February

3 This fortnight’s folk dance night at St James Hall in Newton is Contra Dance with the Seat Pant Flyers, starts at 7:15pm.

4 177 Nations of Tasmania Photography and Storytelling Project, an extension of the local podcast, launches tonight at the Henry Jones Art Hotel. See it until 7 March.

5 Want to work on your trivia skills? Bring your friends to the Deep South Brewing Quiz Night. It’s on every Wednesday at 7pm, and Happy Hour is 4pm- 6pm conveniently right before it.

7 Ahoy, the Australian Wooden Boat Festival takes over the docks for a long weekend of family-friendly fun. The Battery Point Village Fair is also on from today until the 10th, various times, find them on Instagram or Facebook.

8  Happy Regatta Day! Plus, the Botanical Gardens host 35 local winemakers for this year’s Tas Wine Fest. Think summer garden party vibes with food and entertainment, today and tomorrow.

9  Mark Seymour, of Hunters & Collectors, plays at The Longley International Hotel today from 2pm.

10 Superbowl fan? Spend the public holiday at the Fox Friday Hobart Taproom from 9:30am to watch the game live. A ticket includes a hot dog, fries and a large ale.

11 Eat, pray and love with best-selling author Elizabeth Gilbert at The Odeon tonight from 7pm.

12 Bridget’s back: the gala night screening of new film Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, at the State Cinema, has a drink on arrival and prizes. 7pm.

13 The travelling Questacon Fascinating Science exhibition is at Huonville Library today from 9:30am-5:30pm, no need to book.

14 Happy Valentine’s Day! Irish Murphy’s have live music from 5pm to celebrate.

15  Test your strength at The Hobart Hoist, the 4th annual grip strength competition, today at Raw Strength.

16  Festa Italia celebrates Italian culture, music and food at the Australian Ital­ian Club in North Hobart. Grab a pasta and tiramisu to eat in the sunshine, buon appetito!

18 Peter Maarseveen’s photos taken at Eagle Tarn in Mt Field were developed by firelight using chemicals made from the plants featured in the photos. See them at Moonah Arts Centre until 15 March.

19 The Hobart Repertory Theatre Society presents Folk, a hilarious and not-so-holy play about Winnie, no ordinary nun. 7:30pm at The Playhouse Theatre.

20 Clarence Jazz Festival is back today until Sunday, with more interstate and international acts than ever before. Tickets via Humanitix. Mount Carmel College are hosting Twilight Tours from 4pm- 6pm. Register online.

21 Street Eats @ Franko goes back in time when Hugo Bladel brings the 80s disco-teque to the party at 6:45pm, with Jesse L Redwing kicking things off at 4:45pm.

22  The awesome West Hobart Bowl Jam is on today, watch the skaters rip it up at the West Hobart Bowl. The 80s love continues with Never Ending 80s: 80s v 90s Battle of the Decades at Wrest Point tonight from 8pm.

23 It’s the day for chill Sunday sessions, with options like Cascade Brewery Bar in South Hobart from 1pm-4pm or Botanica Bar at Salamanca, from 4pm-7pm.

25 Learn how your gut bacteria affects your health and well-being at the Improving Your Gut Health workshop at Kingborough Community Hub, 10:30am-12pm.

26 Rex Greeno: Memories through Sea Stories continues at TMAG, showing works by the Tasmanian Aboriginal Elder who is an artist, fisherman and maker of traditional bark and reed canoes.

27 Sidewalk Tango presents Sidewalk Polish Club Practica from 7:30pm, all are welcome, no dance experience required.

28 One of the great cult bands of Australia, The Necks grace the Theatre Royal stage tonight. The Clubhouse presents Heath Franklin’s Chopper: The Last Hard Bastard on Earth, 7:30pm at Hellenic House, North Hobart.

March

1  Pat Brassington is one of Australia’s most significant and influential artists. Her photomontages are on display in Dear Diary, at Bett Gallery in the CBD, until 8 March.

2  Stretch the hammies, it’s time to Run the Bridge, with options from 1km to 10km. Enter on their website.

3 It’s the last day to see After The Rain by Sam Wilkinson, an intimate response to a seven day expedition through the remote regions of Tasmania’s South West. At SOCIAL at Salamanca.

