July

1 The Gondwana Indigenous Children’s Choir join with Lutruwita’s own Madam pakana, DENNI, for Songs of Country. 7:30pm at The Hedberg.

2 Matt Warren’s new exhibition of video work and kinetic light sculpture installation, Cluster, is on now til the end of the month at the Schoolhouse Gallery at Rosny. Wed-Sun 10am-4pm.

3 Direct from London’s West End, Fastlove brings your favourite George Michael songs to the stage of The Odeon tonight, 6:45pm.

4 Grab your hairspray before it sells out across Hobart: the Southern Tasmanian Dancing Eisteddfod is back from today til the 12th at Wrest Point.

5 Happy School Holidays to those who observe and to the rest, enjoy the quieter traffic for two weeks.

6 Italian sculptor Arcangelo Sassolino brings his experiments with force, change and some very hot steel to Mona. Fri-Mon, 10am–5pm.

8 Get your literal skates on at SHIVER ice rink aka MyState Bank Arena, transformed into Tassie’s only real ice rink. For a short time only: Ends on the 27th. Book online, including SHIVER After Dark for 18+.

9 Join DRILL Performance Company for Winter Moves, a 2-hour dance workshop for youngsters 9-12 years old. No previous dance experience is necessary. 10am, Moonah Arts Centre.

10 Tony Award winning musical romp A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder is on now at the Playhouse Theatre, until the 19th.

11 Kids comedy duo The Listies are back for a school holiday visit. Their new show, 110% Ready, is on at Theatre Royal today with a relaxed performance from 2pm.

13 Celebrate Christmas in July at Riversdale Estate with Christmas themed treats and savoury items. www.riversdaleestate.com.au for all the info.

14 Make the most of the free School Holiday Basketball Sessions at the Glenorchy Chambers Lawns, each day this week 1pm-3pm. No experience, equipment or bookings needed.

15 Dance like nobody’s listening at the All-Ages Silent Disco Party with Kombi Krew at the Rosny Library. 3:30pm.

16 The State Library is hosting a cute polar bear and snow themed Storytime this morning at 10am. Stay on for a craft session to make your own polar bear puppet.

18 Known for his stage presence, pianist Alexander Gavrylyuk plays Rachmaninov, followed by TSO in full flight with Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite tonight.

19 Learn how to combine pen and watercolour, aka “line and wash”, in an art class with botanist, artist and teacher Dr Tanya Scharaschkin at KIN Creative Space in Kingston, 1pm-4pm.

20 The Fabulous Caprettos (Joe Camilleri, Dave Gleeson, Russell Morris, Jack Jones and Rai Thistlethwayte) perform their biggest hits, Wrest Point, 7:30pm

21 It’s a great day to get inspired at the annual Art From Trash exhibition that sees artists reusing discarded materials to produce amazing visual art. Salamanca Arts Centre, 10am-4pm.

23 UTAS event Voyage to Antarctica’s Floodgates reveals what four science agencies found at the Denman Glacier, and why it matters for all of us. 6pm, Sir Stanley Burbury Lecture Theatre and online.

24 InvisAbility: Be Seen, By Choice is a powerful exhibition exploring portraits of individuals who choose how they are seen, a sensory experience of projection, soundscapes and visual storytelling. Town Hall Ballroom, 10am-2pm.

25 Handmark Gallery is hosting a National Tree Day Exhibition, with 10% of all sales going to the Cancer Research Fund. Opens tonight, 5pm.

26 Dress for Success open their boutique to the public to shop for one day a month, and that’s today. Admission free but registration is essential.

27 To celebrate the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, Bijou Tasmania present a sparkling new stage adaptation of her most beloved novel Emma. Today (and other dates), Playhouse Theatre, 3:30pm.

28 Join an inclusive Come and Try Golf clinic for people living with a disability, or to reintroduce former players to the game after accident or illness. Golf Park, Cambridge. 2:20- 3:30pm (other dates too). Book ahead.

30 Kingston Library is showing Miss Virginia as part of the wider Winter Film Fest (10:30am), then at 6pm it’s the place for the RetroSuburbia Book Club. 5:30pm, last Wed of the month.

31 Visit Government House for a guided tour, including the kitchen, flower room and cellar. 10:30am. The Penguin Fantasy Fest features Australian authors Lynette Noni, Keshe Chow and Sophie Clark. 6pm- 8pm, Best Western Hobart.

August

1 WILD – A Marvellous Musical Menagerie showcases the non-human songs of musical theatre. Expect songs from Cats, The Lion King, Finding Nemo and more. The Hidden Theatre at Kickstart Arts, 7:30pm.

