Huon Valley Mid Winter Fest, half hour south from Hobart, Tasmania

Dust off your tatters, top hats and pagan worshiping finery for a repeat performance of last year’s trail blazing Midwinter Winter Festival. If you haven’t sung to an apple tree whilst banging pots and pans by firelight lately, head to the Huon Valley to celebrate the regions apple picking history and join in the ages-old tradition of wassailing – basically scaring nasties out of the orchard’s cider trees to ensure a bumper autumn crop.

Winter Festival 2019 in the Huon Valley

The Apple Shed, Huon Highway, Grove 
Friday 12th to Sunday 14th July 2019 for feasting, cider, fire and folklore
Willie Smiths Apple Shed is the hottest hut in the Huon Valley: craft ciders, artisan cheeses, and plenty of space to sit, chat, roll in the hay, etc. They’ve partnered up with other like-minded locals to throw a mini mid-winter festival to celebrate the region’s apple-pickin’ history. There is limited onsite parking, or stay at one of the several accommodations nearby and get a taxi.

Winter-Fest Traditions

The purpose of wassailing is to awake the cider apple trees and to scare away evil spirits to ensure a good harvest of fruit in the Autumn. The ceremonies of each wassail vary but they generally all have the same core elements. A wassail King and Queen lead the song and/or a processional tune to be played/sung from one orchard to the next, the wassail Queen will then be lifted up into the boughs of the tree where she will place toast soaked in Wassail from the Clayen Cup as a gift to the tree spirits (and to show the fruits created the previous year).
Then we will have the wassail which we want you all to join  in!
Old Apple tree we’ll wassail thee,
And hoping thou wilt bear.
The Lord does know where we shall be
To be merry another year.
To blow well and to bear well,
And so merry let us be.
Let every man drink up his cup
And health to the old apple tree.
Then we want you to sing and shout and bang drums and pots & pans and generally make a terrible racket until the gunsmen give a great final volley through the branches to make sure the work is done!
Buy your Huon Winter Festival Tickets Here

Featured Music

Costume Prizes

Let your imagination run as wild as the festival itself...
 
Inspired by pagan traditions, the earth and all its elements, the changing seasons and traditional Morris dancing costumes, we encourage festival goers to dress up and express themselves. The festival has a history of attracting huge crowds of attendees donning greenery, feathers, fur and leather, and with over $2,000 of prize money to give out, it’s a good idea to get started early on creating your work of art! For inspiration you can visit our Instagram or Facebook page which will showcase some of the previous year’s costumes, and will give you an idea of the overall feel of the festival.

Winter Food and Drink

Just a few samples here. Click for many more...

Where to stay near Huon Valley Winter Festival

Self contained cabins in a ​private habitat reserve

Self-contained cabins, Eco-positive, Protected forest and wildlife. Private and tranquil, Mid Price
Each cabin is in its own private forest setting. Privacy with a close connection with the peaceful surroundings. Self contained facilities include shower, toilets outdoor bath for two, kitchen,  queen bed, 2 sofas, dining table, CD player, and a cosy wood fire

Bed and Breakfast rooms on a Highland Cattle Farmstay

Picture
Huonville
Two modern luxury hotel style rooms near Huonville. This bed and breakfast farm-stay just outside Huonville can be your base to explore the Huon Valley. Maybe join the optional farm tour to see the Highland Cattle and Alpacas up close.

Budget Accommodation

Mid Price Accommodation

Picture
Huonville

Busses and parking for Huon Valley Winter Festival

We’re going to be in an all new location this year  – right in the heart of the Huon Valley at the RANELAGH RECREATION GROUNDS, 49 MARGUERITE STREET. This is a 30 minute drive south of Hobart.



FREE HUON VALLEY SHUTTLE
There will be free buses constantly running around the valley picking people up.

FRIDAY 12th JULY from 5:00pm 

Franklin (Bar Next Door) >Skinner Street Huonville>Festival Site> Grove Service Station> Skinner Street> Festival Site

SATURDAY 13 JULY from 2:00pm

Franklin (Bar Next Door) >Skinner Street Huonville>Festival Site> Grove Service Station> Skinner Street> Festival Site

SUNDAY 14 JULY from 10:30am

Franklin (Bar Next Door) >Skinner Street Huonville>Festival Site> Grove Service Station> Skinner Street> Festival Site
More details will load below shortly......

Some previous years' program features
Three days and nights of mid winter fun 1/2 hour south from Hobart

17 July 2015

Folktastic Friday night at the Huon Valley Mid-Winter Festival!
The Gypsy Dub Sound System, Guerilla Zingari, Lagoon Hill Zydeco, Bad Beef, The Dead Maggies & more!

17 July 2015

Dust off your tatters, top hats and pagan worshipping finery for a repeat performance of last year’s trail blazing Midwinter Winter Festival.
If you haven’t sung to an apple tree whilst banging pots and pans by firelight lately, head to the Huon Valley to celebrate the regions apple picking history and join in the ages-old tradition of wassailing – basically scaring nasties out of the orchard’s cider trees to ensure a bumper autumn crop.
Music from Mic Conway and his National Junk Band, Chupacabra, The Gypsy Dub Sound System, Lagoon Hill Zydeco, Guerilla Zingari and our very own Hairyman.

17 July 2015

Join us on the Sunday for a day of fun family activities including: Morris Dancing Workshops, Children's storytelling, Maypole dancing and many other family friendly activities.
There will of course be music from the likes of the Davidson Brothers, Mic Conway and his National Junk Band, Guerilla Zingari to ensure there is something for everyone!