Taste of Tasmania officially opens

Thousands of people have swamped Hobart’s waterfront this morning for the official opening of the Taste of Tasmania.

THOUSANDS of people have swamped Hobart’s sun-soaked waterfront this morning for the official opening of the Taste of Tasmania.

The seven-day festival opened its doors at 11am following a Welcome to Country and speeches by festival director Brooke Webb and Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds.

The weather smiled on the opening, with a clear blue sky and warm temperatures greeting the masses flooding through the gates to enjoy the best of Tasmanian food, beverages, and entertainment.

The Taste, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, is expected to attract 250,000 people and will feature 114 stalls.

Ms Webb said the strong numbers early were a good sign.

Taste of Tasmania festival director Brooke Webb. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

“It’s a cracker day, we couldn’t have asked for better,” Ms Webb said.

“This festival has been in my head for 10 months, so to see all the ingredients come together is pretty awesome.

“It’s now surreal for me, everyone is getting to see something that has been really a passion project for me — blood, sweat, and tears.”

MORE: A SCRUMPTIOUS FEAST TO TICKLE THE TASTE BUDS

Ms Reynolds said the Taste was “such an important part of summer in Hobart”.

“I think it just really adds to the whole atmosphere of Hobart in summer,” Ms Reynolds said.

“Hobart, really, is the best play in Australia to be in summer, and the Taste is a really central part of that.

“There’s been some new creative changes to the site, and I’d really encourage particularly locals to come down and rediscover the Taste, because it’s quite different to any other Taste you’ve seen before.”

The Taste of Tasmania continues until its final night on Thursday, January 3.