned to Daylesford as an ambassador for ChillOut after moving from the town five years ago.
"There has always been beautiful inclusion here in Daylesford, accepting of all diversity," she said.
"That is why I moved here. As a transgender woman who didn't hide my gender and didn't want to have a secret, I knew I would be safe in this town.
"The town accepted me and the town loved me, and the town has called me home. I can't really express how that feels. I feel very proud and I see people in the crowd who are proud of me and that is a beautiful thing."
See the full gallery of photos from Chillout Festival below.
Ms Bauer said it was wonderful so many people came to Daylesford to support the LGBTIQ community this long weekend.
"Daylesford is an amazingly inclusive town. For example we have four rainbow ticked retirement homes in the Hepburn Shire," she said.
"That just shows how important it is for the whole community... people can come here and can grow old in the community - they don't have to be pushed aside or feel like they have to hide themselves.
"That is a very big thing for our community because not every place is like that."
Melbourne resident Zina Sofer has been coming to ChillOut since 2004 and is hoping she will soon be able to relocate to Daylesford.
"It just feels like home. It is probably the only place in the world I feel at home," she said.
"There is something about parades and gatherings of like-minded people. It is knowing you are not alone."
Matt Green and Colin Green travelled to Daylesford from their home near Maryborough to participate in the ChillOut parade, as the 'Queens of Tarts', fitting the Alice In Wonderland festival theme.
They will soon celebrate their first wedding anniversary and said being at ChillOut was a terrific way to recognise marriage equality.
"People should keep supporting this. Sydney can have its Mardi Gras, this is better. There are real people in the country," Mr Green said.
Melbourne resident Chris Poropat volunteered at the festival this year, after enjoying participating in previous years.
"The love for our community is amazing to see, particularly outside of a big city like Melbourne or Sydney," he said.
Mr Poropat helped 402 people set an Australian record for the largest human rainbow on Saturday afternoon.
"When we look back on the dark days of the 90s, it goes to show how we have grown as a community and how the rainbow really was a symbol of light in a time of darkness," he said.
"I think that had a lot of meaning to a lot of older people there, particularly the older generation who knew what it was like in the 90s and weren't able to share the freedoms that we have today."
Ms Wolfgramme spoke at the world record attempt about how the rainbow symbol has changed over time, from hope during difficult times in the 90s to pride today.
"We are very proud of our flag and we fight under our flag. Marriage equality is an example of when we all fought back to demand equal rights and we all marched under the banner of the rainbow flag," she said.
"It is very important to remember the history of it and as we go forward what that will be, because the flag will become our legacy. Generations to come will carry the flag when we are all gone and I am very proud of that too."
Hundreds flocked to Victoria Park in Daylesford on Sunday to continue the celebration at Carnival Day, which was hosted by comedian Bob Downe.
The long-weekend festival program also included well-being activities, performances and music.
Ms Bauer said the organising committee would work to expand the parade and boost the festival's focus on health and well-being next year.
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