So make sure you get out and enjoy all that Tasmania has to offer between now and the end of February.

Maybe you like to spend lazy summer days at the beach, or firing up the backyard barbecue with a Tasmanian summer ale in hand?

Maybe you like to get sweaty on a mountain bike, or on a bushwalking trail or in the moshpit at a music festival? Maybe your idea of a perfect summer is to eat and drink your way around the major summer food festivals?

Or maybe a scenic day trip to check out the latest cafes, restaurants, wineries and distilleries is more your style?

Summer is also a great time to be a sports fan in Tasmania – one minute you can be watching the Sydney to Hobart boats come to shore and the next you can be enjoying the Big Bash cricket action at Blundstone Arena or witnessing some of the world’s best tennis stars battle it out at the Hobart International.

Whatever your summer preferences, we have your entertainment needs covered, with this mega list of events and activities that are bound to brighten up your Tassie summer.

TASTE OF SUMMER

Tasmania’s Taste of Summer returns to Princes Wharf 1 – presenting more than 80 food and drink stalls and live performances from more than 40 Tasmanian artists – between December 27 and January 2. Single-day tickets are $11.50 for adults (children under 16 are free) or $18.65 for a family of five. Free entry between 12-4pm on New Year’s Eve for City of Hobart Community Day. Purchase online or at the door. It’s a cashless event, so have credit or debit cards handy. Open daily from noon (except December 27, when festivities kick off at 4pm). Daryl Braithwaite will be singing his legendary chart toppers for the New Year’s Eve session which runs from 6pm-1.30am, tickets are $79 (children are free). Tickets: tasteofsummer.com.au

NEW YEAR’S EVE

Fireworks displays are at 9.30pm and midnight so consider making a dinner reservation at a waterfront eatery that has a good vantage point, like T42 (live music from 4pm-midnight), Post Street Social, Franklin Wharf, The Glass House (which has three sittings on New Year’s Eve), Mures Upper Deck, or Hotel Grand Chancellor’s Tasman Restaurant. If you prefer to avoid crowds consider watching the fireworks from Mt Nelson Lookout, Rosny Hill Lookout or take a midnight stroll across the Tasman Bridge. Or, splash out and welcome 2023 in style as you enjoy drinks, canapes and an unobstructed view of the fireworks in Mövenpick’s exclusive level 17 suite with balcony. The event is limited to 30 people. Tickets are $185 per person including canapes, wine, beer and soft drinks. 10pm-midnight. Cash bar for spirits and cocktails.

Or consider a New Year’s Eve cruise with Peppermint Bay Cruises from Brooke St Pier, to Peppermint Bay, for dinner and dancing to music from The Baker Boys and back to Hobart in time for fireworks. $350 per person, all inclusive.

Mövenpick’s restaurant Tesoro has a delicious a la carte Italian menu available on New Year’s Eve with a free glass of bubbles for guests. There’s also a special 5pm seating so you can wine and dine before heading out on the town. At Mr. Good Guy, in Macquarie St, indulge in a delicious South East Asian banquet for New Year’s Eve with matched wines – for $99. Seatings from 5.30pm. mrgoodguy.com.au. Or check out La Sardina Loca for the last courtyard session of the year. Tickets are $80 and include back-to-back DJs, pintxos, and a cocktail on arrival. Live music from Juniper, Zoe, Arunya Lee Olive, Ema, SexyLucy, Finch, NFS. 6pm til late. Tickets: eventbrite.com.au

Dance your way into 2023 with Hot Dub Time Machine at Hobart’s City Hall from 7pm until late. Tickets from $76. There will also be live music from What So Not, Mallrat, Arno Faraji and more at Hobart’s Uni Bar from 4.30pm, along with food trucks and cocktails. Tickets are $98.95 from oztix.com.au.

Meanwhile, In The Hanging Garden’s Altar will be transformed into a celebration of Tasmania’s LGBTQIA+ community with Judy’s NYE Ruby Slipper Ball from 9pm til late. Featuring Hobart’s finest drag artists and DJ talent.

Tickets: https://bit.ly/NYEJudysAltar. And Wrest Point is hosting a Havana Nights party, encouraging patrons to dress up and enjoy tropical cocktails and live music throughout the venue (wrestpoint.com.au).

