A guide to festivals and events in Southern Tasmania, also available as a small booklet from Tasmanian Visitor Information Centres and provided to receptions of major hotels in Hobart. For more detail and links to event websites go to the Events Tasmania Online Calendar.

A music gig guide for Tasmania is available at http://www.thedwarf.com.au/whatson/tasmania

Kaleidoscope — Dec 5 -- Jan 25

Admire the works on display by members of the Art Society of Tasmania using various forms of media and bright colours.

Lady Franklin Museum, Lenah Valley

www.artstas.com

03 6278 2702

Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race — Dec 26 -- Jan 1

The Rolex Sydney Hobart is a 628nm yacht race which begins in Sydney Harbour and finishes in Hobart. Be part of the scene at one of the world's great blue water classics.

Kings Pier Marina, Hobart

www.rolexsydneyhobart.com

02 8292 7800

Port Arthur History Plays — Dec 26 -- Jan 23

Short plays, all by Tasmanian writers, have become a popular feature of the Historic Site in summer. The plays depict and interpret aspects of Port Arthurs history in engaging and entertaining ways, and can be enjoyed by the whole family

Port Arthur Historic Site, Port Arthur

www.portarthur.org.au

03 6251 2310

Heemskirk Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race — Dec 27

The Heemskirk Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race, otherwise known as The Westcoaster, is the premier ocean race from Melbourne to Hobart.

Constitution Dock, Hobart

www.orcv.org.au

03 9689 1622

KFC Twenty20 Big Bash — Dec 28

Tasmania v Victoria in the interstate KFC Twenty20 Big Bash Competition

Bellerive Oval, Hobart

www.tascricket.com.au

03 6282 0406

The Taste Festival — Dec 28 -- Jan 4

The Taste Festival is the ultimate seven-day exposition of Tasmanian fine food, wine, produce and entertainment staged right on the Hobart waterfront.

Princess Wharf Shed No. 1

www.tastefestival.com.au/

03 6238 2100

The Falls Festival — Dec 30 -- Jan 1

Two days and nights of music and entertainment from more then 50 local and international acts.

Marion Bay

www.fallsfestival.com

03 6211 1441

KFC Twenty20 Big Bash — Jan 1

Come and experience all the action at Bellerive Oval as Tasmania v Queensland in the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash series.

Bellerive Oval, Hobart

www.tascricket.com.au

03 6282 0406

Cadbury Marathon Festival — Jan 4

Tasmania's only marathon is on again, starting and finishing at the Cadbury Factory in Hobart. Events are open to everyone and registrations are taken online or on the day. Entry forms are also available from the Athletics Tasmania office at the Domain Athletics Centre.

Cadbury Factory, Hobart

www.cadburymarathon.com.au.

03 6234 9551

MONA FOMA - Jan 9 - 12

Be a part of this edgy and challenging music and art festival curated by Brian Ritchie of Violent Femmes. This won't be a festival for the faint-of-heart but it will be worth the effort and a lot of fun. Listen to the art, look at the music, love it, hate it, or ignore it.

Salamanca Arts Centre, Hobart

www.mofo.net.au

03 6234 8414

Morilla Hobart International — Jan 9 - 17

The Moorilla Hobart International offers you the chance to see some of the world's female tennis stars. The series forms part of the World Tennis Association tour and is one of the top stops in the Australian Open Series

Domain Tennis Centre, Hobart

www.hobartinternational.com.au

03 6334 4237

Cygnet Folk Festival — Jan 9 - 11

Celebrate and enjoy the music of mainland and international folk performers as the pubs, halls, cafes, parks and streets of Cygnet come alive with music and dance.

Cygnet Town Hall, Cygnet

www.cygnetfolkfestival.org

03 6295 1964

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds — Jan 12

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, performing their only Tasmanian concert with special guests The Saints, in their first ever tour to Tasmania.

Derwent Entertainment Centre, Glenorchy

www.mofo.net.au

The Soundscape Festival — Jan 17

Celebrate with live music from a sensational line-up of acts. The line - up will included, PNAU, Cut Copy, British India, The Getaway Plan, Muph and Plutonic, Behind Crimson Eyes, Mammal, Bomba, PHRASE, D'opus and Roshambo, Let The Cat Out and The Frets.

Royal Hobart Regatta Pavilion and Grounds, Hobart

www.thesoundscapefestival.com/index.html

0409 561 338

Da Vinci Machines Exhibition — Jan 17 -- Mar 17

The exhibition brings together creations and concepts devised more than 500 years ago by the brilliant scientist, inventor and artist Leonardo Da Vinci. With over 60 machines on display, many of which are interactive, the collection features replicas of the major and most striking inventions of the original Renaissance Man.

