Launceston’s Inveresk Precinct will be transformed into a winter festival site this weekend, with organisers promising a three-day celebration of music, food, art and performance designed to attract visitors during the colder months.
The Island Escape Winter Festival will bring headline musical acts including Birds of Tokyo, Spiderbait, Hot Dub Time Machine and The Beautiful Girls, alongside Tasmanian producers, chefs and artists.
Chefs and restaurateurs including Simon Bold of Bold Cuisine Tasmania and Stacy Thompson of TRES will also feature, presenting their signature cold-season dishes.
Organisers describe the event as a “winter wonderland” showcasing Tasmania’s creative and hospitality industries.
“Island Escape Winter Festival transforms Launceston into Tasmania’s ultimate winter playground, where the state’s best food, music, and creativity come out to shine,” organisers said.
The event is part of a broader push to drive winter visitation in Tasmania, with major festivals increasingly positioned as key economic drivers during the traditionally quieter tourism period.
Large-scale winter events such as Hobart’s Dark Mofo have drawn tens of thousands of visitors and boosting the visitor economy through increased spending on accommodation, hospitality and travel.
The program will feature live music across multiple stages, local food and drink offerings, art installations, fire pits and light displays, as well as family-focused activities.
Organisers say the festival is designed to “lean into Tassie’s unique winter charm”, combining headline performances with immersive experiences.
“Expect crackling firelight throughout the site, local winter flavours, and a stacked arts and culture layer including installations, light shows, and roaming performers,” organisers said.
Family programming will include workshops, storytelling and interactive activities, while late-night sessions will feature live music and installations across the precinct.
Tickets are on sale now, with three-day passes and individual day tickets available.
