LOCAL PEOPLE: James Briant
As founder of Black Square Chess, James has taken the game from a handful of after school classes to over 200 schools across Tasmania.
he Off Season is a time for gathering close, sharing stories and warmth in one another’s company. That spirit is alive in Hobart during the annual Festival of Voices (festivalofvoices.com), held 3-12 July. For ten days, voices of every kind rise into the cool night air, filling the streets and venues with song. With concerts, workshops and participatory events across Hobart and beyond, it’s Australia’s ultimate winter singing celebration and more than enough reason to be south during the Off Season.
A trip to northern Tasmania comes with a disclaimer: you’ll need to loosen your belt. It’s little wonder, with a UNESCO City of Gastronomy at its heart, fringed by the Tamar Valley and Piper’s Brook vineyards – a mecca for Tasmania’s sparkling wine industry. But alongside the cellar doors and long-table lunches, there lies a thriving arts scene that comes alive during the Off Season. From 29-30 May, Launceston hosts the Tamar Valley Film Festival (tvff.com.au), a celebration of Tasmanian storytelling and screen culture. Across two evenings, a curated program of short films by emerging and established local filmmakers gives audiences the pleasure of experiencing homegrown cinema talent on the big screen.
What do we do when darkness falls? We reach for the light. On Tasmania’s east coast, that instinct has evolved beyond the usual winter rituals into a light-inspired festival. Every night between 27 June and 25 July, the beach town of Bicheno turns the Off Season lights on with Bicheno Beams (bichenobeams.com). Night after night, music pulses as powerful light beams slice into the sky, transforming the coastline. Even better, this family-friendly light show is completely free. Simply rug up at the Bicheno Lions Park on the seafront and let a friendly volunteer guide you to the best spot to take in the illuminated skyscape. Stay a second night and you’ll catch the alternating show.
Tasmania’s west and north west are raw, untamed and dramatic. Perhaps that’s why people who build a life in this part of the world are resilient – they forge connections with each other and the elements. To visit during the Off Season is to celebrate that spirit in all its glory. The west coast quite literally glows during Light Up the West (westcoasttas.com.au/lightupthewest), held 19-28 June. This festival marks the winter solstice with workshops, markets, light shows and community gatherings to brighten the longest nights. Not long after, the north west gives Permission to Trespass (northwesttasmania.com.au/permissiontotrespass), held 3-12 July, granting rare access to private properties around Wynyard and the dramatic Table Cape. It’s an invitation to see the true character of the north west, behind closed gates.
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