ON TAP

In the state’s north, beer lovers can welcome 2023 at Launceston Beerfest at Royal Park, which is promising to be the biggest Beerfest to date. Gates open from 4pm-12.30am, with more than 200 of the finest handcrafted beers, ciders, cocktails and wines on offer, perfectly complemented by decadent Tasmanian street eats. Plus live music headlined by Luca Brasi and The Hype DJ set, as well as live comedy, masterclasses, wine-food pairings and fireworks shows at 9.30pm and midnight. Visit beerfestivals.com.au

In addition to BeerFest, beer lovers might like to check out T-Bone Brewing Co’s recently opened taproom at Huntingfield where there will be plenty of cold beers (including limited release Hazy IPA The Naked Truth) and food trucks over summer. Another new offering is North Hobart’s Overland Brewers and Distillers, where the Overland Hazy Pale, featuring passionfruit, mango and a dash of spiced orange, is on tap and is the perfect drop for the warmer months.

WOODEN BOATS

Hobart’s waterfront will be buzzing from February 10-13, when thousands of people, and more than 500 boats, converge for The Australian Wooden Boat Festival, which is said to be the largest celebration of wooden boats and maritime heritage in the southern hemisphere. Free, family-friendly – find the full program at australianwoodenboatfestival.com.au

SUMMER SPIRITS

Tasmanian distillers make some of the best spirits on the market and Impression Bay Distillery, William McHenry, Brocken Spectre and Hellfire Bluff Distillery are among the locals producing a Summer Gin, while The Splendid Gin offers a refreshing, lower alcohol mixer called Summer Cup featuring “an exotic bunch of organics including roasted dandelion root & native Tasmanian mountain pepper berry’’ which can be poured over a handful of ice and served with apple, mint, strawberry and lemonade for a refreshing summer tipple.

More than 100 Tasmanian gins will be showcased at Ginuary at Princes Wharf 1 with three sessions across January 14 and 15. Tickets from $65 (ginuaryhobart.com.au).

If you can’t wait until January for your cocktail fix visit Society Salamanca this month where an imaginative assortment of Christmas cocktails are being served (societysalamanca.com), or visit Hadley’s Orient Hotel where the Blueberry Collins comes highly recommended for summer.

ON STAGE

Mona Foma, Mona’s summer festival of “art, music and other stuff” comes to both Launceston (February 17-19) and Hobart (February 24-26) this summer, presenting two long weekends of music and events featuring 370 artists. Launceston’s old Tafe building will come alive with performances and installations, including queer woodchopping and late-night DJ parties, while in Hobart, summer sessions on Mona Lawns will feature music from international acts including Peaches, Bikini Kill, Pavement, Angel Olsen, Jockstrap and Vieux Farka Toure. Free and ticketed events (mofo.net.au).

Indulge your curiosity at TEDxHobart on February 18, with a full day of speakers, performers, thinkers and doers centred around the theme of Curiosity at Hobart’s Studio Theatre. Tickets are $130.

A school holiday trip to the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens is always fun and summer brings the added option of alfresco theatre with Big Monkey’s new show, Robin Hood, running from January 3-22 (no performances on Mondays). Tickets are $30 adults, $22 concession, $15 children (bigmonkey.com.au). Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream will also be performed in the gardens in the evenings (Wed-Sat) from January 6-21, at 7.30pm. Tickets are $50 adults, $35 concession, $25 children. Visit theatreroyal.com.au

The gardens will also be home to the SummerSalt music festival on Friday February 3 from 4pm-10pm, with the line-up including Angus & Julia Stone, Ben Harper, City and Colour, The Rubens, Middle Kids and Alex the Astronaut. Tickets from $139.90 adults, $99.90 kids. summersaltmusic.com.au

The Clarence Jazz Festival is a celebration of live music at waterfront locations from February 1-5, taking in views of kunanyi/Mt Wellington, beaches and vineyards. Now in its 27th year, the festival’s centrepiece is a Big Day at Kangaroo Bay on February 4, which features 10 hours of live music across two stages as well as food and children’s entertainment. clarenceartsandevents.net

Cygnet Folk Festival returns to the Huon Valley from January 13-15 with a huge line-up of international, interstate and local acts – headliners include Albi & The Wolves, Holly Arrowsmith and Looking For Alaska. Day and weekend tickets are available from cygnetfolkfestival.org

