Midsumma is Melbourne's premier gay and lesbian arts and cultural festival. The 2008 Festival will be a mind-blowing and ever-eclectic showcase of queer culture with over 180 unique events programmed. Featuring the finest performing arts, visual arts, cabaret, live bands, spoken word, film, forums, fashion, community, sporting and family events, the 2008 program will be  presented across five municipalities and located in over 80 different venues throughout Melbourne and greater Victoria.

Here are some GenQ Midsumma key dates, for 08:

CARNIVAL DAY & T-DANCE (Saturday Jan 19)

Midsumma is delighted to be opening the 2008 Festival with GLBTI Melbourne's favourite community event - Carnival Day!

Come join the gayest party in town as we return Carnival Day to it's home by the Yarra at Alexandra Gardens. With over 12 hours of non-stop entertainment, it's Midsumma's premier showcase of the hottest queer talent in town.
All of your favourites are back plus heaps of new and exciting things to see and do! Adventure through the picnicking parties, rack ‘em up at the bars, graze the gourmet village, rush the stages, boogie on the dance floor, cruise through the stalls, and hook up with old mates. That's a lot of a bang for five bucks!
And if you're craving for more, the fun doesn't end there! As the sun sets, the heat is turned up as we kick into T-Dance, the hottest party ticket this Summa. Funky tunes waft between the palms, party people kick into gear and some of Melbourne's finest DJ's and performance artists tear it up under the stars.

VENUE:  Alexandra Gardens, Melbourne
TRANSPORT: All Flinders St services and Swanston St Trams
MELWAYS: 2F J7
DATE: Sat 19 Jan
TIME: Carnival: 11am - 6pm
T-Dance: 6pm - 12pm
PRICE: Carnival: $5 donation upon entry
T-Dance: $20 pre-sale / $15 conc. & Summa Club / $25 on the day

INFO: 9415 9819, admin@midsumma.org.au

SUMMA CRUISE

Ships a-hoy sailors, first mates and deck-hands alike! Grab your quoits and get on board; we're going cruising! Let Midsumma float your boat with SummaCruise '08 as we hit the open water with a boutique sea-going party experience not to be missed.

You'll be ‘King of the World' as you sip Summa cocktails on the upper deck of the Victoria Star, whilst enjoying stunning views of Melbourne's city skyline and Docklands precinct. Whilst these views are spectacular they are nothing compared with what will be on show!

It's ‘FairStar the FagShip' with all your fave funky house tunes and cruisy Summa rhythms.

Venture below deck with your laid back buddies for chilled beats, as our Cruise Director serves up another shipshape level of Summa fun!

This sexy summa night always proves to be full of drinking, dancing and devious behaviour - not always in that order! So get your tickets early and show up in your sailor suit, swim suit or birthday suit and be ready to burn the floor under a sizzling Melbourne sunset.

Don't despair when you see the shore-line approach, SummaCruisers will drop anchor at the official SummaCruise after party at The Market Hotel, Commercial Rd, South Yarra.

Tickets are strictly limited (300 only), so get in early for what will be a sell-out event! Special prizes and more for best-dressed seamen and sexy sailor grrrls. Group bookings of ten or more go into the draw for VIP limo transfer from Docklands to The Market Hotel after-party. How very A-Gay!

VENUE: Victoria Star, Central Pier, Docklands (opposite Telstra Dome)
TRANSPORT: Trains: Southern Cross Station; Trams: 48, 70, 86 (stop D2) or any Spencer Street services
MELWAYS: 2E E5
DATE: Fri 25 Jan
TIME: 7pm boarding call, 7.30pm Anchors away

PRICE: $60 + bf full, $55 + bf conc. & SummaClub, $65 gangplank (cash only)

INFO: 03 9415 9819, cruise@skpevents.com.au, www.skpevents.com.au/summacruise 

*For GenQ's 2007 Summa Cruise Review, click here

PRIDE MARCH - LIVE. LOVE. BE. 

The event that stops the traffic.

The 13th annual Pride March takes over Fitzroy St, St Kilda in a blaze of colour, noise and movement.

Be loud. Be bold. Dress up or dress down. March with pride then enjoy the Concert and Beach Party.

Register your Pride March entry at www.pridemarch.com.au

Pride march is the official closing celebration of the 1st Asia Pacific Outgames 2008.

Pride March Victoria is a member of InterPride, the international association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride coordinators, and is the coordinating organisation for InterPride Region 20.

VENUE: Fitzroy St, Catani Gardens and nearby locations, St Kilda.
March assembly: Cnr Lakeside Dr & Fitzroy St
Concert & Beach Party: Catani Gardens, Pier Rd, Foreshore.

TRANSPORT: Tram 16, 96, 112 to Fitzroy St. / Bus 600, 606, 922, 923 to Fitzroy St (note that tram and bus services in and around Fitzroy St will be subject to alterations due to Pride March).
MELWAYS: 2N J5 & K5
DATE & TIME: Assembly open from 3.00pm
Outgames Street Circuit Run 4.15pm - 4.45pm
March commences 5.00pm, followed by Concert & Beach Party until 10.30pm
PRICE: Free 
INFO / BOOKINGS: March Registrations: online at www.pridemarch.com.au
or call 9513-3054, email: info@pridemarch.com.au

GIRLS ON THE FLOOR 

 Yo... get down low and go ho go! With DJ Mafia behind the wheels of steel, GOTF 08 has arrived at her new spacious and curvaceous northside home of The Artery in Fitzroy.

Packed with more video art and sexy trash bag performances than you can poke a tampon at, Girls on the Floor is once again the premier oestrogen-powered pash party of Midsumma. Bois and girls, get your fanny packs on cos this will be one helluva hump day.  

VENUE: The Artery, 87-89 Moor St (Crn Brunswick St) Fitzroy
TRANSPORT: Tram 112 - Stop 14 & 15
MELWAYS: 2C A3
DATE: Wed 30 Jan
TIME: 7 - 11pm
PRICE: $10 +bf
INFO: 03 9415 9819

Tags: Midsumma Festival 2008