The 2026 Tasmanian Craft Fair kicks off next week in Deloraine and is the largest display, sale and working demonstration of all types of crafts in the Southern Hemisphere, but it’s been revealed the 2026 event is the last of its kind.
This week on iHeart Tassie, I spoke to Director Stephanie Johnston about why this popular event, which has been delighting crowds for 45 years, is drawing to a close.
“Over the past four and a half decades, the Tasmanian Craft Fair has evolved from a single-venue display into a major multi-venue event spanning the town of Deloraine. Throughout its history, the Fair has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support essential community projects locally and internationally.
“While Rotarians have worked tirelessly to deliver the Fair each year, the extensive effort required has become increasingly difficult due to an aging membership base and a shrinking pool of volunteers.
“The board has decided the 2026 event will be the last of its kind,”Ms Johnston said.
After this year’s event, the club says it will take time to reflect on the fair’s “legacy” and explore a new identity and vision for it.
“We are taking 2027 off, and maybe we will see what will come of it in 2028. If someone comes in with a fresh vision we might be able to hold something, but we are just not sure at the moment.”
Ms Johnston defended the Rotary Club’s decision not to give 2026 exhibitors an update prior to media being told.
“The stallholders found out via the media release. I’m not reading anything – I made that decision. The board make our decisions, that’s just how it is,” she said.
The average age of volunteers in the club is over 75 years old. There are no younger people coming through. Volunteers just aren’t around anymore – our volunteers belong to a community group, like the Meander Progressive Society – and we actually pay them. The word ‘volunteer’ doesn’t actually mean what it used to mean.”
Mayor of the Meander Valley Council Wayne Johnston says the Council is saddened the Fair is coming to end, with the event drawing crowds from far and wide since 1981.
“We are disappointed obviously as a community but fully understand the decision that was made on the back of it certainly being harder and harder for the organisation to get volunteers to front up and that’s just volunteering in general.
“The Craft Fair is probably the biggest weekend for Deloraine, for the shopkeepers, the residents and the Northern region because over those three days there are lot of people who go to enjoy the sights and sounds of Deloraine.”
“The Council is at arm’s length to the Fair, but we are fully supportive of the event. If a different event is held in the future, we would be fully on board with that,” he said.
The Spirit of Tasmania ferry isn’t running in the lead up to the event due to a week-long handover between the old and the new vessels from October 23 and October 30.
Despite this, Stephanie Johnston says there is a very strong cohort of Tasmanian vendors and makers this year.
“There will be 238 stallholders including 195 craft exhibitors and 43 food and beverage exhibitors,” she said.
More than 20,000 attendees are expected to flock to Deloraine from October 30 to November 1, with more than half of those from outside the northern region.
For more information or to book tickets, visit www.tascraftfair.com.au.
