This year’s festival will be on 29th November – 2nd December, 2024. Discounted weekend and early bird tickets are now available here: events.humanitix.com/derwentregencyfestival24

For portraits and details of the 2023 festival, see here.

Details for 2024 follow.

Friday 29th November (5pm) – Monday 2nd December (9:30pm)

Hobart and New Norfolk, Van Diemen’s Land

Celebrate the Regency era in style and fun with a Regency evening at Narryna Heritage Museum, dance workshops and a Grand Regency Ball in the fine St James Church Hall in New Town, a Garden Party of Regency activities at the historic Glen Derwent Estate, New Norfolk, and a music and history sail on the majestic tall ship, the Lady Nelson. Four days of fun, food, fine music, dancing and general frivolity. This year we also have a bonus night of historically themed contra dancing on the Monday night.

Tickets: events.humanitix.com/derwentregencyfestival24, including discounted weekend tickets and early bird tickets
Entry conditions, health and safety, inclusion: folktas.org/conditions

Draft programme – subject to minor changes. Download printable version of the weekend’s programme (later) and the Regency Garden Party programme (later).

ACTIVITY	TIME	DESCRIPTION	LOCATION	PRICE
Friday 29th November
Georgian and Regency Evening at Narryna Heritage Museum	5-7:30pm	Regency costume showings, exhibition, tours of Narryna house (1830s merchant house), refreshments in the garden, live music and dancing, meet and greet other festival goers	Narryna Heritage Museum, 103 Hampden Rd, Battery Point	$32
Saturday 30th November
Regency Dance Workshop	11:15 for 11:30am-1:30pm (time to visit Salamanca Markets beforehand)	With live period music and Dancing Master David Wanless. Learn or refresh the basics of Regency dancing for the evening ball, or just have fun with some easy Regency dances. No partner or dancing experience required. Note that you are welcome to attend the evening ball whether or not you have attended this workshop. BYO water bottle.	St James Church Hall, 462 Elizabeth St (off Rupert Ave, enter behind church)	$12/$10
Intermediate Regency and Georgian Dances	2:20 for 2:30-4:30pm	With live period music and Dancing Master David Wanless. Have fun with a variety of lively dances, some for the evening ball and some just because they’re exciting dances. No partner or dancing experience required but if you can make it to the earlier workshop first that would be good. Learn Mundy’s Quadrille for an informal display at the ball. BYO water bottle.	St James Church Hall, 462 Elizabeth St (off Rupert Ave, enter behind church)	$12/$10
Grand Regency Ball	7:15 for 7:30-11:30pm	Grand Regency Ball – dance or enjoy the spectacle Divine period music including many Tasmanian pieces, by Van Diemen’s Angels (harp, piano, fiddle and flute) Dancing Master David Wanless will lead you through an evening of fun and lively dances. No partner or dancing experience required, though attending the morning workshop would make it even more fun. Dress in something period or formal if you can. BYO water bottle and supper to share.	St James Church Hall, 462 Elizabeth St (off Rupert Ave, enter behind church)	$7-22
Sunday 1st December
Regency Garden Party	10:30am-4pm	A day of Regency activities, fine food and tea at the historic Glen Derwent Heritage Retreat in the lovely Derwent valley. Your ticket includes delicious lunch and afternoon tea of period sweet and savoury food and hot and cold drinks, as well as Regency dancing, live music, croquet, a historic tour, maypole dancing, roses, peacocks and heritage sheep to view in the gorgeous grounds and period games to play. Period attire admired but not required. See detailed programme (TBC).	Glen Derwent Heritage Retreat, 44 Hamilton Rd, New Norfolk	$31-81
After Party	6pm, St James Hall	An informal party. Includes vegetarian dinner and refreshments, more music and lively dancing without much teaching. Tickets only available for weekend or Sunday ticket holders.	St James Hall, as per the ball above	$29 (not included in weekend ticket)
Monday 2nd December
Music and History Sail on the Lady Nelson	12:40 for 1-3pm or 3:10 for 3:30-5:30pm	An afternoon sail on the Derwent river on the magnificent tall ship, the Lady Nelson, with refreshments, live music, shanty singing and history. Regency, formal or nautical attire admired but not required. You will also have the opportunity to help haul on a line or two if you so wish. Allow at least half an hour extra if parking a carriage – it is very hard to find a spot.	Elizabeth St Pier, Hobart waterfront	$44/$22 (not included in weekend ticket)
Monday Night Folk Dance – Historically themed contra dances	7:15 for 7:30pm	Our regular Monday night folk dance, this time historically themed Contra Dances, some from the 19th Century. Live music and lots of fun.	St James Hall, as per the ball above	$7-15.

