GALLERY | Port Douglas got Hot and Steamy in a weekend of festivities
LOCAL EVENT
The inaugural Port Douglas Hot and Steamy Festival has wrapped up after a party filled weekend celebrating love, diversity, and inclusion of the LGBTQI+ community in Far North Queensland.
The festival drew around 1000 people across seven events in iconic spots around Port Douglas, giving the area a much-needed boost to tourism during the traditionally quiet time of year.
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Festival Director Nathan Clarke said the patronage of the event was unprecedented, and that organisers own expectations had been superseded.
“With over half of the guests from out of the region, it has provided a healthy cash injection into the town during the quietest time of the year,” he said.
“The community really embraced this event wholeheartedly, and we couldn’t be prouder. If Dark Mofo in Tasmania can turn their terrible winters into something extraordinary, then Port Douglas says ‘challenge accepted’ during our steamy summers.”
The event’s headline act was showgirl and cabaret phenomenon Millie Minogue, a crowd-pleasing favourite who belted out Kylie tunes alongside her gold-hotpanted dancers.
“I feel so honoured to be here for the first of undoubtedly many Hot and Steamy Festivals in coming years,” Millie said.
“It’s wonderful to see so many people having flown here specifically for this and to see so many local businesses jumping in to support the event. What a way to start [Sydney] Mardi Gras season.”
Douglas Shire Mayor Julia Leu congratulated festival directors for the success of the event.
“It exceeded everyone’s expectations, was heaps of fun and has been a much-needed boost to our local economy,” she said.
“I’m very proud that Council supported this and look forward to it becoming a significant annual event in the future.”
Festival-goers who were in Port Douglas for the first time specifically for the event have reported they were blown away by the extraordinary beauty of the region and the welcoming, friendly nature of the local community.
Kris Kornovich who travelled to the event from Melbourne said, “This has been such a well-organised event, and we will absolutely be coming back next year, but definitely for longer, an amazing weekend of events, followed by a little downtime, and then straight onto Mardi Gras.”
The Hot and Steamy Festival featured an exceptional line up of local and national DJs, drag performances and cabaret shows, a long lunch, several evening events in key Port Douglas locations, wrapping up with a pool party at a luxury hotel. It is set to position itself as the premier LGBTQI+ festival in the region, also acting as an excellent precursor to the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
Planning for Hot and Steamy 2021 has already commenced with organisers saying it will be bigger, bolder and sweatier than ever.
See all the action from day three of Hot and Steamy below. All Images: Rick Moyer.
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