MORE FESTIVALS & EVENTS

Festivale is a three-day alfresco celebration showcasing Tasmanian food, beverages and entertainment in Launceston’s City Park. Friday February 3 to Sunday February 5 from 4pm-11pm. The program includes live comedy, masterclasses and performances by The Superjesus, Living End, Sneaky Sound System, Sheppard, Thirsty Merc and The Waifs. Tickets from $18. festivale.com.au

Sunflower Celebration 2023 is a boutique family-friendly festival of sustainable gardening, nature and wellbeing – and of course, sunflowers – at Spring Bay Mill at Triabunnaon Sunday, January 29. Learn from experts with workshops from Marcus Ragus, Tino Carnevale and Angus Stewart, engage in unique experiences including a Welcome to Country, a Bush Foods walk and an apiary demonstration, live music, a garden bar, and food from Wattlebanks, Gert and Ted, Trophy Donuts, Wild Hives Honey and Lickalicious. Visit springbaymill.com

Celebrate Tasmania’s garlic harvest at Koonya Garlic Festival on the Tasman Peninsula on February 25, 10am-4pm – there will be food and beverage stalls, garlic bulb competitions and talks by some of the state’s best chefs and gardening gurus. koonyagarlicfestival.org

Arts, culture and sustainability will be the focus at the Pangaea Festival at Buckland from February 3-6 (pangaeafestival.com.au). There are two-day ($290) and three-day ($330) tickets available.

Take a step back in time and visit the historic village of Evandale, which has built a reputation for holding the most competitive Penny Farthing races in the world. The Evandale Village Fair & National Penny Farthing Championships will be held on Saturday, February, 18 from 10am-4pm. evandalevillagefair.com

King Island’s great cheese, beef, seafood, scenery and live music will be the focus of the Festival of King Island (foki.com.au) from February 3-4. Highlights include a raft race full of unseaworthy vessels and a pie-eating competition that is not for the faint-hearted.

Tassie may be famous for Saturday’s Salamanca Market (salamancamarket.com.au – 8.30am-3pm), but there are plenty of other summer offerings. Find a grassy spot overlooking the water at Hobart Twilight Market at Sandy Bay’s Long Beach which runs on January 6, 13, 20 and February 3 and 17 from 4.30pm-9pm (hobarttwilightmarket.com.au). The market is at Brooke St Pier on January 27 and February 23. The Tasmanian Produce Market is held at Kangaroo Bay foreshore, 9am-1pm, (tasmanianproducemarket.com.au).

Hobart’s Farm Gate Market (Sunday 8.30am-1pm, farmgatemarket.com.au) and Launceston’s Harvest Market (Saturday 8.30am-12.30pm, harvestmarket.org.au) are great for seasonal produce, plus Bream Creek Farmers Market (breamcreekfarmersmarket.com.au) on the first Sunday of every month, 9am-1pm. Regular markets are held in Tassie towns like Judbury, Collinsvale, New Norfolk, Cygnet and Sorell. Visit Markets Tasmania on Facebook for details.

Street Eats @ Franko night market has returned this summer, with food, music and fun at Franklin Square every Friday night from now until April (except December 30), 4pm-9pm. Entry is free, tickets aren’t required.

Meanwhile the Urban Wine Walk will showcase some of North Hobart’s best venues on Saturday February 18, in a self-guided tasting experience. Tickets are $75 (urbanwinewalk.com.au)

SPORTING ACTION

The Hobart International is returning to the Domain Tennis Centre in 2023, after a three-year hiatus. There will be plenty of world class tennis from both current and future stars of the game from January 7-14, plus new offerings including live music, inclusion days, activities for children both on and off the court and lots of local food and drink options. Free and ticketed matches. hobartinternational.com.au

Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is one of the world’s toughest and most prestigious ocean races, covering 628 nautical miles, and has been running since 1945. Just nine yachts entered that first event, but this year 115 boats, from around the globe, will line up to compete. The race begins at 1pm on Boxing Day and Constitution Dock is a popular spot to watch boats cross the finish line a couple of days later. For a less-crowded vantage point consider watching the flotilla from Blinking Billy Point at Sandy Bay, Rosny Hill Lookout or Kangaroo Bluff (rolexsydneyhobart.com).