All ages and identities welcome.

See “But darling, I have nothing to wear” for hints on costumes (which are admired but not required).

Tickets: events.humanitix.com/derwentregencyfestival24

View information about the festival on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/517432143657533. Feel free to post your photos there.

Information about finding the venues, and reducing our environmental impact in transport and at the events, is at folktas.org/venuesenv. If you’d like to share transport to the venues, feel free to post a request to our Facebook group, Dance Folk Tasmania, or to talk to other festival goers at the events. If you ask at an event, we can usually make an announcement for you.

We don’t have any relationship with any hotels, but if you look for something between St James in New Town (the Saturday venue) and Narryna in Battery Point (the Friday venue), you’ll be close. There are many buses going past St James to and from central Hobart, and Narryna is a walkable distance from the centre.

There are many other lovely things to do in Hobart and surrounds.  Some places to visit with some Regency relevance are Port Arthur, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery or simply wandering through Battery Point.

Cathy and David, 03 6273 2127, folkdancetas@gmail.com

Folk Federation of Tasmania Inc, folktas.org/regency

Facebook/Meetup: Dance Folk Tasmania

Instagram: folktas

Your tickets support local folk music artists, as well as the venues who support us.

For the Derwent Regency Festival, 2024 see this page.

The dates for the next Derwent Regency Festival are 29th November – 2nd December, 2024.

After the 2023 festival there were requests for more Regency music and dancing events, so we have organised some additional delights.

Come and enjoy a Regency-era picnic in Runnymede’s garden on Sunday 7th January, Noon to 3.00 pm.

Enjoy sitting on the lawn, listening to beautiful music including harp and flute.

Join in the dancing if you wish. All dances will be taught on the day, no experience nor partner needed. Children welcome.

Costume admired but not required.

BYO everything for your own picnic, including rugs/chairs.

Cost: entry fee to Runnymede (Adult $15 | Concession $12 | Child aged 7-16 yrs $5 | National Trust Members & children 6 yrs and under free)

Runnymede is at 61 Bay Rd, New Town and is open from 10am – 3pm. See https://www.nationaltrust.org.au/places/runnymede/. Tours are available.

Folk Federation of Tasmania Inc.

A word from the National Trust, who manage Runnymede:
National Trust Tasmania aims to create a welcoming environment for all staff, volunteers and visitors.

Volunteering for the National Trust enables people to give back to their community, while meeting like-minded visitors from around the world. We also aim to take an inclusive approach to Tasmania’s cultural history including its problematic aspects. Volunteers are at the frontline of caring for aspects of Tasmania’s cultural history and sharing it with visitors.

Volunteers support the National Trust’s museum properties through a range of roles including visitor services, running education tours, events, gardening, research, transcription of historic documents, collection management and conservation housekeeping.

National Trust Tasmania museum properties include:

•        Unshackled – Hobart Penitentiary (cnr of Campbell and Brisbane Street Hobart)
•        Runnymede, New Town
•        Oak Lodge, Richmond
•        Franklin House, Youngtown, Launceston
•        Clarendon, south of Evandale
•        Home Hill at Devonport

We’re going to have a ball, literally – a Regency Ball in Lenah Valley.

What is a ball, but a dance party? They were all the rage during the Regency era, their version of a dance party, with exciting music, lots of fun and a chance to meet people.

After all the fun we had at our Derwent Regency Festival, there were calls for more Regency dancing, so here’s an opportunity.

Wednesday, 17th January, 2024, 7-10pm. Doors open 6:45pm.

Divine and exciting period music including many Tasmanian pieces, by Van Diemen’s Angels (harp, piano, fiddle and flute)

Lively dances from the Regency era, including some Scottish ones and some predecessors of today’s contra dances. Expect to work up a thirst and smile a lot.

All ages and identities are welcome. All dances taught. No partner or dancing experience is required.

Period attire admired but not required. It’s not essential, but it is fun. See https://folktas.org/but-darling-i-have-nothing-to-wear/ for ideas. Alternatively, just wear something nice or fancy.

Lenah Valley Community Hall, 18 Creek Rd, Lenah Valley, Hobart
No pre-bookings. Tickets at the door: $15 adults, $7 children u/12.
Please bring a plate of finger food for supper.
Tea and coffee available.

The picnic proposed to precede the ball will not be proceeding.

