INDUSTRY FEATURE Celebrating Northern Hospitality
Northern Tasmania’s iconic annual food festival is set to return for it’s sixth year in October, but what is it about NORTH Festival that’s makes it a must- do for so many local hospitality businesses? Inspired by Launceston’s bid to become a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, NORTH Festival was launched in 2021 as a pilot project to activate Launceston’s city centre by showcasing the local food culture and community. Returning for its sixth year in 2026, NORTH has grown to become a highly anticipated annual festival that drives significant visitation and expenditure for the city’s hospitality businesses. With that UNESCO designation now firmly under our belts, NORTH Festival sets itself aside from other festivals by making provenance a core feature in its programming. All event themes, ingredients, and content must be ‘sufficiently Tasmanian’ to be considered for inclusion, with the aim that the majority are northern Tasmanian specifically. This inherent connection to place ensures NORTH patrons have a rich and authentic experience that is unique to Launceston/northern Tasmania and can’t be replicated elsewhere.
The event is led by Launceston Central, a small not- for-profit engaged by City of Launceston to deliver a range of services to the CBD across three core areas: Destination Marketing, Place Activation and Facilitation. Launceston Central’s CEO, Gabrielle Dicarlantonio, explains: “Unlike other food events, NORTH does not take place in a single location but instead encourages
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Tasmanian Hospitality Review August/September Edition
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