Summer has officially arrived, meaning we are just weeks away from the anticipated arrival of Midsumma Festival 2020 on January 19, celebrating queer arts and culture until 9 Feb.

Kicking off with the fan favourite, Midsumma Carnival, an estimated 120,000 attendees over an 11-hour, full-day annual celebration at Alexandra Gardens. Midsumma Carnival is a signature event for Midsumma, celebrating the first day of a 22-day festival. Midsumma Pride March will celebrate its 25 anniversary; the colourful and inclusive parade will again march in solidarity with queer communities in Victoria.

The parade will incept Fitzroy St, St Kilda on 2 Feb with post-pride celebrations held at the foreshore of Catani Gardens until 4 pm on the iconic Summa Pride Stage. Midsumma Festival and Melbourne Museum will celebrate Lunar New Year at Nocturnal x Midsumma: Lunar New Year Disco event on 7 Feb, complete with a Midsumma twist, including a queer street dance battle hosted by Thailand’s Pangina Heals and Taiwan’s Chrissy Chou. 3D: Deaf Draws, Drinks is a themed life drawing lesson, Auslan interpreted and Deaf friendly event, creating accessibility for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing queer communities to pay homage to a celebrated space of LGBTIA+ communities and enjoy a drink while drawing life models on 6 Feb.

Off land and out on the Bay, jump aboard the Girls at Sea exclusive ladies-only boat party, with acoustic bands followed by DJs playing late into the night. Or, if you prefer to stay on the land, Presented by: Flesh Coloured Panties Productions presents the first live development of ‘Girls Are Hot’ (because they are…) the female-focused, comedy musical involving fosse, fashion and plenty of contours.

Midsumma Pool Parties have established themselves as some of the best parties of the Melbourne summer, with this year’s being hosted at Prahran Aquatic Centre and Wet on Wellington. The Queer Pool Party, hosted on 26 Jan at Prahran Aquatic Centre, invites all genders and sexualities to join in on the FREE daytime entertainment, with mildly competitive water sports, poolside entertainment and a free sausage sizzle leading to the perfect family and kid-friendly pool party!

For the adults:

ADAM’s Pool Party at Wet on Wellington is a part-rave, the part-pool party that will run from midday – 10 pm on 1 Feb. Popchops Presents: Cool for the Summa on February 1 is a warehouse extravaganza if you’re looking to stay dry. Popchops’ DJs will keep the dance floor busy all night, and exciting surprises will go up for 2020.

Another not-to-be-missed event this summer, The Glam Slam provides a unique safe space within Melbourne Park to experience the Australian Open and celebrate inclusion and diversity at one of the biggest sporting events in Australia between 31 Jan and 2 Feb. It offers an authentic Grand Slam experience with a range of on and off court activities during the AO, to raise the visibility of the LGBTQIA+ community and build strong connections between spectators, guests and allies who participate!

For the kids:

The Rainbow Parade in Altona will once again host rainbow art activities for kids on 8 Feb, including rainbow bubbles, treats and crafts for the afternoon, while Park Lounge in Werribee’s Kelly Park will allow families to indulge their adventurous spirits in a fun day of music, performance and jam-packed entertainment from 5pm onwards, featuring the likes of Yana Alana and

The Paranas, DJ Hip Hop Hoe, Kilia Tipa, Jex Lopez, Tristan Meecham and PO PO MO CO. Montmorency’s Were Street will be transformed into QWere Street on 1 Feb with a fun-filled, late-evening event with live performances, a kids’ zone, creative activities, roving entertainment including drag queens, fire twirlers and stilt walkers, as well as alfresco dining, a water slide, jumping castle and much more – all for free! BYO chair, and you’re set for the evening.

With 194 performances, social events, parties and community events, there’s plenty to see, partake in and celebrate at Midsumma 2020.

Midsumma Festival is Australia’s premier 22-day queer arts experience that celebrates LGBTQIA+ diverse journeys and communities and will host over 285,000 across 194 events in 98 venues around Melbourne’s CBD and other suburbs.