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.