December

1 The annual Gle­norchy Open exhibition celebrates the creativity of the local area. On at the Moonah Arts Centre until the 20th.

2 Join Scot­tish-born author of ‘Mole Creek’, James Dunbar in conversation with Meg Keneally, as he discusses his latest book, ‘Twisted River’. Hobart Library, 5:30pm-6:30pm.

3 Hungarian/ Tasmanian Ivett Dodd’s new book Makers celebrates the work of Tasmanian’s design culture. Ivett is in convo with Lucie Cutting at Fullers from 5:30pm.

4 Head to the Bunnings Kingston Christmas family night from 5pm-7pm for beats from the Kombi Krew, free sausage sizzle, giveaways, baby goats (awww) and more!

5 The Hobart Twilight Market is at Long Beach, Sandy Bay, tonight (and every first and second Friday til March). With eats, drinks, designs and music from 4:30pm- 9pm.

6 Discover 150+ Tassie makers, delicious food, choirs, kids activities, face painting and Santa! Tasmanian Made Christmas Festival at PW1, 6–7 December. Free entry

7 Enjoy the Port Arthur Christ­mas Makers Market at the visitor centre with gifts and treats, 10am- 1:30pm. Scottish food writer Ghillie Basan is in convo with Bill Lark at a tasting event at The Still, 1:30pm.

8 Discover Wis­dom Through Wood at the School of Green Woodworking in Neika (25 mins from Hobart). An intro to the tools and tech­niques of green wood­working, surrounded by beautiful forest.

9 Get ahead for next year with nutritionist Jill Cooper, she is running Set Your Mind for Health in 2026, 10:30am-11:30am, Kingborough Commu­nity Hub.

10 Head to Elizabeth St Mall for a Human Rights Day commu­nity celebration from 11am-1pm, then head to C3 Church Beyond in South Hobart for Christmas Jazz Carols.

11 Darren Hanlon celebrates the 20th anniversary of his Christmas Show with a lap around the coun­try, including a gig at the Peacock Theatre with special guests. 7pm-10pm.

12 Painter Se­bastian Gal­loway opens his latest solo exhibition tonight 5pm-6:30pm, it’s on at Handmark Gallery until 5 January.

13 Hobart Cur-rent artist Jodi Haines guides a nostalgic meander through suburban songlines on a 1970s Bedford bus, departing TMAG 2pm today. Limited tickets available on-site from 1.30 pm today.

14 Deck the (Hobart Town) Hall for the Christmas Harmony Concert, 3pm-4:30pm, or A Taste of Ireland bring A Celtic Christ­mas to Hobart. Theatre Royal, 2pm-4pm.

15 Enjoy a fun morning of pancakes, crafts, and a visit from Santa himself at Breakfast with Santa at Ma­dame Clarke’s cafe in Kingston, 9am-10am.

17 Help sew tiny pocket hearts for 100 Hearts, an ongoing kindness project that start­ed here in Hobart. Glenorchy Library, every Wednesday from 12:30pm.

18 Join the Magical Farm Tasmania Landcare Group for a fun, hands-on volun­teer day. Make com­post, mulch, harvest or plant. Other days they offer YoFence – yoga plus fencing!

19 Wolfmother, Kingswood, Echidna, Lennon Wells and more play Lutruwita Live, a new summer festival. The Goods Shed, 4pm. Botanica hosts a Hobart Language Exchange social night.

20 The Nipa-luna Queer Run Club runs each Saturday, check their Insta for locations. St David’s Cathedral celebrates the season with two Community Christmas Carol events today.

21 Daytrip to historic Ross for the monthly market today, in the Town Hall from 9am with homemade pies, cakes, preserves and last-minute Christmas gift ideas.

23 Bett Gallery is celebrating their almost-40-year birthday with a big Summer Exhibition featuring a tonne of local artists, open now and til 31 January. 10am-5:30pm.

24 Run away from the shops and into the bush to Art Farm at Birchs Bay to see the 2025 Sculpture Trail. Open daily, 9am-5pm.

25 MERRY CHRIST­MAS! What’s an elf’s favorite music genre? Wrap music.

26 May your head be pain-free and your leftovers delicious. Happy BOXING DAY, aka the day the Sydney to Hobart and “the cricket” begins.

27 The Taste of Summer kicks off today, cel-ebrating Tassie food and drinks, 12pm-8pm until the 3rd, Castray Esplanade. Also today, the Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster Yacht Race begins.

28 The Hobart Race Village is open midday-5pm each day til the 1st at Constitution Dock, with live music, kids activities, Q&As and of course, the yachting finish line!

29 It’s Margar­ita Monday at Grinners Dive Bar, with $12 margs all night. Ole we say!

30 Big Monkey Theatre are back with their sum­mer Botanical Gardens production, this time it’s The Lizard of Aus. 11am daily til 18 Jan.

