Tasmania - Events and Festivals in 2009

January

• Finish of the Rolex Sydney-to-Hobart Yacht Race at Sullivans Cove.
• Hobart Summer Festival. Starting with the Taste of Tasmania and Sydney-to-Hobart Yacht Race, a range of other events showcase Tasmania’s talent and creativity primarily centred round the Hobart waterfront.
• Cadbury Marathon Festival. The only marathon that starts and finishes at a chocolate factory – the programme incorporates a marathon, half marathon, 5km and 2.5km events run along the Derwent River finishing at the Cadbury Estate.
• Moorilla Hobart International. A chance to see some of the world’s top female tennis players in action when contestants from 26 countries compete at the Domain in the heart of Hobart.
• Australian Wooden Boat Festival – biennial celebration of maritime traditions held at Hobart’s waterfront.
• Hobart Collectors Antique Fair. Tasmania’s largest antique and collectables fair with over 30 local and interstate dealers.
• Cygnet Folk Festival. A three-day celebration of words music and dance held in the delightful Huon Valley.

February

• FESTIVALE. Launceston's annual three-day celebration of Tasmania's enviable lifestyle. Held in the city's historic City Park, Festivale features the state's highly renowned gourmet food and wine amid all the colour and fun of family entertainment, provided by both local and interstate artists.
• MSFEST. Tasmania’s biggest music festival held on the riverside setting at Inveresk Park in Launceston, hosting local, national and international bands and DJs.
• Cradle Mountain Run – an 82km trail run limited to 50 runners who have the stamina to complete the run in 16 hours.
• National Pennyfarthing Championships. The main feature of a traditional colonial country fair held at Evandale, with dancing, music and street entertainers.
• Bushy Park Show Woodchopping Carnival. A prestigious woodchopping event held in the Derwent Valley and Central Highlands, attracting the best axemen from around Australia.
• AAMI Launceston Cup and Carnival. Tamania’s premier racing event – a day of fantastic racing, fashion and entertainment.
• Clarence Jazz Festival. Week of jazz concerts, workshops and festivities at a range of venues throughout Clarence, including Lindisfarne, Bellerive and Howrah.

March

• Bothwell International Highland Spin. The primary focus is on wool and the various methods of spinning, weaving and dyeing. It also encompasses numerous other textile-related activities such as lace and rug making, embroidery and fashion design.
• The Fingal Valley Festival. Events include the world coal shovelling and roof bolting championships, tree felling championships, shearing competition, yard dog trials, woodchopping, veterans cycle race (Fingal to Mathinna return) and sheaf tossing. Other activities include sideshows, food and craft stalls, rides and a cabaret at night.
• King Island Agricultural Show.
•  A Taste of the Huon. An autumn celebration of the fine food and wine and entertainment of the Huon Valley, D’Entrecasteaux Channel and Bruny Island regions of Tasmania.
• Bike Week. Bike rides and events will be held around Tasmania.
• Ten days on the Island. Cultural activities and festivities bring island people from around the world to Tasmania to celebrate what being an islander is all about.
• Includes dance, theatre, music, opera, film, literature, and gastronomy from Iceland, Newfoundland, the Shetland group, Ireland, Hawaii, East Timor, Guernsey, Manhattan, Denmark, Reunion, Tasmania and much more.
• Tasmanian Forest Festival. This showcase of the Tasmanian forest industry provides a fun family day out whilst incorporating education and public awareness about Tasmania's sustainable timber industry.

April

• Hydro Tasmania Three Peaks Race. An epic test of endurance, courage and skill, when crack crews of sailors and mountain runners race from the Tamar to ascend peaks on Flinders Island, Freycinet Peninsula and Hobart’s Mount Wellington.
• Targa Tasmania – 300 of the world’s best touring, sports and GT rally cars compete on closed roads through Tasmania’s scenic routes and mountain passes.
• International Mural Fest. A unique art competition held annually in Sheffield, the home of murals. Artists compete in a paint-off to complete a mural in just six days.
• Body’n’Soul Festival. Tasmania’s largest festival for natural therapies, dance, psychics and healers held over two days at Albert Hall, Launceston.
• Two and a half days in Margate. Come to Margate, 20 minutes south of Hobart for a weekend of music, art, soccer, flower exhibitions and school fairs.

May

• City to Casino Fun Run – Glenorchy to Wrest Point. Largest mass participation fun run in Tasmania with courses from 2.5km for children to 11km for serious athletes.
• Tasmania Heritage Festival. A statewide festival organised by the National Trust to celebrate heritage and culture with exhibitions, tours, displays, workshops and performances.
• Agfest – one of Australia's major agricultural field days, organised and run by Rural Youth at Quercus Park near Carrick.
• Standard Vanguard Enthusiasts Rally. A six-day tour of Northern Tasmania by approximately 30 historic vehicles.

