Media Releases

Tasmania’s events scene continues to thrive in winter with a series of highly anticipated festivals taking place on the island. Tastings at the Top offers visitors a taste of Tasmania’s outstanding produce amidst spectacular landscapes and breathtaking wilderness, whilst the world-class Festival of Voices continues to draw crowds with its acclaimed musical workshops, master classes and public performances. On the musical thread, the Devonport Jazz Festival celebrates its tenth anniversary with more smooth jazz tunes, while families will find plenty to love at the popular Latrobe Chocolate Winterfest and new microbrewery event Dark Side of the Brew.

For a full and up-to-date listing of Tasmanian events and information on travelling to Tasmania, visit the Discover Tasmania website at www.discovertasmania.com, or call 1800 623 191.

TASTINGS AT THE TOP – 25 June to 27 June 2011

Set in the picturesque Cradle Mountain Lodge, Tastings at the Top is one of Tasmania’s iconic wilderness and epicurean experiences, championing the very best of Tasmania’s produce through a series of cooking demonstrations, degustation dinners, fresh produce markets, wine and cheese tastings and spa treatments. In 2011, the event will be jointly hosted by wine expert, Peter Bourne, and artisan cheese maker, Nick Haddow (Bruny Island Cheese), with Tasmanian providores including Freycinet Marine Farm, Cape Grim Beef, Shima Wasabi, Truffles Australis, 41 South. A selection of top Tasmanian vineyards will also be present.

What:  3 days of culinary indulgence at the luxurious Cradle Mountain Lodge in Tasmania’s World Heritage Wilderness

When: Saturday 25 June to Monday 27 June

Where: Cradle Mountain Lodge, 4038 Cradle Mountain Road, Cradle Mountain, Tasmania

How: Accommodation packages at Cradle Mountain Lodge start from $1,595 per person twin share (3 nights’ accommodation, meals and all scheduled Tastings at the Top program events). To book contact 03 6492 2103 or email reservations@cradlemountainlodge.com.au.

For more information on Tastings at the Top and the accommodation packages, visit www.cradlemountainlodge.com.au.

FESTIVAL OF VOICES – 6 July to 10 July

A key fixture in Tasmania’s events calendar, the Festival of Voices is a celebration of song, bringing together international choral and singing teachers, performers, and choirs in Hobart’s stunning heritage venues, concert halls and public spaces. The festival includes Master classes, extended workshops, short courses and professional development for singers of all ages, abilities and experience. Also popular are the festival’s series of public events which include enchanting choral performances by some of Australia’s and the world’s finest choirs and ensembles including The Australian Voices, VOCO and the Oolation! Singers. The festival ends with the popular Big Bonfire in Salamanca Square, which hosted a flash mob choir in 2010 with over 10,000 people attending.  Newly appointed Artistic Director, Kris Stewart, previous Director of Sydney’s Fringe Festival, promises a truly international focus on all things “voices” for 2011.

What: The annual Festival of Voices in Tasmania              

When: Wednesday 6 July to Sunday 10 July

Where: Various venues in Hobart

How: The program of ticketed and free events will be released closer to the date

For more information on the Festival of Voices, contact 03 6224 5975, info@festivalofvoices.com or visit www.festivalofvoices.com. 

LATROBE CHOCOLATE WINTERFEST – 10 July 2011

A popular favourite, the Latrobe Chocolate Winterfest transforms the town of Latrobe into a haven for chocoholics each July with its decadent celebration of all things chocolate. Chocolate garments, a chocolate dessert competition, chocolate appreciation master classes, chocolate artworks, a chocolate sculpture trail and a naughty chocolate mousse challenge (teams of two are blindfolded before feeding each other chocolate mousse) are some of the 2011 highlights, with 2011 being the first year the micro-brewers of Tasmania present their beers with a chocolate flavour.  Truly wicked!

What: The Latrobe Chocolate Winterfest

When:  Sunday 10 July 2011

Where: The town of Latrobe is ten minutes drive from the Spirit of Tasmania terminal in East Devonport

How: Most of the festivities are free. Costs apply to some events. For more information, visit the Latrobe Chocolate Winterfest website closer to the date.

For more information on the Latrobe Chocolate Winterfest, contact 03 6421 4650, enquiries@chocolatewinterfest.com.au or visit www.chocolatewinterfest.com.au.

*NEW* DARK SIDE OF THE BREW – 10 July 2011

The Dark Side of the Brew is the latest festival to be added to Tasmania’s vibrant events calendar, and will be held as part of the Latrobe Chocolate Winterfest in 2011. A celebration of all dark beers (brewers are restricted to one pale beer at the festival), it is the first event of its kind to be held in Australia, and is anticipated to draw dark beer aficionados from all over. Tasmanian Microbreweries, cider makers, whisky distillers and chocolate makers will take visitors through tastings of their dark beers, whisky and ciders with the festival also including dark beer and chocolate matching sessions and beer education workshops.

What: A new event celebrating dark beers

When: Sunday 10 July 2011, 11am to 5pm

Where: Australian Axemans Hall of Fame, Latrobe. The town of Latrobe is ten minutes drive from the Spirit of Tasmania terminal in East Devonport

How: Entry costs $5 and includes 5 x100ml beer samples. Tickets can be purchased from the gate

For more information on the Dark Side of the Brew event, contact Willie from Seven Sheds Brewery on 03 6496 1139.

DEVONPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL – 28 July to 31 July 2011

A jazz spectacular showcasing genres from modern to traditional, funk, gospel, Dixieland, gypsy, blues, contemporary, mainstream and swing, the Devonport Jazz Festival is a celebration of all things jazz, including visual art, dance and film. The festival will be turning ten in 2011, with this year’s concerts including The Music of Mile Davis, the Great American Songbook and Innovations in Modern Music: 100th Birthday Anniversary of Stan Kenton. Jazz performing greats at the festival include Ilmiliekki from Finland, Adrian Cunningham from the USA, Gianni Marinucci, Allan Browne and the Mace Frances Orchestra from Australia.

What:  The 10th anniversary of the Devonport Jazz Festival

When: Thursday 28 July to Sunday 31 July

Where: Various venues in Devonport

How: For more information, check the Devonport Jazz Festival website closer to the date

For more information on the Devonport Jazz Festival contact 03 6424 0511, devonportjazz@devonport.tas.gov.au or visit www.devonpotrjazz.com.

28 March 2011