Popular Mid-Winter Festival’s final event in 2024

One of the state’s biggest winter tourism events will end after a decade. The organisers say “everything has it’s time”.

Willie Smith's Mid-Winter Festival launch 2023. Picture: Willie Smith's

Another of the state’s big events will soon come to an end, with the Huon Valley’s Mid-Winter Festival holding its final festival in July next year.

The pagan-inspired event run by cider makers, Willie Smith’s, is considered a huge drawcard for the Huon Valley during the state’s tourism off-season, featuring flames, food, cider and the popular burning of the Big Willie effigy since its opening in 2014.

The final festival’s theme is “Reflection,” aimed at celebrating a decade of memories with the community.

Willie Smith's Mid- Winter Festival, Big Willie creator Marcus Gibbon at Grove. Picture: Chris Kidd

Mid-Winter Festival’s artistic director Rachel Valentyne said while she was saddened by the decision, it was the “right time”.

“Everything has it’s time and while it’s our last festival, 2024 is going to be our biggest and best – our focus is on delivering a fantastic festival in 2024,” she said.

“We’re excited to reveal the full program next year, but we’ll have all the crowd favourites turned up to 11!”

No new plans have been revealed for the Willie Smith’s team yet.

Ms Valentyne said the end of Mid-Winter gives the business time to find “what comes next”.

“We’re of course still delivering a great Huon Valley experience at The Apple Shed restaurant with a weekly artisan market, plus of course focusing on making Australia’s best cider,” she said.

Willie Smith’s launched ticket sales for its last festival the same day as the announcement of its end, in what organisers are calling a “strategic move” to allow interstate travellers to plan winter travel to the event.

Willie Smith's has had record attendance at the Mid Winter Festival where Big Willie Burns. Photo: Jacob King

Tickets will be limited to 2500 per day to ensure that the festival “remains the right size and that the welcoming local vibe is preserved”.

“We want to welcome visitors from interstate and within Tasmania to join us to dance around the fire, celebrate the darkness, and everything that has made this festival so successful for the past decade,” Ms Valentyne said.

The final festival will be held on Friday, July 13 and Saturday, July 14.

Originally published as Popular Mid-Winter Festival’s final event in 2024