6 Funnyman Nazeem Hussain tours his You Paid For This gig In The Hanging Garden, doors open 7pm. Or hear Coldplay in a whole new way with Candelight’s tribute to the band, 6:30pm at the Town Hall.

FURTHER AFIELD

6-9 February

Party in the Paddock, headed up by Empire Of The Sun, Aurora, Amyl & The Sniffers, Angie McMahon and so many more, takes over Quercus Park in Carrick for three days of music, arts, food and fun.

7-8 February

Known as the world’s most chal­lenging downhill race event, the Red Bull Hardline sees the pros take on world-cup level downhill plus massive jumps and drops. Held at Maydena Bike Park. Tickets essential.

8 February

Celebrate Lunar New Year at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery. There is a heap of events such as guided tours of the Guan Di Temple, a Chinese calligraphy station to try out, lantern and snake making, tai chi and more.

16 February

Don your cowboy boots and country it up at the Kempton Festival. Enjoy free laser skirmish, meet furry, feathery, and scaly friends, and take part in games like barrel rolling and gumboot tossing before letting loose with some line dancing. There’ll also be sheep racing and shearing, live music, food, and market stalls. 9am-4pm, Kempton Recreational Grounds. Also, The Gents Australia will have a pop-up shop, Grouse Shop, in Kempton during the festival selling home grown produce and grouse vintage Australiana.

1 March

The Hamilton Show has everything you’d want from a country show: dogs (lots of dogs! Trials dogs in a paddock, working dogs in a yard, dog high jump…) plus horses, an animal nursery, classic sideshow alley and food vans, facepainting and a showcase of sustainable agriculture in the Derwent Valley. 8am-4pm, Hamilton Recreation Grounds.

1 March

The Nut at Stanley hosts the Gone Nuts 101 Adventure Run again this month. The 101km race takes you along rugged coastline, temperate rainforest, and around Table Cape before finishing in Wynyard. There are team relay options for the 101km and 50km, or individual entries for the 75km and 25km runs.

AROUND THE ISLAND

February

5 Step into the East Coast Heritage Museum in Swansea to view its exhibitions exploring the area’s his­tory, from First Nations artefacts to a curious egg collection.

6 Australia’s world-renowned magician, Cosentino, is performing his new live show, Decennium, at Burnie Arts Centre tonight, 7:30pm. Expect death-defying escapes and mind-boggling stage illusions.

7 Tassie blues artist Pete Cornelius launches his new album at Bicheno Memorial Hall, 7pm. Joining the line-up is Americana folk rockers Raccoon Dog.

8 St.Lukes Sym­phony on the Waterfront, a free com­munity concert featuring the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra (TSO), returns today to Devonport’s wa­terfront under conductor Jen Winley’s baton.

9 Launceston City Band plays a free concert at the City Park Rotunda, as part of Launceston’s Music in the Park series, 12:30pm-2:30pm. Bring the family for a picnic.

10 Join in for a fun evening of line dancing to country music at Buckland Community Hall, 7pm-8:30pm. Held every Monday evening, there’s a $6 entry fee.

11 Drop into Longford Library today between 10am and 4pm for digital help and learning enquiries. Bring your device if you have one.

12 Grassroots Festival is a two-day sus­tainable farming festival hosted by Gunningham Family Farms in Montu­mana, with workshops, demonstrations and expert-led sessions.

13 David Hobson graces the Princess Theatre stage in Launceston at 11am, with songs to sing and stories to tell with a touch of comedy.

14 Until 16 February, join the celebrations at the Don River Railway 50 Year Gala Weekend, with steam and diesel engines from around Tassie, a model train show, great food, and entertainment.

15 Meadowbank vineyard is hosting their own tennis tournament, the Meadow­bank Open. The Repair Cafe is at Pilgrim Church Hall in Launceston. Burnie plays host to Summerfest 25, a free fun-filled family community day.

16 Cyclists of all types are invited to Ben Lomond to challenge themselves with a 17.7km uphill gravel road race up Jacob’s Ladder with King and Queen of the Mountain.

17 This is the last day of Rockin’ By the River, which starts on 14 Feb, an event that brings live music to Lovetts Flats in Sassafras. Swim in the river, spot a platypus, and laze in the sun.