2 Happy Tasmanian Whisky Week, celebrating our local distillers. Seven days of events are on across the state, with the flagship event, The Tasmanian Spirit Showcase, at PW1 on Saturday 9th. Slàinte!

3 The next run in the Kunanyi Trail Series is the Tolosa Half and Quarter. The half marathon is the most popular, and there’s a 10km or 5km option today too. Run from 9am, with briefings earlier.

FURTHER AFIELD

July

The Willie Smith’s Mid-Winter Festival is back, but slightly different. Enjoy the folklore and spirit of the season and the setting at three separate curated events on Saturday nights in July: Feast and Storytelling is a three-course dinner with a show by Young Dawkins. The Pagan Gala is your chance to don your pagan finery and party on. Then the Family Fun and Wassail event rounds them out. www.williesmiths.com.au.

11-13 July

Lightwave is an annual winter arts festival celebrating ‘people and place’ across the Tasman Peninsula with three days of music and art events in and around Nubeena. Enjoy live music, contemporary light-based art, delicious food, and community warmth at the free, all ages events at various venues and spaces in Nubeena. More information at www.lightwavefestival.au.

12 July

Uplands Vineyard in the Coal River Valley are offering a five-course feast with fire, wine and flavour crafted from premium Tasmanian ingredients by chef Paul Willcock and his partner Sara in their transformed wine shed and garden. www.uplandsvineyard.com.au.

Til 25 July

LUSH by Richard Klekociuk is a pop up exhibition featuring Richard’s newest rain forest scenes in drawings of Tasmania’s iconic Liffey Valley. At Harmony on High Street, Campbell Town, open daily from 9am-4pm.

27 July

Inspired by the multiculturalism in Launceston, World Street Eats is a community-centric, cultural food and drinks market in the heart of town showcasing quality uisine and street food from around the globe each month. Today from 11am-3pm in Launceston Civic Square. www.worldstreeteats.com.au.

31 July- 3 August

Still in Launceston and still on food, agriCULTURED is back. agriCULTURED brings together farmers, producers, artists, makers, and everyday eaters to explore what we grow, how we grow it, and why it matters. Through shared meals, conversations, and creative experiences in our very own UNESCO City of Gastronomy, celebrate the people shaping our food future, from soil to plate and everything in between. www.agricultured.com.au.

AROUND THE ISLAND

June

30 Ignite curiosity about the natural world as QVMAG hosts the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, on loan from the Natural History Museum in London, until 7 September.

July

1 Unlock the secrets of the north west coast with Permission to Trespass, which grants access to private properties in the stunning Wynyard and Table Cape areas throughout July.

2 National choir The Australian Voices are visiting Devonport at 6pm, in Lifeway Baptist Church, for their Painted in Dirt Tasmanian tour. They visit Launceston tomorrow night.

4 From 6pm, Goldie Street in Wynyard hosts the Gather & Glow Night Market. On offer are hearty dishes, musicians, and fire pits lining the street.

5 Visit the St Helens Market today between 9am and 1pm. Enjoy a barbecue lunch then wander the stalls stacked with craft, clothing, jewellery, dessert, sauces, books, and more.

6 Every weekend in winter, Brady’s Lookout Cider’s plays a silent film about the secret lives of local wildlife in their cellar, with cider and cheese. Book a session ahead via their website.

7 Celebrate NAIDOC Week at QVMAG with a free, hands-on yarning and making day. Make a bracelet while sharing in conversation about the significance of the week.

9 Wednesday night trivia at Easy Tiger St Helens is on tonight from 6:30pm. Catch up with friends over a meal and drink, and maybe check out a movie.

10 Gather the crew for trivia night at Kingsway Bar, Launceston, 7pm-10pm. Free to play with a drink purchase. The game is played on a TV with interactive buzzers.

11 Underground comedy club Kings of Comedy are coming to Boathouse Centre Launceston tonight for an evening of non-stop laughs. 7pm start.

12 Don’t miss the Christmas in July Extravaganza which transforms Ben Lomond Base into a winter wonderland complete with merry festivities and feasting. 3pm-10pm.

13 The Lightwave Festival is held 11-13 July across the Tasman Peninsula. Today, enjoy music, food, coffee and toasty outdoor fires at The Pear Shed, 10am-3pm

15 Open Library Access lets approved Libraries Tasmania members use services outside staffed hours. Book your induction for Penguin Library today at 5pm to learn how it works.

16 Mudlark Theatre presents Road Works: Mary Stuart, a tale about two queens in a battle of wits, blood, and broken hearts. Princess Theatre Launceston, 6pm.

