Quiet day at the Taste of Tasmania as hot weather and storm threat deter patrons

Taste stallholders will be looking to bounce back after a heatwave and storm threat left much of the food festival site empty.

TASTE stallholders hope to bounce back with a bumper day on Tuesday after Monday’s heatwave and storm threat left much of the site uncharacteristically empty.

The site opened at 11am as usual amid warnings of storms and possible evacuation.

The festival was shut down six hours earlier than usual at 5pm because of extreme heat, strong winds and the threat of storms.

Festival director Brooke Webb said Monday’s attendance figures wold not be known until 10am on Tuesday.

The festival began on Saturday with 53,512 people through the gates. Sunday drew 41,808 to the waterfront festival.

Tash Wolvers, of Melbourne, enjoys an icy pole and berry shaved ice from Chill Out Here before the Taste of Tasmania was closed because of an impending storm. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Ms Webb said the festival will be open as usual from 11am on Tuesday with sunshine forecast for the remainder of the week and festival.

“I am aware of the site closing in 2016 due to extreme winds but it was before my time,” she said.

“I have no doubt that there have been countless other site shutdowns over the 31-year history. They are not uncommon – it’s the nature of doing an outdoor festival. Comes with the territory.

“Our patron and staff safety is our priority.”

STORM DAMAGE HITS TASTE OF TASMANIA

Sharon Ward and Natarsha Ross at the Coffee Ground stall inside the Taste shed. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

After two huge days, stallholders were prepared for another big day on Monday.

Joe and Antonia Gretschmann, of Elgaar Tasmania, said it was a very slow day.

After 33 years in business, this is the cheesemaker’s first year at the Taste.

“We have been very busy making enough because we don’t want to run out,” Mr Gretschmann said. “It has been a very, very quiet day compared to the first two days of the festival.

“From 11am when gates opened there is not many people coming in today.”

The Gretschmanns, like most other stallholders, hope trade picks up for the rest of the festival.

Normally a free seat at lunch is unheard of, but on Monday most seats were free.

Very hot weather in Hobart meant there was plenty of seating still available. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Coffee Ground, inside the Taste shed, believed they did better than they expected.

“I think we did OK because we have chilled refreshing coffee drinks to enjoy in this crazy hot weather,” staff Natarsha Ross said.

Tash Wolvers, of Melbourne, felt like she was in the tropics and enjoyed a popsicle and berry shaved ice from Chill Out Here.

Big brass band the Southside Steppers are pumped for their NYE performance and pleased about the maximum 20C forecast.

The Southside Steppers, from left, Dan Sulzberger on baritone sax, Mitch Partridge on drum, Steve Hall on trumpet, Hayden Dare on sousaphone and Joe Vukic on snare drum will perform at The Taste of Tasmania on New Year’s Eve. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

The Taste’s New Year’s Eve party will feature five stages of entertainment, live music and performances showcasing a line-up of 100 per cent Tasmanian talent, food and drink, and a front-row seat for the fireworks.

Families are expected to flock to the 9.30pm fireworks show and midnight fireworks will ring in the new year.