The White Pavilion, Hobart

www.davincimuseum.com.au

0409 550 120

Tasmanian Fruit Wine Festival — Jan 18

Competitions, exhibitions and tasting of Tasmanian fruit wines including fortified wines and ciders.

Bellerive Boardwalk, Hobart

03 6253 5135

Ross Noble - Jan 22 -- 24

Acclaimed funny-man Ross Noble returns to Tasmania with his brand new stand-up show.

Theatre Royal, Hobart

www.theatreroyal.com.au/

03 6233 2299

Weet-Bix Sheffield Shield — Feb 16 - 19

Tasmania v Western Australia in the nation's famous four day interstate competition.

Bellerive Oval, Hobart

www.tascricket.com.au

03 6282 0406

Australia Day Weekend Beach Volleyball — Jan 24 - 26

Enjoy a whole weekend of beach volleyball, great company and celebrate being Australian - all at the same time! Men's and women's pairs, mixed pairs and fours - open competition over three fun and sun filled days.

Kingston Beach Esplanade, Kingston Beach

www.beach.volleyballtasmania.com.au

0418 104 457

Wrest Point Silver Anniversary South East Rally — Jan 24 - 26

See some great veteran, vintage and classic cars and motorcycles touring Tasmania and also watch them perform at there best in a nominated speed timed event (to 40mph).

Hobart

www.postvintage-tas.org

03 6244 1945

Australia Day Breakfast on the Boardwalk - Jan 26

Hundreds of people travel to Bellerive to enjoy Australia's big day with fun, food and music. Come along, join in and celebrate with people of all ages.

Bellerive Boardwalk, Hobart

www.ccc.tas.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=218&c=608

03 6245 8651

A Day on the Beach — Jan 26

An Australia Day regatta with Sports, local music, fun, activities and the Big Aussie BBQ.

Kingston Beach Esplanade, Kingston

www.adayonthebeach.asn.au

03 6229 3571

CMCA Combined Chapters Rally — Jan 29 -- Feb 2

A rally will be held at Royal Hobart Showgrounds for motor home enthusiasts from around Australia.

Royal Hobart Showgrounds, Glenorchy

03 6272 7557

Australian Wooden Boat Festival - Feb 6 - 9

Celebrating our nations rich maritime culture and heritage, the Wooden Boat Festival has established a reputation as the nations leading maritime festival.

Hobart Waterfront

www.australianwoodenboatfestival.com.au

03 6223 3375

Shakespeare in the Gardens — Feb 6 - 28

Directions Theatre Pty Ltd is pleased to announce that their 10th production in the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens in February 2008 will be the Shakespeare Comedy Much Ado About Nothing. The Gardens is the prefect setting for this romantic comedy that contains moments of slide splitting hilarity, of astounding poetry, of music and of staggering theatrical intensity.

Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, Hobart

directions-theatre.com.au

0419 536 084

Crossroads Touring Presents Adam Brand in Concert — Feb 7

With eight Golden Guitars, three platinum albums, two gold albums and two gold live DVD's Brand releases what is perhaps the most defining work of his career. This is country at its best.

Wrest Point, Hobart

www.wrestpoint.com.au

03 6221 1700

Ford Ranger One Day Cup — Feb 7

Come and experience all the action at Bellerive Oval as Tasmania v Victoria in the Ford Ranger Cup interstate one-day competition.

Bellerive Oval

www.tascricket.com.au

03 6282 0406

Royal Hobart Regatta — Feb 7 - 9

Enjoy three days of races and other water activities based on the Derwent River. Yachts, motorboats and ferries all participate in the Regatta with numerous viewing areas located around the river. There is a large family oriented fun fair held on Regatta Point and a spectacular fireworks display concludes the festivities.

Royal Hobart Regatta Pavilion and Grounds, Hobart

www.royalhobartregatta.com

03 6234 7249

AAMI Hobart Cup — Feb 9

Be one of the thousands of people who flock to Elwick annually for the running of the 2006 AAMI Hobart Cup.

Elwick Racecourse, Hobart

www.tsrc.com.au

03 6272 9492

Ford Ranger One Day Cup — Feb 14

Tasmania v Western Australia in the nation's one day interstate competition the Ford Ranger Cup.

Bellerive Oval, Hobart

www.tascricket.com.au

03 6282 0406

Bushy Park Show — Feb 14

The Bushy Park Show will include wood chopping, cattle, sheep, handcrafts, vegetable's schedule, yard dog, horse events, side shows, family activities and entertainment, Jimbo the clown, and train rides through the hops fields.

