More than a dozen winter festivals and events will be held across Tasmania in 2024

See the full program for 2024’s scaled back Dark Mofo, plus all the other winter festivals and events happening across Tasmania.

The Nude Solstice Swim will be held on June 21 as part of the scaled back Dark Mofo 2024

Rather than the beginning of a hibernation period, the onset of winter in Tasmania brings with it more opportunities to get out and about than ever before.

The cultural shift fostered by Dark Mofo over the last decade is evident is the growth in winter festivals, parties and events across the state, with over a dozen to be held in 2024.

From Nubeena to Penguin, Tasmanians will enjoy coming together in the cold at events including the Lightwave Festival, the Fire and Mountain Winter Festival, Willie Smith’s Mid Winter Fest and the Bay of Fires Arts Festival.

The allure of Dark Mofo itself remains strong despite this year’s pared-back program, with tickets already sold out for the Nude Solstice Swim, Night Shift nightclub, the Mona Gala and the Marlon Williams concert at the Odeon.

Preparations for the City of Hobart Winter Feast are also in full swing, with Princes Wharf No. 1 being set up to host all the food, drinks and open fires that attract tens of thousands to the event each year.

The City of Hobart Winter Feast is back for 2024. Photo: Jesse Hunniford

Dark Mofo announced last year the event would be paused in 2024, as organisers battled rising costs.

However Dark Mofo Executive Producer Melissa Edwards said there were still many opportunities for Tasmanians and visitors to come together this winter.

“Winter 2024 is a different beast, it’s not Dark Mofo, but we’re still going to celebrate the winter solstice as only we know how,” she said.

“The Winter Feast is back, plus there’ll be music In The Hanging Garden, and late-night events at Altar and High Altar, and we have a record number of participants getting ready for the Nude Solstice Swim this year.

“We’re also thrilled to see so many local cultural organisations announcing complementary festive events, all adding more warming activity for our winter festival season in Hobart, giving people more reasons to come out and embrace the seasonal celebration.”

Tourism Industry Council CEO Amy Hills said it was encouraging to see the number of Dark Mofo fringe and regional events on the cards.

The tourism industry and the state government have ramped up the promotion of Tasmania as a winter destination, amid concerns about the impact of the Dark Mofo pause.

A free, family-friendly celebration of light, Bicheno Beams is held annually during winter. Picture: Adam Reibel

“I strongly encourage all Tasmanians to check out the Dark Mofo program, because they might be surprised just how much there is to see and do,” Ms Hills said.

“At the same time, we’re also hopeful that interstate visitors see the benefit in making the trip, whether it be for the winter feast or the unique experience of the winter solstice swim. And while they’re here, we want them to take a longer trip and check out the Off Season offers in our regions as well.

“A consequence of the scaled back program of Dark Mofo this year, has meant that our other regional winter events have had some more space to shine - and again I’d be encouraging Tasmanians to check out what is on this winter and make a weekend of travelling somewhere different within Tassie.”

DARK MOFO 2024

City of Hobart Winter Feast

Princes Wharf No. 1

June 13-16 and June 20-23

Gather around the fires under an obsidian Tasmanian sky and dream of spring’s embrace. Enjoy the harvest’s bounty from 80 stallholders, alongside a nightly program of music and performance.

Season passes $50, door sales range from $10 to $20 depending on the day, the Sundays are free.

Winter In The Garden

In The Hanging Garden, 112 Murray St, Hobart

June 12-23

A new program of vibrant music and performance across the two-week festival period. With Genesis Owusu, Marlon Williams, POND, Air Max ‘97, DAWS, Adi Toohey, food + drink pop ups and more. Taking over the In The Hanging Garden precinct, there will be DJs, food and drink pop-ups, performances, and more, from 11am daily.

Night Shift

Altar + High Altar, 112 Murray St, Hobart

June 21 and 22

A writhing mass of bodies in a nightclub turned factory floor. Underground bands, late night DJs, art, performance, and dancefloors churn to the rhythm of the nocturnal machine. Clock on and get to work.

SOLD OUT but there is a waitlist

Slow Burn

Odeon Theatre, Mezz Bar, 167 Liverpool St, Hobart

June 15 and 16 and June 21 and 22

Step out of the throng and into the late-night cocktail lounge. The candle burns long and bright from midnight, in the Odeon Theatre’s Mezz Bar.

$50, Door sales only.

Namedropping

Museum of Old and New Art

June 15 2024–Mon 21 April 2025

Mona’s new major exhibition asks questions: why are we drawn to certain objects and people? What makes the big names big: Porsche, Picasso or Pompidou? What is the nature of status and why is it useful? Is it just culture, or is there something deeper?

