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 2018 in the Huon ValleyThe Apple Shed, Huon Highway, Grove
Friday 13th to Sunday 15th July 2018 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
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. 
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Where to stay near Huon Valley Winter FestivalBudget Accommodation
Mid Price Accommodation
Huonville
Busses and parking for Huon Valley Winter FestivalThe HVMWF is located at Willie Smith’s Apple Shed which is a 30 minute drive south of Hobart at 2064 Huon Highway, Grove Tasmania. Car parking will be in the large paddock behind the Apple Shed with the entry from Pages Rd. The highway will be clearly sign posted. Overflow parking (if required) will be at the Huon Valley Cool Stores, Huon Highway in Huonville. No parking on the Huon Highway, or the event will be shut down Huon Valley Mid-Winter Festival The Apple Shed 2064 Huon Highway Grove TAS 7109 BUS INFORMATION: HOBART & KINGSTON You can get to the HVMWF easily and return safely by catching the bus from Hobart. The bus makes a stop in Kingston to pick up passengers and continues on to the festival and returns to Hobart via Kingston. The festival busses will run on Friday & Saturday, there will be no busses running on Sunday. Hobart Pick Up & Drop Off Location: Campbell Street, next to the Grand Chancellor Kingston Pick Up & Drop Off Location: The bus stop closest to the BP in Kingston on Channel Highway All busses to and from the festival from Hobart via Kingston cost $15 p/person (return ticket) BUS TIMETABLE DayTime & Locations BUS TIMETABLE Friday Bus Departs Hobart at 5pm, Pick Up Kingston at 5:30pm arrives at HVMWF at 6pm Departs HVMWF at 11pm Saturday Bus (Eve) Departs Hobart at 2pm, Pick Up Kingston at 2:30pm arrives at HVMWF at 3pm Departs HVMWF at 8pm Saturday Bus (Late) Departs Hobart at 2pm, Pick Up Kingston at 2:30pm arrives at HVMWF at 3pm Departs HVMWF at 10:30pm CYGNET BUS SERVICE There will be a bus service running from Cygnet to HVMWF departing from Cygnet Town Hall. BUS TIMETABLE:DayTime & Locations Friday BusDeparts Cygnet Town Hall at 5pm arrives at HVMWF at 5:30pmDeparts HVMWF at 11pm Saturday BusDeparts Town Hall at 2pm arrives at HVMWF at 2:30pmDeparts HVMWF at 10:30pm FREE HUON VALLEY SHUTTLE There will be free busses constantly running around the valley picking people up from two locations:
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Some previous years' program features
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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! 
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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. 
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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! 
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Nearby Huon Valley Winter Fest Accommodation
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Ranelagh: 15 minutes from The Apple Shed
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Book online at Huon Bush Retreats and receive a bottle of Willie Smiths Original Organic Cider. We have 10 stubbies to give away. When they are gone they are gone.
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