Things to Do in Southern Tasmania this Spring

Spring is a beautiful time to get out and about! As an added incentive, there are some fabulous events to visit in Hobart and surrounds. Visit the theatres, hum along to some live music, wander a farmers market or engage in some art.

We’ve put together some tips on things to do in Southern Tasmania this spring.

Food & drink

Nothing beats sitting in the warming sun and enjoying a Tassie tipple.

• Experience an authentic homegrown Feast at Fat Pig Farm, home to the Gourmet Farmer Matthew Evans.
• Learn how to make Tasmanian gin with a gin workshop at McHenry Distillery. Every Friday 2:00pm – 4:00pm. Bookings essential.
• Locals and visitors are all welcome to cook and eat together at the Geeveston Community Feast, held on the first Thursday of each month at the Geeveston Visitor Centre.
• Craft your own gin at the Forty Spotted’s Gin(Bar). Explore the sensory world of botanicals, drink some delicious gin and learn to blend aromas and flavours under the close guidance of Forty Spotted Gin Professors. This fun and informative 90-minute experience is an unmissable activity for all gin lovers.

Art

We are an artistic island.

• The Huon Valley Art Trail will be held this November. Tasmanian Artists and Makers of the Huon [TAMOH] invite you to create your own long weekend around ‘Art & Away’. Visit 20 Professional Artists in their ‘creative places’ from 10am – 4pm over 3 days, guided by the Art & Away Art Trail Map. November 5, 6 and  7.
• CraftAlive is a three day art event, featuring both local and interstate craft experts. The event will be held at the Goods Shed from 5 to 7 November.
• The Geeveston Art Show will be held for 14 days from November 20 at the Geeveston Town Hall Visitor Centre. Showcasing the work of artists from the Huon Valley, the Geeveston Art Show highlights art from a variety of mediums.
• Head to the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) and view their current exhibitions including; Ecology Studies, Paradise Lost: Thomas Griffiths Wainewright, The Miseries of War: 1618 and 1914, and Sidney Nolan’s Ned Kelly Series.
• Mona have an eclectic range of exhibitions throughout the year, including Sally Rees Crone, open until 1 November.
• The Moonah Arts Centre (MAC) has a range of exhibitions and events:
  • Exhibition: ‘Unrest’ Unrest explores ways to visualise tension, struggle and disruption as daily forces in opposition to freedom, safety and comfort – until 4 September.
  • Exhibition: ‘Curious Conversations’ Joint exhibition from a magical mix of talents – until 4 September.
  • Exhibition: ‘Southern Heights’ An exhibition of Robert Jackson’s Landscape work – until 4 September.
  • Exhibition:  ‘Interplay’ An exhibition of craft and design objects – until 4 September.

Music

Let it carry you away.

• Willie Smith’s Apple Shed is always a hive of activity, with regular Friday night live music. Head out to the Huon and enjoy a fun Friday night.
• The Old Kempton Distillery’s ‘Summer Sessions’ are back with live music, food and whisky in the courtyard from 12:30pm – 4:00pm every Sunday.
• BeatleMania is coming to town. Enjoy a fun-filled evening of Beatles Music, dancing, canapes, and grazing-style food plus a drinks package at Glen Albyn Estate.
• Get the feet tapping with an Elton John tribute concert by Greg Andrew. Playing all the Elton classics, its bound to be a fun night out! Held at the Wrest Point on the 16 October 2021.
• Dust off those platform shoes, flares and sequinned jumpsuits and get ready to sing, dance and Bjorn Again’s Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again! concert. Held at Wrest Point on 4 September 2021.
• Ed Kuepper and Jim White will be playing at the Nolan Gallery, Mona. Friday 10th – 11th September.
• The TSO have some wonderful shows on offer this Spring:
  • Head to the Palais Theatre in Franklin for the TSO’s Live Sessions. Featuring a smaller scale of players, TSO’s session’s music ranges from classical to popular to film to folk. 10 September, 7pm.
  • Tarkanya/Tarkine: Inspired by the breathtaking rainforests of our island. Listen to textures and melodies prompted by the natural world of Takayna/Tarkine. 17 September, 7:30pm.
  • Gillham Plays Beethoven: Featuring Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.4 and Schubert’s Symphony No.8, ‘Unfinished’. 24 September, 7:30pm.
  • Clerici Plays Tchaikovsky: Italian-born cellist Umberto Clerici simultaneously directs and performs with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. 8 October, 7:30pm.
  • ANAM Concerto Competition: Musicians from the nation’s elite performance academy perform concertos (or movements from concertos) as they vie for top place in the ANAM Concerto Competition. 20 October, 7:30pm.
  • PEER GYNT: Eivind Aadland conducts two of Dvorak’s playful Slavonic Dances – No 8 leaps from serious to ecstatic in an instant while No 2 is known for its drama-fuelled melody. 13 November, 7:30pm.
  • Beethoven’s Sixth: 20 November, 7:30pm.
  • Beethoven’s Eighth: 26 November, 7:30pm.
  • Beethoven’s Seventh: 27 November, 7:30pm.
• You can also head to the Theatre Royal for a wonderful array of musical performances:
  • The Old Man and The Old Moon: multiple shows: 2 September – 11 September.
  • Leaving Jackson – The Johnny Cash and June Carter Show: 10 September.
  • Bohemian Rhapsody Soundtrack Live: 11 September.
  • Monica Trapaga and The Pocket Trio: 22 & 23 October.
  • Rocking Through the Ages: 10 November.
  • The Travelling Wilbury’s Session: 19 November.
  • The Australian Tenors – With the Southern Cross Orchestra: 28 November.