Facebook/Meetup: Dance Folk Tasmania
folktas.org/regency
folkdancetas@gmail.com
6273 2127
Folk Federation of Tasmania Inc

All ages and identities welcome.

See “But darling, I have nothing to wear” for hints on costumes (which are admired but not required).

Information about finding the venues, and reducing our environmental impact in transport and at the events, is at folktas.org/venuesenv. If you’d like to share transport to the venues, feel free to post a request to our Facebook group, Dance Folk Tasmania, or to talk to other people at the events. If you ask at an event, we can usually make an announcement for you.

There are many other lovely things to do in Hobart and surrounds.  Some places to visit with some Regency relevance are Port Arthur, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery or simply wandering through Battery Point.

Cathy and David, 03 6273 2127, folkdancetas@gmail.com

Folk Federation of Tasmania Inc, folktas.org/regency

Facebook/Meetup: Dance Folk Tasmania

Instagram: folktas

Your tickets support local folk music artists, as well as the venues who support us.

For the 2024 festival, see this page.

For Regency events in Hobart, January 2024, see this page.

The Derwent Regency festival is over for another year, and what a grand and festive occasion it was. Thanks so much to everyone who attended for your enthusiastic dancing, splendid outfits, help, smiles, music, singing, games, conversation and company. We are also extremely grateful to the folk of Narryna, St James, Glen Derwent, Annapurna’s, the Lady Nelson and Zafira’s, for the lovely venues, historic information and fine food and drinks.

You may find some interesting portraits at
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1096303394999945&type=3

Thanks to those who contributed portraits. If anyone has any concerns about any of the portraits, please contact us on folkdancetas@gmail.com.

Next year’s festival will be on 29th November – 2nd December, 2024.

Details for 2023 follow.

Friday 24th November (5pm) – Monday 27th November (5:30pm)

Hobart and New Norfolk, Van Diemen’s Land

Celebrate the Regency era in style and fun with a Regency evening at Narryna Heritage Museum, dance workshops and a Grand Regency Ball in the fine St James Church Hall in New Town, a Garden Party of Regency activities at the historic Glen Derwent Estate, New Norfolk, and a music and history sail on the majestic tall ship, the Lady Nelson. Four days of fun, food, fine music, dancing and general frivolity.

Tickets: events.humanitix.com/derwentregencyfestival
Entry conditions, health and safety, inclusion: folktas.org/conditions

What a wonderful weekend we had in 2022. You can see some photos here and here.

Here are the details for 2023.

Draft programme – subject to minor changes. Download printable version of the weekend’s programme (here) and the Regency Garden Party programme (here).

ACTIVITY	TIME	DESCRIPTION	LOCATION	PRICE
Friday 24th November
Georgian and Regency Evening at Narryna Heritage Museum	5-7:30pm	Regency costume showings, exhibition, tours of Narryna house (1830s merchant house), refreshments in the garden, live music, meet and greet other festival goers	Narryna Heritage Museum, 103 Hampden Rd, Battery Point	$30
Possible communal dinner in Battery Point	7:30pm+	No longer happening	N/A	Pay the venue, $TBA
Saturday 25th November
Regency Dance Workshop	11:15 for 11:30am-1:30pm (time to visit Salamanca Markets beforehand)	With live period music and Dancing Master David Wanless. Learn or refresh the basics of Regency dancing for the evening ball, or just have fun with some easy Regency dances. No partner or dancing experience required. Note that you are welcome to attend the evening ball whether or not you have attended this workshop. BYO water bottle.	St James Church Hall, 462 Elizabeth St (off Rupert Ave, enter behind church)	$12/$10
Intermediate Regency and Georgian Dances	2:20 for 2:30-4:30pm	With live period music and Dancing Master David Wanless. Have fun with a variety of lively dances, some for the evening ball and some just because they’re exciting dances. No partner or dancing experience required but if you can make it to the earlier workshop first that would be good. Learn Mundy’s Quadrille for an informal display at the ball. BYO water bottle.	St James Church Hall, 462 Elizabeth St (off Rupert Ave, enter behind church)	$12/$10
Grand Regency Ball	7:15 for 7:30-11:30pm	Grand Regency Ball – dance or enjoy the spectacle Divine period music including many Tasmanian pieces, by Van Diemen’s Angels (harp, piano, fiddle and flute) Dancing Master David Wanless will lead you through an evening of fun and lively dances. No partner or dancing experience required, though attending the morning workshop would make it even more fun. Dress in something period or formal if you can. BYO water bottle and supper to share.	St James Church Hall, 462 Elizabeth St (off Rupert Ave, enter behind church)	$7-$22
Sunday 26th November
Regency Garden Party	10:30am-4pm	A day of Regency activities, fine food and tea at the historic Glen Derwent Heritage Retreat in the lovely Derwent valley. Your ticket includes delicious lunch and afternoon tea of period sweet and savoury food and hot and cold drinks, as well as Regency dancing, live music, croquet, a historic tour, maypole dancing, roses, peacocks and heritage sheep to view in the gorgeous grounds and period games to play. Period attire admired but not required. See detailed programme (TBC).	Glen Derwent Heritage Retreat, 44 Hamilton Rd, New Norfolk	$31-73
After Party	4pm onwards, Glen Derwent, then 6pm in town	Wind down at Glen Derwent, then at 6pm, an informal party in Hobart. Includes vegetarian dinner and refreshments, more music and lively dancing without much teaching. Tickets only available for weekend or Sunday ticket holders.	Glen Derwent, then St James Hall, as per the ball above	$25 (not included in weekend ticket)
Monday 27th November
Music and History Sail on the Lady Nelson	12:40 for 1-3pm or 3:10 for 3:30-5:30pm	An afternoon sail on the Derwent river on the magnificent tall ship, the Lady Nelson, with refreshments, live music, singing (including sea shanties) and history. Regency, formal or nautical attire admired but not required. You will also have the opportunity to help haul on a line or two if you so wish. Allow at least half an hour extra if parking a car – it is very hard to find a spot.	Elizabeth St Pier, Hobart waterfront	$42/$21 (not included in weekend ticket)
Communal Dinner	7pm	Monday evening: Monday evening: Communal dinner at Zafira’s – delicious Afghan food supporting the local Afghani community. Please book here so we know numbers for catering. Pay the venue.	Zafira Fine Foods, 35 Gormanston Rd, Moonah	$30. Pay the venue on arrival.