June

• Suncoast Jazz Festival. Tasmania’s biggest single jazz event held in the sunny seaside town of St Helens. Renowned for its mix of mainstream, Dixieland and New Orleans music, it provides more than 16 hours of jazz, a public concert and a street march.
• Southern Tasmania Vineyards Red Wine Weekend. Held at Hadley’s Hotel in Hobart, this is an event for lovers of wine, cheese and an open fire.
• Patchwork and Quilting Exhibition. A display of local and interstate quilts and textile crafts, held at Scott’s Centre in Scottsdale.
• Antarctic Midwinter Festival. A celebration of the links between Hobart and the Antarctic, incorporating food, science, history and lifestyle.
• Wynyard Airport Market and Car Boot. One of the largest undercover antique, bric-a -brac and craft markets on the coast.

July

• Festival of Voices. A celebration the beautiful sounds of choral music – gospel, classical, a capella and sacred song held in some of Hobart’s historic locations and at regional centres throughout the state.
• Mersey Art Exhibition and Sale. Art works by local and student artists on sale at Latrobe.
• Devonport Jazz in July. A four-day festival of all jazz genres held in Devonport Entertainment and Convention Centre, with mealtime shows at a range of cosy venues.
• Chocolate Winterfest. Latrobe's wickedly delicious two-day festival celebrating all things chocolate.
• Poatina Open Day Festival. An annual event celebrating Poatina’s birthday with plenty of fun for the whole family.

August

• Tasmanian International Storytelling Festival. A week of performances and workshops by storytellers from around the world at Hobart’s historic venues.
• Ben Lomond Descent – Forestry Tasmania Challenge involving skiing, mountainbiking, kayaking and cross-country running.

September

• Hobart Horticultural Spring Flower Spectacular. A city of Hobart floral show featuring daffodils, camellias and spring flowers galore, and inspiring floral art.
• Blooming Tasmania (September to May). A state-wide journey of garden experiences and events celebrating Tasmania's botanic diversity, including the Claremont Daffodil and Spring Flower Show and the Launceston Horticultural Society Spring Show.
• AAMBS 10th National Barbershop Convention. Held in Hobart, the Heritage Harmony Convention is a competition and social gathering of men’s barbershop quartets and choruses.
• Rotary Westbury Fun Run. A relaxing or competitive fun run through the streets of Westbury for the fit and those who would like to be.

October

• Tasmanian Craft Fair. Australia’s largest working craft fair held in the small historic town of Deloraine. Crafts on show and for sale over the four days are as diverse as woodcarvings, hand-blown glassware, leather and metal work, pottery, leadlighting, embroidery, silver and goldsmiths, oil paintings and watercolours, egg carving and wrought iron work.
• Royal Hobart Show at Glenorchy. Tasmania’s major agricultural event incorporating a public holiday.
• Derby River Derby. Raft racing and general insanity on the Derby River in north-east Tasmania.
• Australian Father and Son Open Golf Tournament. Annual golf event open to all participants who hold a AGU handicap or overseas equivalent.
• Launceston Blues Festival. The Launceston Blues Club presents its fourth Blues Festival showcasing Tasmanian blues bands as well as interstate acts.
• Lions Ride for Sight. An 85km bike ride around picturesque Flinders Island to raise awareness about preventable blindness.
• Seafarers’ Festival. A celebration of all things nautical including regatta activities, music, seafood and fine wine.
• Freycinet Lodge Challenge. Running, kayaking and road cycling around parts of spectacular Freycinet Peninsula on Tasmania’s east coast.

November

• Truly Tasmanian Craft Exhibition Sale. A three-day exhibition and sale of high quality Tasmanian made craft held at Latrobe. Also includes working exhibitions and high class Tasmanian produce.
• Point to Pinnacle Road Run and Walk. A 22km footrace between two iconic Tasmanian locations, the man-made Wrest Point and the stunningly majestic Mount Wellington and its surrounding tracks and amazing views.
• Triple Top Mountain Run. Tasmania’s most gruelling mountain run 20km long spanning the tracks of Mount Claude, Mount Van Dyke and Mount Roland.
• Artex. Annual Rotary Cradle Coast art exhibition and sale held at Ulverstone.
• Fly @42 Degrees South Kite Festival. This free festival held at Howrah is a great opportunity to experience the exhilaration of an age old hobby.
• The Wrest Point Royal Hobart International Wine Show Public Tastings. Part of the National Wine Show Circuit, Australia's largest public wine tasting with nearly 3000 different wines to sample.
• Hobart Christmas Pageant.
• Launceston Christmas Parade.

December

• Rolex Sydney-to-Hobart Yacht Race.
• Taste of Tasmania. Showcasing a variety of Tasmania’s celebrated food and wine. Set on Hobart’s historic waterfront, the festival provides a forum for entertainers from around the world. New Year’s Eve Party at Sullivans Cove.
• Eve on George – street entertainment for New Year’s Eve in Launceston.
• Family Concerts. Be entertained by all of Burnie Concert Band ensembles at the Civic Centre.
• Glenorchy Carols by Candlelight. Annual Christmas carol singing in beautiful Tolosa Park, Glenorchy.
• Christmas Market Shopping. Visit your local market for some Christmas crafts, bargains and treats – all venues.
• Falls Festival. Two days and nights of music and entertainment from more than 50 local and international acts, held on a farm at spectacular Marion Bay overlooking Maria Island.

For more information about these festivals and events, call Tourism Tasmania on
1800 623 191 or visit the website www.discovertasmania.com.au

Images courtesy of Tourism Tasmania

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