 

Namedropping the Wu-Tang Clan

June 15-24

Mona presents one of the rarest, most valuable pieces of music ever created, the Wu-Tang Clan’s fabled Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, as part of upcoming exhibition, Namedropping. For a limited time, visitors can see the album on display, with limited access to public listening events held in Mona’s Frying Pan Studios,

The album’s appearance at Mona is the first time that the album has been loaned to a museum since the original sale.

Genesis Owusu

The Odeon

June 15

From Smiling With No Teeth to Struggler, the chaos and ambition of his music is laid bare. Owusu (Kofi Owusu-Ansah) is a Ghanaian-Australian rapper and singer from Canberra. The ARIA charted artist is the younger brother of fellow hip hop rapper, Citizen Kay (Kojo Owusu-Ansah).

Tickets $89

Nude Solstice Swim

June 21

SOLD OUT

The Mona Gala

Fri 14 June

SOLD OUT

Marlon Williams

The Odeon

June 16

SOLD OUT

WINTER FESTIVAL PERIOD FRINGE EVENTS

Dark Fringe

Hobart, various venues

June 9-25

Art, music and immersive experiences

South 2024 Winter Film Fest

Various Libraries, various times

June 5-August 30

Discover a new film or revisit an old favourite on large HD TV screens and cosy spaces, with multiple sessions available at Glenorchy, Huonville, Kingston and Rosny Libraries.

Bay of Fires Winter Arts Festival

Panorama Hotel, 1 Quail St, St Helens

June 8-15

A winter arts festival held over the June long weekend in the north-east region of Tasmania. The premier attraction is the annual Bay of Fires Art Prize.

Bicheno Beams

June 29 to July 20

Lase Light Show, 5.30pm nightly at Lions Park, Bicheno

Fire and Mountain Winter Festival

Mount Gnomon Farm, 886 Ironcliffe Road, Penguin

June 9, 1-9pm

Join the community at Mount Gnomon Farm in Penguin, as their barn is transformed into a beautiful large lounge/dining room, with a roaring French fireplace providing a toasty ambience. The event features a winter feast, live music, animal patting for children and winter craft.

Paint The Town Red

Southern Tasmania

June 10-30

Businesses, shops, and public spaces around southern Tasmania are getting involved by lighting up red. You’ll see red everywhere, vibrant red lighting, red drinks, red decorations and more. There’s also a photography competition

Dark Lime

The Twisted Lime, 112 Liverpool St, Hobart

June 14 and 15, June 21 and 22

Four nights across two weeks of themed MC and DJs.

SOCIETY x Mofo Masquerade

22 Montpelier Retreat, Battery Point

Sat 15 June, 8-11pm

Descend into SOCIETY in disguise to celebrate dark arts and dark drinks. With roving performances from drag doll Nikkie Glamour and burlesque babe Bonnie Rogue.

Willie Smith’s Mid Winter Fest

2064 Huon Hwy Grove

July 12-13

It’s the eleventh and final Mid Winter Fest, presenting a time to reflect on winters past and old, celebrating together and being wowed as an emblazoned Big Willie burns.

Lightwave Festival

July 12-14

1625 Main Rd, Nubeena

Lightwave is an annual winter arts festival celebrating ‘people and place’ across turrakana/Tasman Peninsula. Three days of music and art events in and around Nubeena, with the main festival on July 13 featuring live music, food stalls and outdoor fires

Festival of Voices

Various locations

June 28-July 7

Festival of Voices celebrates the transformative power of singing that brings people together. Inspired by the age-old tradition of gathering around a fire, this Tasmanian winter event series has become Australia’s leading singing celebration.

Australian Antarctic Festival

Castray Esplanade, Battery Point

August 22-25

Presented by the Mawsons Huts Foundation, the festival has a broad appeal ranging from academia, exhibitions and displays, a planned ‘road show’ for regional areas and entertainment.

 

Dark Lark

Dark Lark Single Malt Whisky

Dark Maze

AMAZE Richmond, 13 Bridge St, Richmond

June 14, 5-8pm

Under the starlit sky, visitors can dive into the intrigue of the hedge and timber mazes, transformed for this event into a labyrinth of shadows and secrets. Each corner will promise a new adventure, plus a barbecue buffet

CLOSET presents Dark Homo

The Grand Poobah, 142 Liverpool St, Hobart

June 21, 9pm—5am

CLOSET party organisers return to nipaluna / Hobart for the seventh annual Dark Homo, which promises to be dark, sexy, and full of surprises.

Midnight Ramen

Bar Wa Izakaya, 216-218 Elizabeth St, Hobart

June 21-23