All ages and identities welcome.

See “But darling, I have nothing to wear” for hints on costumes (which are admired but not required).

View information about the festival on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/517432143657533. Feel free to post your photos there.

Information about finding the venues, and reducing our environmental impact in transport and at the events, is at folktas.org/venuesenv. If you’d like to share transport to the venues, feel free to post a request to our Facebook group, Dance Folk Tasmania, or to talk to other festival goers at the events. If you ask at an event, we can usually make an announcement for you.

We don’t have any relationship with any hotels, but if you look for something between St James in New Town (the Saturday venue) and Narryna in Battery Point (the Friday venue), you’ll be close. There are many buses going past St James to and from central Hobart, and Narryna is a walkable distance from the centre.

There are many other lovely things to do in Hobart and surrounds.  Some places to visit with some Regency relevance are Port Arthur, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery or simply wandering through Battery Point.

Cathy and David, 03 6273 2127, folkdancetas@gmail.com

Folk Federation of Tasmania Inc, folktas.org/regency

Facebook/Meetup: Dance Folk Tasmania

Instagram: folktas

Your tickets support local folk music artists, as well as the venues who support us.

For the 2023 festival, see this page.

Well, the festival is over for another year, and what a grand and festive occasion it was. Thanks so much to everyone who attended for your enthusiastic dancing, splending outfits, help, smiles, singing, games, conversation and company. We are also extremely grateful to the folk of Narryna, St James, Glen Derwent, Annapurna’s, the Lady Nelson and Zafira’s, for the lovely venues and fine food and drinks.

You may find some interesting portraits at
https://www.facebook.com/media/set?set=oa.1366626427483881&type=3
and
https://ausact.com/DerwentRegencyFestival.html

Thanks to those who contributed portraits. If anyone has any concerns about any of the portraits, please contact us on folkdancetas@gmail.com.

Next year’s festival will be on 24th-27th November, 2023.

Details for 2022 follow.

Friday 25th November (5pm) – Monday 28th November (5:30pm)

Hobart and New Norfolk, Van Diemen’s Land

Celebrate the Regency era in style and fun with a Regency evening at Narryna Heritage Museum, dance workshops and a Grand Regency Ball in the fine St James Church Hall in New Town, a Garden Party of Regency activities at the historic Glen Derwent Estate, New Norfolk, and a music and history sail on the majestic tall ship, the Lady Nelson. Four days of fun, food, fine music, dancing and general frivolity. There are some slight changes from last year due to changes at a couple of the venues.

Tickets: events.humanitix.com/derwentregencyfestival
Entry conditions: folktas.org/conditions

What a wonderful weekend we had in 2021. You can see some photos here.

Here are the details for 2022.

