In a devastating blow to our summer plans, the iconic Taste of Tasmania Festival 2020 is set to be shelved. Hobart’s premiere food and wine festival is just the latest in a long list of events which have felt the pinch of COVID-19 social distancing and budget constraints.
This event has been in our lives for the last 30 years, acting as the focal point for summer celebrations and the end for the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.
But now, Hobart City Council are said to be pulling the pin on the Taste of Tasmania Festival 2020. COVID-19 has significantly impacted the Council’s overall budget and businesses won’t be forking out as much this year in commercial sponsorship – so it’d be a recipe for financial disaster if it were to proceed.
Ongoing social distancing restrictions, rules around large gatherings and ongoing travel bans have also played a part in the decision to cancel the event for this year. With so much uncertainty, it’s hard to plan an event of this size with any clarity.
So, where does that leave us? Well we’ll need to spend our summer eating at one of Tassie’s amazing cafes or restaurants, soaking up the sun at one of Hobart’s best beaches, hiking to the top of a Tasmanian mountain or learning a new hobby like photography.
The final decision will be made on Monday. In the meantime, let’s all keep our fingers crossed for the return of the great Taste of Tasmania festival next year!
