Tasmania's Dark Mofo Festival Kicks Off with Provocative Art and Food

Tasmania's iconic winter arts and music festival Dark Mofo, including the first evening of the Winter Feast banquet, kicks off today.

The midwinter festival run by the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) is known for its provocative installations, large-scale parties and subversive art and music.

Organisers say more than 55,000 tickets have been sold so far, while popular events such as Night Mass and the Nude Solstice Swim have sold out.

Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said Dark Mofo brought "so much excitement in the local community and economic development" and was worth about $31 million to the local economy.

One of the new Spirit of Tasmania ferries will host a free public art installation, while a "blood red horse" will be ridden around Hobart by a "muzzled and uniformed" man.

The Ogoh Ogoh will also return, allowing people to write their fears on a piece of paper and place them inside a totem-like sculpture to be ritualistically burned.

This year's Ogoh Ogoh will be a giant Pedra Branca skink, an endangered lizard endemic to Pedra Branca Island, off Tasmania's south coast.

The event runs until June 22, concluding with the Nude Solstice Swim.

Possum on the menu at Winter Feast

Organisers expect more than 100,000 people to attend the Winter Feast, which runs from Thursday to Sunday both weeks of the festival.

Michelin-star chef Floriano Pellegrino and Roberto Mele from artisanal Hobart bakery MAMA will be the feast's "guest chefs", serving up dishes such as a traditional Italian broad bean puree and limoncello foam, served in the mould of a kiss.

"That sort of combination of art and food … which is a key part of what we want to do."

They will be joined at the feast by 74 other local stallholders from across the state, with 40 per cent first timers.

"The main thing is keeping it really new and fresh every year and making sure that we're opening up that opportunity to as many Tasmanian businesses as possible to showcase what they do," Ms Vallis said.

Among the eclectic menu options are "responsibly harvested" possum bao buns from South Wine Bar and olive oil ice cream from Canopy Ice Cream.

Free events on offer

While many of the festival's events are ticketed, Dark Mofo executive director Melissa Edwards said there were free options too.

"Every year we run Dark Park, and that's the heart of our free public art program," she said.

"We really try and balance our program with a mix of free events and paid opportunities as well."

Hobart City Council has paid the festival to waive the cost of entry to the Winter Feast on its final night, June 21.

Entrance to the feast is free after 9pm and for under 16s, otherwise costing between $12 and $24.

Cr Reynolds said the council is providing $200,000 a year for three years to the festival, along with additional in-kind support, like traffic management and access to council properties.

"The whole winter events, winter festivals piece is such an important part of Hobart's place in the world. It really celebrates our creativity," she said.