This August, the Orange Region invites you to fill your weekend – and your cup – with creativity, music and artistic outings. From 1-10 August, the Fire Festival returns, glowing brighter each year with inspirational arts events to warm up the Winter season.
Fire Festival 2025 has attracted new talent, new ideas and events and a growing audience looking to ward off the winter gloom. There is plenty of familiar fun to be had in this region known primarily for food and wine – but the Orange Region Fire Festival has a firm focus on showcasing local creatives on every level. Artists, musicians, authors and performers have joined wine makers, chefs and venue hosts to create an exciting series of collaborations and festival events over the 10-day program.
The festival opener is the ever-popular Millthorpe Fire Fair. The Fire Fair centres along Millthorpe’s picture-perfect heritage listed Pym St. The streets are lit with fire pits and street entertainers, joined by local providores, wineries, cider makers, brewers and Millthorpe’s local businesses. Good vibes are guaranteed with multiple sets of live music, marshmallow roasting, kid’s activities, late-night boutique shopping – all part of the attraction of the festival’s opening night. Friday 1st August.
“The elements of fire, warmth and light are threaded throughout the festival and the region’s growing artistic and cultural talent comes to the fore through a program brimming with new events and collaborations”. says Ned Sweetapple General Manager of Orange360.
2025 Orange Region Fire Festival program is a vibrant mix of broad artistic entertainment and immersive experiences:
• Talented authors Debra Oswald, Kyra Geddes, Mark Dapin and Kely Rimmer are part of the Orange Readers & Writers festival line up; local ceramicists Jude Keogh and Ruth Byrne, silversmith Skye Bragg and Chef Michael Manners, lead workshops and hands-on masterclasses; and learning new skills and talents such as jam making, weaving, creating art from gathered materials, wreath making from Sydney florist, Bess Scott and artist led painting classes are all on offer across the festival program.
• If you’re less about doing and more about artistic appreciation, get along to “Firekeepers” short film by Jack Steele, the Blaze of Creativity Art Community Exhibition, Ros Auld’s Figure and Landscape series and the Mini Series Art Prize and Exhibition – on show from 1 – 10 August at the Hillside Harvest, Orange Regional Gallery the Cornerstore Gallery.
• Performance and live music will set the festival alight promising solid local talent and a line up and touring artists and bands in various events. Visitors such as Australian bands Boo Seeka and Rum Jungle, and the Pink Floyd tribute show mingle with top regional performers such as The Handpicked Band, Clancy Pye, Trouble with Johnny, Sam Coon and Lueth Ajak.
• If you just want to feast and drink and dance join the annual Wassail at Small Acres Cider, Ross Hill Wines at the Oriana’s Peacock Room for a long winter luncheon, the Strawhouse Wines Shindig, Rowlee Wine’s Sunday Session, the Union Bank’s Tajaddud Lebanese Feast, Wood fired Pizza and Wines at Mayfield, slow roasted pork ‘ember feast’ in the Hillside orchard, the Alchemy of Earth Fire Food and Wine, Festa del Fuoco at Fiorini’s and a fireside Union Bank collaboration “Food over Fire” at Nashdale Lane Wines
“Food and wine venues become performance spaces and cultural venues open their doors to fire-inspired dining and performance, artisan events, artistic workshops, art exhibitions, wine events, storytelling and film screenings.”
“And, it wouldn’t be a Fire Festival without the fun and warmth of bonfires, outdoor fire pits and indoor open fires all made more alluring with welcoming Orange Region hospitality.” Ned added.
“Fire Festival is the Orange Region’s antidote to winter. We want locals and visitors to come out to play.” Ned said.
For the full program and bookings visit orange360.com.au/Orange-Region-Fire-Festival
