Gay Time in Yackandandah

The Australian film, Strange Bedfellows, starring Paul Hogan, Michael Caton and Pete Postlethwaite, was filmed in the Victorian town of Yackandandah close to the Victorian ski fields.

Strange Bedfellows was the story of two male friends who pretended to be gay in order to take advantage of government benefits. As the Australian winter turns into spring, Yackandandah becomes the site, not of a "reel" gay festival but a real one.

The Yackandandah gay festival is called Spring Migration, occurring as it does on the first weekend when the seasons change. Festival organisers hope interstate and possibly overseas visitors do "migrate" to Yackandandah for the festival.

Weekend entertainment includes songfests, cocktail and dance parties, Fathers Day Market (Fathers Day in Australia is on the first Sunday of September), and a special church service at one of Yackandandah's historical churches.

This year's Spring Migration festival takes place from August 31 to September 2. For more information, visit the Spring Migration website.

Photo: Yackandandah sign © Tourism Victoria