Gordon River Road, Glenora

03 6286 1115

B&E Symphony under the Stars — Feb 14

Summer just wouldn't be summer without B&E Symphony under the Stars, the TSO's free outdoor concert in Tolosa Park, Glenorchy. Gather family and friends, pack a picnic hamper and settle down for a night of great music in the great outdoors.

Tolosa Park, Glenorchy

www.tso.com.au

1800 001 190

Roberta Flack with the TSO — Feb 17

More than just a popular songstress, Roberta Flack is one of the most sophisticated and enchanting voices in popular music. Celebrated for such chart-topping his as Killing Me Softly, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and Jesse she will make her first ever appearance in Hobart with the TSO.

Wrest Point, Hobart

www.tso.com.au

1800 001 190

Clarence Jazz Festival — Feb 17 - 22

The Clarence Jazz Festival is Tasmania's premier jazz festival featuring six days of concerts in a distinctive range of riverside settings. It is renowned among patrons for its great locations and unrivalled good vibes.

Bellerive Boardwalk, Hobart

www.ccc.tas.gov.au

03 6245 8638

Primrose Sands Country Music Muster — Feb 21

Come along and enjoy a great day of country music, treat your self to something from one of the food stalls.

Primrose Sands RSL, Primrose Sands

03 62655603

National Working Bullock Festival — Feb 28

Enjoy a fantastic day full of entertainment and activities for children and their families. Events and activities on the day will include blade shearing, bullocks log moving, bullocks log loading, bullocks wagon and drays, Coprice yard dog trials.

National Working Bullock Festival, Oatlands

03 6254 1212

Southern Open Vineyards Weekend — Feb 28 -- Mar 1

Vineyards and wineries throughout Southern Tasmania will open their doors to the public for cellar door sales and tasting over the weekend. This is a fantastic opportunity to taste wines from the Coal River, Derwent and Huon Valleys, the East Coast and elsewhere. Multiple Venues, Tasmania 03 6224 8139

Ongoing Events:

Brookfield Vineyard Market — Every Wednesday

Under cover market with craft, leadlight, jewellery, wine, coffee, china, paintings, produce, vegetables.

Brookfield Vineyard, Margate

03 6267 2880

Salamanca Market — Every Saturday

Set between graceful plane trees and the mellow sandstone facades of historic warehouses, Hobart's famous market at Salamanca Place attracts thousands of locals and visitors, every Saturday of the year.

Salamanca Place, Hobart

www.salamanca.com.au

Hobart Showground Sunday Market — Every Sunday

Great range of stalls including second-hand bargains, plants and bric-a-brac. Let loose the bargain hunter in you as you browse the wide range of stalls.

Royal Hobart Showgrounds, Glenorchy www.hobartshowground.com.au

03 6272 6812

Impro Vice — Alternate Thursday's

Host Gavin Baskerville leads the Impro Vice Squad, made up from Hobart's funniest comedians, through a series of improvised assignments in search of laughs and mayhem. The Loft, Hobart www.improvice.com

0427 726 123

The Summer Music Sessions — Every Saturday

A season of bluegrass, country and acoustic roots. Eaglehawk Café and Guesthouse, Eaglehawk Neck 03 6250 3331

Island Markets — Weekly Friday to Sunday

Island Markets is Tasmania's largest indoor markets and has the freshest range of fruit and vegetables, meat and seafood at the best value for money prices you will find. Island Markets, Moonah www.islandmarkets.com.au 03 6273 7918

Brighton Market — 1st Sunday each month

Lots of stalls including second-hand bargains, plants and bric-a-brac and much more. Pontville Grounds 0417 552 477

Big Laughs in the Little Pub — Monthly on Wednesday nights

In need of a good laugh, come along to the New Sydney Hotel for a great evening of comic relief. Enjoy a fill line up of comedians, featuring emerging new performers, highly talented locals and interstate guests.

The New Sydney Hotel, Hobart

03 6231 0358

Monthly from Dec 14

Coal River Valley Farmers Market

The Coal River Valley Farmers Market has numerous attractions including quality fruit, vegetables, wines, honey, arts and crafts, plants, meats, cheeses, jams, pickles, sauces and home-made cakes.

Campania Hall and Grounds, Campania

03 6260 4126

Blooming Tasmania — Until May 2009

Floral shows, festivals and garden open days. Pick up a program from any Tasmanian Travel and Information Centre Statewide.

03 6267 2020