Media release – Latrobe Council, 30 June 2021
After due consideration, event reconfiguration and risk assessments, Latrobe Council regrets to advise that Tasmania’s annual Chocolate Winterfest Latrobe, is the latest in a long line of community events to be cancelled due to the coronavirus protocols and guidelines.
This annual winter festival has encouraged patrons to be indulged, informed, astounded, amused but above all else, to celebrate chocolate since 2004 and was this year due to have been held on 8 August.
Traditionally, Chocolate Winterfest Latrobe involves upwards of 40 events being held at 28+ venues in and around the town of Latrobe with approximately 8,000+ patrons (pre COVID) walking between those venues and shuttle bussed to the outlying venues.
“Significant time and effort was invested in attempting to present this festival in a safe and viable way that continues to delight patrons as they escape from the bleakness of winter.
Despite there being no COVID cases in Tasmania for quite some time, the ongoing requirements, particularly density constraints, continue to impact venues and significantly reduce patron capacity that ultimately challenged the viability of the festival. This was further compounded with many favourite chocolate activities unable to be provided in their traditional format and with little or no ability to provide alternative options that would result in the same level of patron satisfaction.
Following advice that the festival would be classed as a Level 3 event due to a requirement to manage the interaction of people in the street, it was felt that the credibility of the festival was compromised to such an extent that it could not be reasonably staged this year”, said Latrobe Council’s Mayor Peter Freshney.
While it is hoped that Chocolate Winterfest, Latrobe will return in 2022, there remain many winter activities throughout the Latrobe municipality for social engagement, including some that involve chocolate as their inspiration i.e. chocolate poetry competition, High Tea etc. Full details are available online at https://www.latrobe.tas.gov.au/community/event-calendar.
In acknowledgement of the work already invested by artists in creating chocolate inspired costumes, council is sponsoring the judges $500 prize in a Chocolate Wonders of Wearable Art Trail that will be presented in shop windows throughout Latrobe. Entrant registrations close on 16 July with entry forms and full details available at www.latrobe.tas.gov.au.