Draft programme – subject to minor changes. Download printable version of the weekend’s programme (here) and the Regency Garden Party programme (here).

ACTIVITY	TIME	DESCRIPTION	LOCATION	PRICE
Friday 25th November
Georgian and Regency Evening at Narryna Heritage Museum	5-7:30pm	Regency costume showings, exhibition, tours of Narryna house (1830s merchant house), refreshments in the garden, maypole dancing and live music, meet and greet other festival goers	Narryna Heritage Museum, 103 Hampden Rd, Battery Point	$23
Dinner at Narryna	7:30pm+	Two varieties of soup, bread rolls and pastries. Mulled wine will also be available. Please let us know if you are interested, via the booking page.	Narryna	Pay the venue, $15
Saturday 26th November
Regency Dance Workshop	11:15 for 11:30am-1:30pm (time to visit Salamanca Markets beforehand)	With live period music and Dancing Master David Wanless. Learn or refresh the basics of Regency dancing for the evening ball, or just have fun with some easy Regency dances. No partner or dancing experience required. Note that you are welcome to attend the evening ball whether or not you have attended this workshop. BYO water bottle.	St James Church Hall, 462 Elizabeth St (off Rupert Ave, enter behind church)	$12/$10
Intermediate Regency and Georgian Dances	2:20 for 2:30-4:30pm	With live period music and Dancing Master David Wanless. Have fun with a variety of lively dances, some for the evening ball and some just because they’re exciting dances. No partner or dancing experience required but if you can make it to the earlier workshop first that would be good. Learn Mundy’s Quadrille for an informal display at the ball. BYO water bottle.	St James Church Hall, 462 Elizabeth St (off Rupert Ave, enter behind church)	$12/$10
Grand Regency Ball	7:15 for 7:30-11:30pm	Grand Regency Ball – dance or enjoy the spectacle Divine period music including many Tasmanian pieces, by Van Diemen’s Angels (harp, piano, fiddle and flute) Dancing Masters David Wanless and Katherine Tammaro will lead you through an evening of fun and lively dances. No partner or dancing experience required, though attending the morning workshop would make it even more fun. Dress in something period or formal if you can. BYO water bottle and supper to share.	St James Church Hall, 462 Elizabeth St (off Rupert Ave, enter behind church)	$7-$22
Sunday 27th November
Regency Garden Party	10:30am-4pm	A day of Regency activities, fine food and tea at the historic Glen Derwent Heritage Retreat in the lovely Derwent valley. Your ticket includes delicious lunch and afternoon tea of period sweet and savoury food and hot and cold drinks, as well as Regency dancing, live music, croquet, historic tours, maypole dancing, roses, peacocks and heritage sheep to view in the gorgeous grounds and period games to play. Period attire admired but not required. See detailed programme here.	Glen Derwent Heritage Retreat, 44 Hamilton Rd, New Norfolk	$29-64
After Party	4pm onwards, Glen Derwent, then 6pm in town	Wind down at Glen Derwent, then at 6pm, an informal party in Hobart. Includes vegetarian dinner and refreshments, more music and lively dancing without much teaching. Tickets only available for weekend or Sunday ticket holders.	Glen Derwent, then St James Hall, as per the ball above	$25 (not included in weekend ticket)
Monday 28th November
Music and History Cruise on the Lady Nelson	12:40 for 1-3pm and 3:10 for 3:30-5:30pm	An afternoon sail on the Derwent river on the magnificent tall ship, the Lady Nelson, with refreshments, live music, singing (including sea shanties) and history. Regency, formal or nautical attire admired but not required. See if you can outdress the crew, but be warned – some of them may be pirates. You will also have the opportunity to help haul on a line or two if you so wish. Allow at least half an hour extra if parking a car – it is very hard to find a spot.	Elizabeth St Pier, Hobart waterfront	$40/$20 (not included in weekend ticket)

See “But darling, I have nothing to wear” for hints on costumes (which are admired but not required).

View information about the festival on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/489049142881562. Feel free to post your photos there.

Information about finding the venues, and reducing our environmental impact in transport and at the events, is at folktas.org/venuesenv/

There are many other lovely things to do in Hobart and surrounds.  Some places to visit with some Regency relevance are Port Arthur, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery or simply wandering through Battery Point.

Cathy and David, 03 6273 2127, folkdancetas@gmail.com

Folk Federation of Tasmania Inc, folktas.org/regency

Facebook/Meetup: Dance Folk Tasmania

Instagram: folktas

Your tickets support local folk music artists, as well as the venues who support us.