Karlie Brady

Journalist

Dates have been set for the next Hot and Steamy Festival as organisers say thank you to Port Douglas for supporting the inaugural event.

Preparations for an even bigger 2021 Festival are now well underway set to be held on Friday 19 February to Monday 22 February.

Festival Director Nathan Clarke said next year’s festival will be held the weekend before the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and will run as a pre-curser to that event.

“We are looking at adding a few more events and variety to next year,” he said.

Mr Clarke said this year’s event was hugely successful and surpassed his own expectations.

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“We would like to thank the Douglas region for wholeheartedly embracing Port Douglas’s first LGBTQI+ festival,” he said.

The Festival drew around 1,000 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.

“Festival-goers who were in Port Douglas for the first time specifically for the event reported that they were blown away by the extraordinary beauty of the region and the welcoming, friendly nature of the local community,” Mr Clarke said.

One festival-goer said “Thank you to the festival directors and committee for bringing an amazing, friendly and welcoming festive to Port Douglas. Well done and can’t wait for next year,” while another said, “The town was alive again as it used to be, I have friends that are gay and they have a zest for life and know how to party. I sincerely hope this will be an annual event. I had a great time thank you.”

Mr Clarke said organisers would like to thank their funding partners, Douglas Shire Council, Tourism Port Douglas Daintree, Saltwater Luxury Apartments and Hortulus Landscape Design for helping put on an incredible few days.

“We also couldn’t have held this Festival without the overwhelming support of the local Port Douglas business community, in particular our generous sponsors,” he said.