Have you decided how you’re going to be ringing in Australia Day? Here are top places queers around Melbourne will be celebrating on this day of national reflection and pride.

Grab your Aussie flags, thongs and buggie smugglers! Australia Day is so much more than just another public holiday. It’s a day for the nation, both queer and straight to reflect on itself and celebrate its achievements. It’s also a time for us all to party big time…

OMG!

Hot new party OMG is not an abbreviation of ‘Oh My God’ but rather ‘Our Music Gods’. It’s an obvious reference to the stellar DJ talent it has lined up to blow your minds and move your feet with some of the best house music you’re gonna hear this weekend. Featuring the DJ talents of Troy Cox (SYD), Ritchie Carter (SYD), Dan Murphy (SYD), Jade Glover (MEL) and more, it’s brought to you by the stellar team behind the biggest and most popular gay parties in Melbourne Rogue and Daywash.

And if that’s not enough to entice you, then surely the venue is. Motel was already one of Melbourne’s most loved fun places to party and recover. Well, it’s just undergone a massive sexy facelift and is now sexier than ever. OMG will be the first official dance party at the newly renovated Motel. What a perfect way to explore it’s new million dollar renovations at the venue that stole the hearts of Melbourne’s gay scene for over 8 years?

Psst. A little birdy tells me of some really exciting plans in the works by the Rogue team who are set to launch a super hot weekly party at the Prince of wales in st Kilda. Hold on to your hats party bitches. This may just be what the scene on the south side has been crying out for! Stay tuned to Same Same for all the latest on this hot new development!

OMG @ Motel – South Melbourne
Australia Day, Thursday 26th January 2012
Tickets are $25 + booking fee from Bang Clothing (Prahran)

BEARNATION – HI-FI SEAN

Growl Melbourne! Get ready as BearNations first ever day party brings you not only the best DJs from Melbourne, Peter McNamara and Kam Shafaati, but is also adding a touch of European flavor direct from the United Kingdom, via Europe’s hottest and sort after Dj on the part/circuit scene, Hifi Sean. Hifi Sean is a resident at Beyond, Europe’s biggest and longest running after house club. He is also a resident Dj from some of London’s hottest clubs and bars, Orange, Barcode and Bear Necessity.

I’ve witnessed this spunky talented man for myself late last year at awesome sets he played during Folsom in San Francisco and the man has the goods to rock your big furry boxes, and is set to be a huge hit with aussies. This may be Hi Fi Sean’s first gig in Australia, but something tells me it won’t be his last. Not by a long shot.

BearNation @ Sircuit Bar – 103 Smith Street, Collingwood
Thursday 26th January from 2pm
Tickets are $40 at the Door

JOY 94.9 PICNIC DAY

Forest Glade is a gorgeous private home set amidst 10 acres of beautiful gardens in Mount Macedon, and this Australia day it opens it’s doors and gorgeous forest surrounds for the JOY 94.9 Family Picnic day. This Open Day is an annual fixture in the Midsumma Calendar, and is a wonderful fund-raising event for JOY 94.9. The Melbourne Rainbow Band and the Melbourne Gay & Lesbian Chorus will be on hand to entertain and Motafrenz will also have a selection of classic cars on display.

Drive through the township of Mt Macedon to meet the Forest Glade. Look out for JOY signage and balloons along the way.

Don’t forget to bring a Picnic, hat, sunscreen, rugs and or chairs. Please note that BBQs and pets/animals are not permitted and that all refuse must be taken when you leave.

JOY 94.9 Picnic day @ Forest Glade Mt Macedon Rd, Mt Macedon.
Thursday 26 January, Gates open 10am through until close at 4pm
Standard entry $15, JOY Members $10. All proceeds to JOY 94.9. Donations welcome!
6 hours approx.
Info: www.joy.org.au / 1300 JOY 949 (1300 569 949)

JOHN

the JOHN party has become so mammoth over the past 3 years that it’s been rocking Melbourne’s cool queer underground that it’s outgrown it’s previous venues and is moving to a hot new summer homo-base with an exclusive 24hr licence to party; The Liberty Social. And this time it’s staying as a party regular on the last Friday of every month.

For JOHN you’ll enter via the back way on Lingham Lane (first lane on the left after Degraves St heading west down Flinders Lane). The new venue will boast not one but two rooms of dancefloor goodness, with the Little John backroom featuring youth camp and tasseled pop music, and the Big John frontroom brings you mellifluous sounds of cosmic wonder and disco beats. This installment of John features the talents of Sydney’s DJ Big John, as well as Mandate, DJ Kiti and The Sweats plus more. Oh yeah, and if you wear a bird suit, you get in for free. Ha!

Organisers are putting out a call for DJs to play the backroom too, so if youre interested, then hit em up at john@troughfaggotparty.com

JOHN @ The Liberty Social -279 Flinders Lane (Enter via Lingham lane)
Friday 27th January (Australia Day weekend), 10pm – Very late
$10 before 11.00pm / $15 after 11.00pm

MIDSUMMA MOONING

For all those of you who have been living under a rock for the past 20 years, Midsumma Mooning at the laird hotel is undoubtedly one of the most iconic events on the queer Melbourne Calendar. Essentially it is Melbourne’s premeire bare butt (and more recently wet jock) competition. But it is so much more than that, as it is a key fundraiser for HIV charity the David Williams Fund.

Your’s truly is not just a former contestant, but a 2005 winner. Just saying. In 2011, Midsumma Mooning didn’t fail to shock and amuse as 10 eager men fought it out for the title.

This men-only fundraiser has guys baring all to win prizes, and maybe a few fans in the crowd. With the ‘talent’ and ‘wet-jock’ segments, the crowd are guaranteed an all-round view of the contestants as they compete for a tropical Queensland getaway, travel vouchers and a host of awesome great prizes. This year’s installemt will be hosted by none other than the girls from Channel Tens’ The Circle!

Throw in a half time comedy act with rapid-auction and it’s a great night’s entertainment for bugger-all money. As a fundraiser for the David Williams Fund, there’s no better way to show your support for those living with HIV/AIDS.

Contestant application form available at the bar or email contact@lairdhotel.com

Midsumma Mooning @ Laird Hotel – Gipps Street, Collingwood
Friday 27 January, 8pm – 11pm

FOAM-A-SEXUAL

Melbourne’s biggest, best and dare we say it naughtiest foam party is back for Midsumma. Now in its 6th year, Foam-A-Sexual is brought to you by the Manhunt crew and takes over the Peel Hotel for the ultimate suds party with two of your favourite DJs playing all the latest and campest bubbly hits. With full cloakroom and shower facilities, Foam-A-Sexual is the dirtiest way to get boys clean this year! Though devised as a bit of hot fun for the boys, I’m growing more convinced that its’ also the only way the peel cleans itself out each year. Don’t miss the sexy Surge water polo lifesavers and moisturising booth! Boners are pretty much gaurenteed.

Foam-A-Sexual @ Peel Hotel
Sunday 29 January, from 2pm

Have a fantastic Australia Day! See you out there!