Some of the world’s best endurance athletes will converge on Hobart on February 5 for first round of the Ironman 70.3 Oceania Series. The 70.3, which stands for miles covered by competitors and converts to a 1.9km swim, 90km ride and 21km run, will attract 1100 competitors on a course that incorporates a swim in the River Derwent and run and ride stages starting from Hobart’s waterfront and stretching into the outer suburbs. For spectator vantage points visit ironman.com

The 185th Royal Hobart Regatta (February 11-13) will provide three days of activity on the River Derwent, Queens Domain and the skies above (royalhobartregatta.com). There will be more action on the water at the Sandy Bay Regatta on Australia Day (January 26) at Long Beach (sandybayregatta.com.au).

Cricket fans will enjoy Big Bash matches at Blundstone Arena, with the Hurricanes taking on Melbourne Renegades on Christmas Eve and the Adelaide Strikers on January 2. Games will also be played in Hobart on January 9, 15 and 23, with matches at Launceston’s University of Tasmania Stadium on December 19 and January 25. Tickets from $23 for adults, $8 kids and $50 for families. hobarthurricanes.com.au

Enjoy the excitement of watching the Tasmania JackJumpers when they play home games at MyState Bank Arena on December 17 and 22, as well as on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. They also play in Hobart on January 7, 12, 27 and 29 – and at Launceston’s Silverdome on January 18, before finals begin.

Mountain bike enthusiasts may like to check out Dragon Trail MTB, a three-day stage race that will take riders on a mountain biking journey from the myrtle forests of Derby to the alpine plateaus of Blue Tier and to the stunning Bay of Fires.dragontrail.com.au

Horseracing enthusiasts can enjoy a packed summer carnival featuring the Devonport Cup (January 11), Hobart Cup (February 12) and Launceston Cup (February 22). goracingtasmania.com.au

CELEBRATE NATURE

It wouldn’t be summer without a trip to the beach. Stroll along the sandy shores of Seven Mile Beach, Park Beach, Howrah Beach, Clifton Beach or Coningham. Build a sandcastle, collect shells and play in rockpools. Walk or ride along the scenic path from Bellerive to Tranmere, check out the coastal walk from Seven Mile Beach to Lauderdale, or hike to Crescent Bay on the Tasman Peninsula (more info at greaterhobarttrails.com.au, tastrails.com or Parks and Wildlife’s 60 Great Short Walks app).

Visit Littlewood Berry Farm at Richmond where you can pick juicy strawberries, meet the resident sheep, relax on the grass with a picnic and enjoy a fruity ice cream. Opening hours are subject to change due to weather and fruit availability, so please check the Littlewood Berry Farm Facebook page before visiting.

Oatlands has a great new playground where kids will love burning energy. Quite a few parks also have water play for cooling off on a hot day, including Legacy Park on Queens Domain and Kingston Park Playground.

Fill the car with fuel and explore our beautiful state. Scenic spots include Bruny Island and the Tasman Peninsula, Douglas-Apsley National Park and Bay of Fires on the East Coast, Little Blue Lake and Bridestowe Lavender in the North East, Launceston’s Cataract Gorge, and Cradle Mountain and The Nut in the North West.

ON SCREEN

Movie buffs should head to the cinema as new releases hit screens for summer. Avatar: The Way of Water is sure to be popular, along with Margot Robbie in Babylon, Hugh Grant and Jason Statham in new action thriller spy film Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, Tom Hanks in A Man Called Otto, and I Wanna Dance with Somebody – a celebration of Whitney Houston. Top picks for kids include Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Blueback (about a child who befriends a wild blue groper while diving) and Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile.

SUMMER EATS

Nothing says summer (or holidays) like ice cream. Visit the Van Diemens Land Creamery punt at Constitution Dock (they also have a shop at Elizabeth Town in the North West) for fruity summer flavours like peach, pineapple and guava, blood orange, lemon, watermelon, and wildberry plus a Festive Whisky special for December. There’s a two-scoops-for-the-price-of-one Happy Hour special on Tuesdays and Fridays, 4pm-6pm.

Hobart’s Waterfront is also a great place for fish and chips. Few places do fish better than Fish Frenzy, where crispy fillets of battered flathead, flake or blue-eye are served in cardboard cones with perfectly cooked chips. The nearby fish punts and Mures are popular, and don’t forget to put Doo-lishus, at the Eaglehawk Neck Blowhole, on your radar if you’re planning a day trip, along with The Fish Van at Triabunna and Bicheno’s Lobster Shack.