Comedy

Fun things to make you smile.

• Enjoy Comedy in the Casino with the Jokers Comedy Club every Friday night at the Wrest Point Showroom. You can also laugh out loud every Wednesday night at the Jokers Comedy Club’s weekly comedy club (at the Polish Corner).
• The Theatre Royal is the place to be for a good laugh this spring. Upcoming shows include:
  • Paul McDermott Plus One: 4 September, 8pm.
  • Tripod – a trio of lads who will be lighting up the stage.  9 September, 8pm.
  • Ross Noble’s  2021 Comeback Special.  17 and 18 September, 8pm. 
  • Isaac Butterfield – Outlaw: 23 September, 8pm.
  • The Rocky Horror Show: Multiple shows from 6 October – 31 October
  • Aunty Donna and the Magical Dead Cat Tour: 11 November, 8pm.
  • Les Divas – An All-Male Revue: 18 November, 8pm.
  • Sydney Comedy Festival Showcase: 20 November, 8pm
  • Brian, The Bitch (female dog) and The Bathrobe: 24 – 27 November, 8pm.

* Some shows contain strong language and not recommended for ages 15 and under.

Markets

Spring is market season, as many return from a winter break. Get your fresh produce and artisan goods straight from the source!

Weekly markets:

• Famous Salamanca Market is on every Saturday on Hobart’s historic waterfront (8:30am – 3:00pm).
• The Farmgate Market is a bustling farmers’ market that’s on every Sunday in the heart of Hobart from 8:30am – 1:00pm.
• The New Norfolk Market is held every Saturday in High Street between 8am and 2pm.
• Find a bargain at the weekly Hobart Showground Sunday Market.
• Willie Smith’s Artisan & Produce Market is on every Saturday from 10am to 2pm.

Monthly or bimonthly markets:

• Bream Creek Farmers Market is held at the Bream Creek Show Grounds on the first Sunday of every month from 9am to 1pm
• Hobart Twilight Market is on at Brooke Street Pier on the last Friday of each month from 4.30pm to 9pm.
• Hobart Twilight Market Sandy Bay is on the first and third Friday of the month between October and March (4.30pm – 9pm).
• The Oatlands Community Market is on every first Saturday of the month at the Community Hall from 9am to 1pm.
• Cygnet Market is held on the first and third Sunday of the month from 10am to 2pm.
• Woodbridge Market is on every third Sunday of the month between 10am and 2pm.
• Kingston Beach Handmade Market is on the second Sunday of the month from 10am to 3pm.
• Judbury Market is held on the second Sunday of the month between 10am and 2pm.
• Tasmanian Produce Market is located at the beautiful Kangaroo Bay Park, overlooking the Derwent River and Mt Wellington. Every Sunday 9 am – 1 pm
• Dover Community Market is on the third Sunday of the month between 10am and 2pm.
• The Sandfly Community Market is held on the last Saturday of the month from 10am to 3pm.
• The Market at Franklin is on the last Sunday of the month between 10am and 2pm.

Please note: Due to COVID-19 certain restrictions for events are in place. To see current updates on restrictions, please visit the Tasmanian Coronavirus page.

Please also note that shows may be cancelled or rescheduled due to COVID-19. Visitors should contact the event organiser directly if they are unsure of programming updates.

For more info, browse our up-to-the-minute chronological list of upcoming events.

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