17 Experience a thrilling night at Devonport’s Bass Strait Maritime Museum with ghostly Captain Billy. Hear eerie tales, enjoy an after-hours tour, and test your wits in a fun pub quiz.

18 Celebrate 50 years of Bohemian Rhapsody with Queen: It’s a Kinda Magic, as Showtime Australia recreates Queen’s 1986 World Tour concert. Princess Theatre, Launceston, 8pm.

19 Repair a broken or torn household item at the Launceston Repair Cafe, a free event aimed at diverting items from landfill, 1pm-4pm at Pilgrim Church Hall.

20 Check out the Ross Village Market in Ross Town Hall today from 9am. Browse local crafts and homemade pies, cakes, and preserves. Then explore the beautiful town.

21 Over 40 and near Burnie? Visit the BreastScreen Bus at Portside Carpark for free breast cancer checks until 19 September. This service returns every two years. Bookings required.

22 Join the Knitting for Charity group at Burnie Library today from 10am-12pm to knit beautiful items, like beanies, blankets and baby booties, that are then donated to charities.

23 RunNation is a documentary film festival all about running and the people that run, and you can catch it at Du Cane Brewery tonight from 7pm-9pm.

24 Get into the groove for the return of Devonport Jazz 2025. There’ll be warm and cosy venues across the city playing host to a great lineup of jazz musicians. Until 27 July.

26 Family Fun & Wassail is a themed event celebrating Willie Smith’s Mid-Winter Festival. The Apple Shed will have kids’ activities, apple bobbing, and a bush dance to finish. 4pm-8pm

27 The monthly market World Street Eats returns to Launceston’s Civic Square today. Try culinary delights from around the world. 11am-3pm.

28 Visit the Deloraine & Districts Folk Museum for Past the Post, an exhibition on local horse racing history, now extended until further notice due to popular demand.

29 Tassie author Meg Bignell launches her new book set in northern Tassie, The Good Losers, at Petrarch’s Bookshop in Launceston Library tonight, 5:30pm.

30 On Wednesdays at Devil’s Corner Cellar Door this winter you can take part in the Tower to Terroir tour, where you’ll learn the captivating stories of the land, and yes, taste wine.

31 Embrace sustainability at agriCULTURED, a four day Launceston event showcasing the best of Tasmania’s winter produce through art, performance, dinners, and conversation.

August  

1 Dino enthusiasts will love Six Extinctions, a journey through deep time. It’s an exhibition that delves into ‘The Big Five’ extinctions plus a possible sixth. Only at QVMAG.

2 Tasmanian Whisky Week runs from today to 10 August, celebrating local distilleries with over 20 events statewide.

3 Enjoy all things maritime, fishing, and seafood at Tassie Scallop Fiesta in Bridport today, from 10am-4pm.

LOOK AHEAD TO BOOK AHEAD

Explorers – The Age of Discovery with James May (10 August) Top Gear’s James May is heading to Hobart for Explorers – The Age of Discovery, a live show at the Federation Concert Hall. Swapping cars for explorers, May brings to life the stories of history’s boldest adventurers, those who crossed deserts, climbed mountains, and sailed into the unknown. Blending theatrical flair with his signature wit, James will guide his Hobart audience through humankind’s exploration, from ancient hunter-gatherers to history’s most intrepid, and often obsessive, explorers.

RISE 2025 (2 August – 26 October) Coming soon to QVMAG in Launceston, and entirely free, is the second RISE exhibition, following its successful debut in 2023. RISE 2025 showcases works and conversations from ten of Tasmania’s most significant and collectible emerging artists, spanning a diverse and engaging range of mediums. Each year, new Tasmanian artists emerge to provoke and inspire with creative thinking and craftsmanship, and this exhibition is all about giving voice to these artists.

Various Launceston Film Festivals (2 August and 15 August) August sees Launceston transform into a film lover’s paradise with three one-off festivals, all showcasing unique stories on the big screen. Kicking off on Saturday 2 August at the Tramsheds Function Centre, the Top Dog Film Festival runs 2pm-4:45pm, celebrating the magic of dogs and their special bond with humans. Later that evening, from 6:30pm-9:30pm, The Gutsy Girls Adventure Film Tour hits the screen, featuring fearless women tackling epic mountaineering, mountain biking, cave diving, snowboarding and BASE jumping. It’s heart-pounding, family-friendly action from around the globe. Then, on Friday 15 August at Star Theatre, the Big Bike Film Night rolls in with the finest cycling shorts worldwide – from Pakistan’s rugged peaks to New Zealand’s backcountry and Scotland’s wild Highlands. 7pm-9:30pm.