31 Happy New Year! Party at the waterfront and watch the fireworks, or try the New Years Eve Party at In The Hanging Garden allll night long.

January

1 It’s now official­ly 2026 (!)

3 The Hobart League of Com-petitive Games meets up on the first Satur-day of each month for friendly competitive tabletop play in Mt Stuart. Find more info: hogs.org.au/cogs

4 Need an excuse to run away to Bruny? The fort­nightly Lunawanna Makers and Produce Market is on today, 9am-2pm, in the Memorial Hall.

SPOTLIGHT ON…

4 December

Dhime Music with Yomari is a vibrant cultural celebration of Nepal’s Newari heritage. Experi­ence the soulful beats of Dhime, a traditional Newari drum, and the delicious taste of Yomari, a festive delicacy made and shared during the Yomari Punhi festival. There will also be cultural storytelling by renowned journalist Mr Kul Chandra Bhattarai, who will share the rich history and meaning be­hind each Yomari flavour and the Dhime tradition. Entry is free and food will be available for purchase. 3pm-7:30pm at the Multicultural Hub, Moonah.

7 December

The Bream Creek Farmers Market has its tinsel on for a special Christmas edition market. Their biggest market of the year will be on at the Bream Creek Show­grounds today from 9am-1pm for a chance to shop local for Christmas.

All month

There’s a new exhibition at Port Arthur Historic Site about the young convict boys transported to Point Puer, the first purpose-built juvenile prison in the British Empire. Little Depraved Felons: The Boys of Point Puer is a new interactive exhibition that brings the human stories of these kids to life. Follow their journey from crimes in Britain to the voyage to Point Puer, and explore their daily lives – what they ate, their work, punishments, and routines. Pick a pocket, explore a solitary cell, spin a wheel and uncover stories of resilience, punishment, and dis­cover what life was like for young convicts in nineteenth-century Tas­mania. For all ages, the exhibition is included in site entry tickets.

All month

The third iteration of Hobart Cur­rent, a significant biennial program of contemporary art in various forms, is now at TMAG and at var­ious places around Hobart CBD. This year, the theme is ‘Here’, with artists responding to that theme in lots of different ways. The ten participating artists are Marion Abraham, Jodi Haines, Andy Hutson, Jade Irvine, Jenni Large, Sara Morawetz, Jonny Scholes, Mary Scott, Dylan Sheridan and Peter Waller. Hobart Current is on until April next year, you can find more info at hobartcurrent.com. TMAG’s summer hours begin on 26December, from which time it is open every day apart from Christ­mas Day, 10am-4pm.

AROUND THE ISLAND

December

2 Enjoy the 35th annual Christmas pantomime with The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by KRSD Performing Arts. On until the 4th at Princess Theatre.

3 Enjoy SASS: Seniors and Adults Solos and Scenes, a showcase of diverse perfor­mances, presented by LYTE’s Riverside and Queechy Senior Com­panies. Until the 4th at Earl Arts Centre.

4 Catch comedian Daniel Mug­gleton tonight – he’s the ‘guy in the red tracksuit’ whose vids have amassed over 25 million views. The Royal Oak, Launnie, 9pm.

5 The Gnomon Pavilion in Ulverstone plays host to The Suffragettes – two women, two voices, one guitar, one bass and 80+ songs! 5pm, $8.

6 Follow artist John Glover’s footsteps for a Glover Country House & Garden Tour from his house and garden at Deddington to loca-tions where he painted his iconic works. Multiple dates.

7 Ho ho ho, line the streets of Devonport today for the annual Christmas Parade. From 4pm, enjoy floats from schools, community groups, clubs, charities and businesses.

8 Get in the mood for Chrissy at Music in the Morn­ings: A Christmas Surprise featuring Ian Stenlake is from 11am-12pm at Theatre North.

9 Come on down bright sparks, it’s Molly Malone’s Trivia Night, this and every Tuesday. Grab dinner and a drink with your team, 6:30pm registration, 7pm start.

10 Come cel­ebrate The Church’s incredible songbook on The Singles Tour: A Career Retrospective. At Launceston’s Princess Theatre, 7:30pm.

11 Dill Pickle Club presents The Hannibal Lectures #6. Get your beakers, bowls and goblets ready – this month it’s all about mead, delving into the history of the oldest alcoholic drink. 7pm.

12 Celebrate all things Christmas as the Burnie Christmas Parade lights up the streets with incredible floats, lively perfor­mances, and family fun today.

13 Launceston’s Love Local Festive Fun Day is on today. Shop local instead of online, with live music, carolers and circus entertainers. Hold onto your hats, the Launceston Rodeo is on from 1pm.

14 Head to the Judbury Christmas Market with food, crafts, toys, plants, music and more on the Huon River, 10am-2pm. The Burnie Archery Club hosts an Archery Come N Try day, 10am-12pm.

