Summer Camp Festival: Revellers don their most colourful costumes, ponchos and pyjamas for LGBT festival in St Kilda, Melbourne
Heavy downpours didn’t dampen the spirits of thousands of glammed up revellers who displayed their their pride in the brightest colours as they flocked to Summer Camp.
The 2023 Summer Camp Festival gave members of the LBGTQI+ community a place to be themselves in Melbourne on Saturday.
Despite the grey skies rainbows were littered across the St Kilda Marina as the festival returned for another year to usher in the final month of 2024.
The festival’s website warned: ‘What happens if it’s raining? The show must go on! Summer Camp is happening rain, hail or shine.’
‘In the event of a little summer rain, bring a sexy raincoat and wellies.’
Proud revellers donned their brightest colours and cowboy hats for the second annual Summer Camp Festival in St Kilda in Melbourne on Saturday
Organisers encouraged people to dress however they felt comfortable for the LGBTQI+ event. This woman stood out from the crowd in her shiny outfit
‘Self expression is sexy. We encourage you to wear whatever makes you feel f*king fabulous,’ the website for the strictly 18+ event read
The weather was gloomy but revellers didn’t let that stop them from having a good time
Love was in the air as people were encouraged to be themselves and enjoy the safe space that organisers provided
Drag was encouraged for those that felt more comfortable and ponchos failed to obscure the bright colours beneath the transparent weather protector.
Umbrellas were an unexpected accessory that was accommodated by some, but the rain did not smudge anyone’s makeup as they danced the day away.
Unfortunately for those that did sport umbrellas they ended up left at the entry gates, along with GoPros, selfie sticks and fireworks which were strictly banned.
Pink dresses were littered with glitter as organisers encouraged attendees to ‘add a little bit of sparkle [as] part of the uniform’.
Revelers were able to let go of their grievances and embrace themselves in the holiday-themed event.
‘It’s a place where you can kiss your cutie(s) behind the boathouse or sissy that walk to your next ‘class’,’ the festival’s website reads.
‘Self expression is sexy. We encourage you to wear whatever makes you feel f*king fabulous.
‘It’s your place to call homo this summer!’
Ponchos could not hide the pride as thousands of partiers braced for the rain
Summer Camp is a school-themed event where attendees were told to let their inner-child shine
Drag and bright colours lit up the event and one attendee truly mashed every genre of clothing together in their unique and colourful get-up
Umbrellas became a must-have accessory which provided protection against the rain with many opting to colour coordinate their fits accordingly
Umbrellas had to be left at the entry gates, alongside fireworks, GoPros, drugs and selfie sticks
Sexy leopard print, stunning tight dresses and dominatrix-style leather getups were some of the more daring outfits that some chose to don for the party.
Bright pink was perhaps the central theme of the day, with several patrons sporting stunning cowboy hats and tennis jacket to match.
Cleo Taurus looked entirely glamorous, with a majestic puff of luscious purple hair and intricate glam makeup shading her eyes and forehead.
Jude and Josh brought a remarkable look, with Jude in tight, fluorescent jogging pants and headband and Josh in a sparkly singlet, earings dangling and tight bike pants.
Cleo Taurus puffed up the make-up for her appearance as she let down some luscious purple hair and showed off her intricate eye shading
Azaezal and Elliott strapped up in stark black leather and a spiked collar
Jude and Josh were colourful and sporty in their bike shorts, flashy shirts and Pikachu carry bag
Crews of all ages rocked up to show their pride at the all-inclusive event
Although nudity was strictly prohibited one person got as close as he could to letting his buns out
Sunglasses certainly weren’t needed with the gloomy skies but they really pulled one attendee’s outfit together
The festival kicked off at 2pm to cloudy, rainy weather as temperatures reached a chilly 15C.
But the fashion flair and musical acts brought some heat to the day.
‘The counsellors are DJs’ and their aim was to showcase emerging queer talent, raise awareness for community, and raise money for causes.
‘It’s a safe space of love and celebration where everyone is welcome – no matter your preference or pronouns. Love is in the air at Summer Camp,’ its website read.
Disco Daddies, DJ Gay Dad and Victoria Bitter were among the 36 artists who performed at the event.
Headline acts included ‘Friday’ singer Rebecca Black and drag queen Trixie Mattel from the US.
Leopard print and fishnet stockings was a classy look that at least a few opted for inbetween rain showers
Others treated the festival like a trip to Hawaii and slapped on their vacay fits
The cans of booze were cracked as soon as the doors opened at 2pm as festival-goers flooded into the Marina
Things wrapped up at 11pm but there is no doubt that the party continued after that elsewhere
A stunning poncho was donned by one but its effectiveness to hold back the rain was questionable
The event was strictly 18+ as the cans of alcohol cracked and the boogie kicked off and went well into the night.
Sydney will host its own Summer Camp Festival on Sunday which begins at 1pm in Wentworth Park Sports Complex.
Attendees were given a ‘Summer Camp 101’ guide which educated them on all the freshest terms used in the community.
The guide included definitions of ‘glory holes’, ‘pitching a tent’, ‘trans’, ‘ally’, ‘tea’, and ‘throuple’ which is a consensual relationship between three people at once.
Some even took part in the ‘hanky code’ which is a colour-coded system for displaying somebody’s sexual tastes.
‘Traditionally used by fetish-loving queer folk, a black flag would signal an interest in BDSM, red flag = fisting, light blue = oral, black and white checkered = safe sex etc.’
Summer Camp Festival also has a date in Sydney set for Sunday which kicks off at 1pm and goes through to 10pm
Organisers of the event proudly state that it is run ‘by the community, for the community’ and hope to make 2024’s even better
The only cities to host the event in 2023 were Melbourne and Sydney but organisers are looking for suggestions as to where they should plan their next stop
A ‘Summer Camp 101’ guide was provided to attendees which outlined some of the most popular phrases used in the LGBTQI+ community
The weather did little to impede the pleasure felt by those that were able to be unashamedly themselves
Organisers are keen to expand the festival for 2024 and are hinting that they may be able to host the event in more cities if this year goes off without a hitch.
Melbourne and Sydney are the only two cities to be graced with the pageantry this time around, with each show wrapping up at 11pm and 10pm respectively.
The festival is ‘run for the community, by the community’ and encourages anyone interested to get involved or pitch new locations for consideration in the future.