Northern Tasmania's New Year will be brought in with a celebration of Tasmania's finest beer, cider, wine, and gourmet street food.
The seventh annual BeerFest kicks off in Launceston's Royal Park on New Year's Eve.
Minister for Sports and Events, Nick Duigan, said the Tasmanian Government had locked in the iconic event's future until 2026, as part of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future.
"The Tasmanian Government is pleased to support BeerFest with $150,000 in funding for the delivery of Launceston BeerFest New Year's Eve events in 2024, 2025 and 2026, as well as $100,000 through Events Tasmania's Regional Event Recovery Fund from 2021 to 2025," Minister Duigan said.
BeerFest's annual New Year's Eve event is a drawcard for visitors far and wide.
"Tasmania boasts many world-class craft breweries, and it's great to have an event that recognises the fruits of such a hard-working industry," Minister Duigan said.
"The anticipated return on investment based on the level of visitation over three-years is 12:1.
"Food and beverage festivals such as BeerFest, and the Taste of Summer in the South, are thriving in Tasmania, and they draw in visitors who then go on to explore our regions."
This year's event has 44 local food and beverage stalls, featuring everything from local beer and wine to cuisine from around the world.
The festival site also boasts an excellent view of the 9:30pm and midnight New Year's Eve fireworks.
"It's fantastic to have a New Year's Eve event with a program full of entertainment for the whole family, and I encourage everyone to come and celebrate the year that was at BeerFest," Minister Duigan said.
City of Launceston Mayor Matthew Garwood said Launceston's signature New Year's Eve event was guaranteed to deliver a fantastic experience for attendees young and old again this year.
"Coming together as a community to celebrate New Year's Eve has become a wonderful tradition for thousands of Northern residents, including myself and my family," Mayor Garwood said.
"The Council is very proud to support this important event with a funding contribution of $46,000 annually over three years through to 2026 as part of our special event sponsorship program.
"One of the things that makes this New Year's Eve party so special is the two fireworks shows with the first at 9.30pm for families with children to enjoy, followed by the time-honoured tradition of a midnight blast to ring in the New Year.
"We're very happy to have the Beerfest crew back in Launceston for what's sure to be another great event everyone can enjoy."
Festival Co-Director, James Harding, said the event on New Year' Eve in Launceston celebrates creativity, diversity and all things that make Tasmania great.
"We are committed to delivering an inclusive celebration for everyone. These new initiatives ensure that all attendees can enjoy the incredible food, drink, and entertainment on offer, while continuing to support local artists and the broader community," Mr Harding said.
"We are excited to continue growing the festival's impact. Our goal is to develop and expand the BeerFest offering while enhancing regional reach and inclusivity. This vision reflects our commitment to delivering exceptional experiences for all attendees and driving meaningful benefits for our community.
"We are so thankful for funding commitment by the Tasmanian State Government that will allow us to continue deliver such a high calibre event and showcase the best of Launceston and Tasmania to the rest of the world."
BeerFest runs at Royal Park, Launceston on Tuesday, 31 December. Tickets are now on sale at launceston.beerfestivals.com.au