15 Take the little kids along to the Scottsdale Library for Rock & Rhyme, a fun, free 30 minute session in­cluding songs, action rhymes and stories. 10:30am.

16 Enjoy a community morning tea at the Queenstown Library for a morning of fun and friendship, with a cuppa and biccies. 10am.

17 Take a wan­der through dAda mUse gallery in Launceston, home of Australia’s largest collection of Salvador Dalí works on paper. Open Wed-Sun.

18 Join in on the story-telling adventure that is Dun­geons and Dragons, at the Queenstown Li­brary. Explore fantasy worlds and embark on epic quests.

19 Head to Geeveston for the Lightbottom Blues Club Live Blues Night, showcasing local blues talent. Geeveston Ex-Ser­vicemen’s & Women’s Club, from 7pm.

20 up your possie for Timmy’s Barnyard Hoe Down at the Forth Pub. Dress in your wild west best for bull rides, line dancing, Texan bbq, Shannon Noll and more!

21 The Long­ford Bowls Clubs hosts the second annual Town Cup, with good wine and an intense bowls battle. Tonight Burnie Car­ols by Candlelight are on, Burnie Park, from 6:30pm.

22 Kids eat free tonight (and every Monday) at the Penguin Beer Co. From 5pm, with every main meal sold.

23 Are you ready to make a difference in the world while knit­ting? Head to Burnie Library for a knitting/ crochet experience combining artistry and community. Tuesdays, 10am-12pm.

24 Embark on a local foodie road trip in your area to pick up local Christmas supplies – oysters, seafood, fruit, meats, wines, fresh vegetables, cakes and pastries, cheese, nuts and all the trimmings

25 MERRY CHRIST­MAS! Spend Christ­mas Day at Cradle Mountain and indulge in a buffet lunch or indulgent set course festive dinner at Cra­dle Mountain Lodge

27 Enjoy a morning of eating and buying local food and drinks at the Launceston Harvest Market, from 8:30am. Or head to Greens Hotel Burnie for an over 30s day party.

28 Enjoy letting your tastebuds wander at Launnie’s World Street Eats, show­casing quality cuisine and street food from around the globe. 11am-3pm, Civic Square.

29 The Great Escape NYE Festival kicks off today at Redbank, Nugent, featuring Spacey Jane, Lime Cordiale, The Presets (DJ set), Thelma Plum and many more. Until 1 January.

30 The carnival season is in full swing, with today’s event the Ulverstone Crit from 2pm at Bicentennial Park. Other dates, other locations, lots of awesome athletes on display!

31 Launceston’s BeerFest NYE Festival returns featuring The Presets (DJ set), twilight and midnight fireworks, food and of course, beer. The Night on the Terrace lights up the Burnie foreshore.

January

1 Head to the pic­turesque Long­ford Racecourse this New Years Day for a program of thorough­bred picnic racing, fashions on the field, food and drinks. From 10am.

3 This weekend enjoy the beau-tiful Liliums at the Burnie Lilium Show, featuring a vibrant display of Asiatic, Trumpet/Aurelian hybrids, and early Species Liliums. Park-lands High School.

4 Wander through the stalls at the Evandale Market, with local produce, secondhand books, food vans, general bric-a-brac, local craft and pony rides for the kids. From 8am.

MORE AROUND THE ISLAND

7 December The 2025 Teamboat Challenge hits the Meander River today. The family fun day is hosted by the Deloraine Flames Dragon Boat Club and you can cheer on the dragon boat teams as they navigate Deloraine’s most iconic, fun, and chaotic (in the best way) river events. 10am–2pm, Meander River between the road bridge and caravan park.

9 December Internationally renowned farmer, author, and educator Jean-Martin Fortier (JM), known as a pioneer of small-scale ecological farming, is visiting Tasmania. You can meet with JM in person and hear about his vision for a thriving, climate-resilient agriculture. The event includes a keynote speech from JM, panel discussion with Tassie farmers and educators and a workshop with practical tool demonstrations. Longley Organic Farm, www.sprout.org.au/workshops.

3 January From Daddy Cool to Mondo Rock and as a solo artist with no less than 26 ARIA Top 40 hits to his credit as a singer, songwriter and producer, Ross Wilson is one of Australia’s most awarded, respected and well-known artists. Join him live in the vines for this spe­cial event. Head to Craigie Knowe Vineyard for this special summer show. Tickets $55 adults, $35 kids. www.craigieknowe.com.au.

Until 11 January Founded in 1925, the Alexander Patent Racket Company produced world-renowned tennis racquets and other high-quality sporting goods that helped shape Australian sporting culture. Alexander 100: Global ambition – From Launceston to Wimbledon tells a uniquely Tasmanian story of creativi­ty, community and global ambition. This ex­hibition, on now at QVMAG in Launceston, celebrates the centenary of the company.