18 Summer is tennis season and the fun continues with the HCi Burnie International, a week-long men’s and women’s professional tennis tournament held at the Burnie Tennis Club.

19 Join Petrarch’s Bookshop at Launceston Library for the book launch of Half Truth by Hobart’s Nadia Mahjouri, 5:30pm, about two women seeking the truth about what hap­pened to the same man.

20 Create a one of a kind calico grocery bag with lino print in this one-off beginner friendly work­shop at Paint the Town Red in Launceston. All materials included in the ticket fee.

21 Held until 23 February across northern Tasmania, The Spirit of Tasmania Cycling Tour has new routes, a localised event hub in Devonport and more community events in and around the tour.

22 Head to Tar­raleah Village in the Central Highlands for the free Tarraleah Open Day. There’ll be music, treasure hunts, history exhibits, and a power station tour.

23 Motorheads better join the free Japanese Classics Tasmania event to see Tassie’s largest gathering of classic Japanese cars, at National Automobile Museum of Tasmania in Launceston.

24 Come along to Burnie Li­brary from 10am-12pm today for some creative journaling. Bring your own favourite art and crafting supplies, and if you enjoy it, this is a monthly meeting.

25 Musical duo Marita Man­gano & Alan Archer play Lake Leake Hotel today at 3pm. Enjoy a pub feed surrounded by wilderness as they rip up some blues, rock, and country.

26 It’s Launces­ton Cup Day at Mowbray Racecourse. Dress up for a stylish day at the track, with en­tertainment, racing, and extravagant fashion.

27 Hosted by Devonport Country Club, the Em­power Golf Clinic opens golf up to all abilities and features the ParaGolfer, designed with accessibil­ity in mind. 2pm-4pm. Register at the Empower Golf website.

28 Motorcycle lovers should check out the Spoke Motorcycle Festival at Mayfield Estate until 2 March, on the east coast. It’s all about bikes and racing, with food, drinks and live music.

March

1 See ONCE at the Burnie Arts Centre until 8 March – a play about a Dublin street musician who’s about to give up on his dream when a young woman takes a sudden interest in his songs.

2 Smooth Opera­tors play Devils Corner Cellar Door today in Apslawn. No better time for a sip of wine set to the tunes of the smooth jazz duo. 1pm-4pm.

3 Bring your baby or toddler to Rock and Rhyme at Devonport Library, a fun, free 30 minute ses­sion for parents, carers and their children up to two years of age. 9:30am start.

4 Drop in the Spring Bay Community & Health Centre for some Yarn Time, a group that brings women togeth­er for fun, laughter, and craft. 10am-12pm.

6 Today and to­morrow there are International Women’s Day breakfasts being hosted around the is­land, including Peppers Silo Hotel in Laun­ceston and Chamber of Commerce in Devonport.

WHAT’S ON IN TASSIE

Curious Campbell Town

Campbell Town is a popular stop in the heart of the Midlands for those travel­ling between Hobart and Launceston. It’s worth taking the time to explore. The town has a fascinating convict history, with highlights like Australia’s oldest surviving brick-arched bridge and the informative Convict Brick Trail. Harmony on High Street is an art gallery which is always hosting an exhibition. Don’t miss The Book Cellar, a charming bookshop located in the same building that once housed the convicts who built the bridge. And of course, there’s the Lolly Store.

Lovely Lake Leake

Just 30 minutes from Campbell Town is Lake Leake. While it’s a bit off the beaten path from the Midlands Highway and doesn’t see as many visitors, it’s worth the detour. A man-made lake with a small township, Lake Leake is a popular spot for trout fishing. While you’re there, stop by the Lake Leake Inn for a bite to eat. This quaint country pub is family-friendly with the option to stay overnight. It makes a great base for fishing or exploring nearby walks like Meetus Falls and Lost Falls.

Kindly Koonya

On 22 February, Koonya hosts the Koonya Garlic Festival, but it’s worth exploring the area year-round. This little hamlet was once part of the Port Arthur colony, and you can still find remnants of convict-era build­ings. Today, it’s home to a community of writers, artists, farmers, and retirees. The area also features a few cute little beaches and is just a short drive from attractions like the Tasmanian Devil Unzoo, Port Arthur Lavender, and Eaglehawk Neck.