Time to head south for Tasmania's largest annual event.

The Taste Festival (28 December 2010 to 3 January 2011) will this year be held in the newly transformed waterfront warehouse at Salamanca. A new Taste program offers festival goers the opportunity to not only sample the best food, wine, beer and beverages in Tasmania – the festival’s theme is Sensational Taste — but to learn about the journey of food from paddock to plate.

The program includes:

- A new Taste Theatre for food and wine programs, lectures and guided tastings;
- A new program of “Red Cap” escorted and themed (sparkling wine, aquaculture etc) group tours of the Taste;
- A new precinct featuring Tasmania’s burgeoning craft brewing and cider making industry along with matched foods;
- A new Retail Alley where visitors can buy Tasmanian products;
- A new Cafe District where people can meet friends at serviced tables for great coffee and pastries;
- Two new VIP corporate entertaining areas.

Kids in the Park on Hobart’s Parliament House Lawns will offer activities — family outdoor board games, cooking classes for children, jumping castles and children’s rides — for kids and families.

The Taste Festival is held at the same time as the Sydney to Hobart, the Melbourne to Hobart and the Launceston to Hobart yacht races and the mood on the waterfront is always enlivened by celebrating yachties.

MORE INFORMATION: www.tastefestival.com.au