Discounted weekend and early bird tickets are available here: events.humanitix.com/derwentregencyfestival24
Friday 29th November (5pm) – Monday 2nd December (9:30pm)
Hobart and surrounds, 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/History Party of Regency activities and food on the Sunday, 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/History Party | c. 10:30am-4pm | A day of Regency activities, fine food, cream tea and history. Enjoy Regency country dancing, live music, a historic tour, maypole dancing and period games. Period attire admired but not required. Sadly, at short notice, Glen Derwent is shutting so we have found another two lovely locations and are finalising our choice and details. Watch this space, but it’ll be a grand day in either location. See detailed programme (TBC). | TBC | $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.
Note: It is with great regret that we say goodbye to Glen Derwent, where we held our garden party in previous years. Sadly, Glen Derwent is closing. We offer a heartfelt sympathy and thanks to Liz and Rob who have been such wonderful hosts for years. We will still have a grand time at another lovely venue, but thank you so much for the wonderful times we’ve had at Glen Derwent.
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 portraits and details of the 2023 festival, see here.