Drag queens were the stars of Yackandandah over the weekend as glitter and colourful costumes were on show for the Spring Migration festival.
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The event is now in its 11th year and brought about 1500 people into the town for a celebration of equality.
Linda Lamont and Amanda Monroe, drag queens who have appeared on stage and television, returned to Yackandandah where they have been performing since Spring Migration began.
Ms Monroe is known for her role in the Paul Hogan movie Strange Bedfellows, which was largely filmed in Yackandandah and inspired the beginnings of the Spring Migration festival.
Organiser Gary Hayward said the drag performance involved “great costumes and was very funny”.
“We’re one of those towns that like to do something out of the box,” he said.
“It’s about all people, all mixing together.”
This year’s theme of “equality” was a message that many in Yackandandah are ready for same-sex marriage to become legal.
“If you look at the rest of the world, no one’s been struck by lightning,” Mr Hayward said.
“Australia should be equal.
“I don’t know why we have to be the last English-speaking country in the world to give their people equality.”
He and his partner were the victims of harassment by two “religious zealots” last year and he said another person smashed a statue at the Buddha Shop Albury as recently as last week.
“Thank God most people are lovely,” he said.
Mr Hayward said Yackandandah is a progressive town in favour of equality.
He is hopeful Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s appointment will lead the federal government to change the law.
“If they want to have their beliefs fine, but Australia is full of different belief systems,” he said.
“Things have changed; we just want to get on with it.”
Spring Migration is held annually on the third weekend of September.
The weekend’s festival also involved packed music events at the Star Hotel Yackandandah and Yackandandah Hotel, plus a Lions Club Market on Sunday.
Visitors from as far as America and Bali, as well as many from Albury-Wodonga, made their way to the town to celebrate.
Star Hotel Yackandandah publican, Owen Ramsay, said the town’s biggest weekends are during the Yackandandah Folk Festival and Easter, but Spring Migration is third on the list.
He said accommodation was booked out during the festival and many stayed around for the Sunday markets.
“Anything that brings people to town is good,” he said.
