Gippsland Pride Rainbow Community Christmas and End of Year Celebration 2026

5th Annual Rainbow Community Christmas & End of Year Celebration

Gippsland Pride Initiative warmly invites our LGBTQIA+ community, families and friends to our 5th Annual Rainbow Community Christmas & End of Year Celebration.

As with every year, we're moving to a different Gippsland shire, and this time we're heading to Wellington Shire and the beautiful MAFFCO Beer Hall in Maffra. We're especially excited to be celebrating at an LGBTQIA+ owned local business.

For many of us, this is one of the highlights of the year. Half the joy is in the catch ups, the hugs hello, meeting new faces and sharing a good meal together. Expect delicious food, a bit of silliness, plenty of generosity and warmth, and a whole lot of fun as we wrap up another year of connection, visibility and pride across Gippsland.

What's on the day

• 12:00 PM: Doors open. Come in, grab a drink and settle in with friends old and new. There'll be info and resources on hand, music to set the festive mood, and activities to keep the kids entertained

• 1:00 PM: Christmas lunch. Sit down to a proper Christmas main with all the trimmings. Basic dietary requirements are considered, so just let us know when you register

• 2:00 PM: Santa drops in. Santa will be joining us with gifts for the kids, and we'll have a photographer on hand for anyone wanting special Christmas photos to take home.

There'll also be goodie bags and fun for all ages. It's a true celebration of our beautiful rainbow family.

This celebration is for our LGBTQIA+ community and rainbow families. Supportive friends and allies are welcome to come along with you.

Food and drinks

Your ticket includes Christmas lunch and non-alcoholic drinks, including soft drinks, coffee and tea. Alcoholic drinks are available to purchase at your own expense, and responsible service of alcohol will apply.

The Beer Hall will be reserved just for us. MAFFCO's outdoor dining area stays open to the public on the day.

Registration and tickets

Registration is essential for catering and security purposes. Please book a ticket for each person coming along, including children.

Thanks to the generous support of Loy Yang B Power Station, every ticket is less than half the real cost of the day, and we're also able to offer some fully supported tickets so everyone in our rainbow community can join the celebration.

• Adults (18 and over): $30, including lunch and non-alcoholic drinks

• Young people (6 to 17 years): $15 (inclusive)

• Children under 6: free

• No-cost tickets: a limited number are available for anyone who needs them, because everyone deserves to celebrate. We may get in touch with you after you register to help us stretch them as far as possible. If you can't make it, please cancel before the event so your ticket can go to someone else.

• Registration is essential for all tickets.

Every ticket helps support Gippsland Pride Initiative's ongoing community work and keeps our events accessible for everyone.

Getting there and accessibility

MAFFCO is at 1 Maffco Lane (also listed as 13-17 Railway Place), Maffra. There's parking on site, and the venue has accessible entry and accessible bathrooms.

If you need help with transport, we may be able to assist. Please email us at hello@gippslandpride.com before 4 Dec 2026 so we can talk through options.

Final details

Location: MAFFCO Beer Hall, 1 Maffco Lane, Maffra VIC 3860
Date: Sunday 13 Dec 2026
Time: 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Lunch: 1:00 PM
Santa's visit: 2:00 PM
Registration: Essential for catering and security
Transport help: Contact hello@gippslandpride.com by 4 Dec 2026

Limited tickets available so don't miss out!

We can't wait to celebrate with you and close out the year with gratitude, pride and plenty of sparkle.