At least eight bonfires will be lit around Mount Canobolas when Orange’s first Winter Fire Festival erupts into life next month.
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About 15 events around Orange, Nashdale, Millthorpe, Carcoar, Eugowra, Molong and Cargo are planned over three days from August 3-5.
The highlight will be several Saturday night events that will include food, wine and entertainment including stargazing.
Orange 360 general manager Caddie Marshall said it was “a pilot year” for what was hoped would become an annual winter festival.
“We used to have Frost Fest and we wanted to bring back a winter festival,” she said.
“We wanted to make it nice and warm and cosy.
“We love being around a bonfire.”
She said there would be bonfires at ticketed events and also on properties around the mountain which people could drive around to see.
Ms Marshall said the aim was to have the bonfires big enough that people could see more than one from a venue.
Participating venues have each chosen different activities to celebrate the festival alongside food and wine on site.
She said De Salis Wines would have an ancestral dinner featuring a five course feast.
It is encouraging people to dress up to suit the feel of the 1802 event.
The Canobolas Dance Hall will host a night of wassailing where the grape vines and apple and cherry orchards would be blessed accompanied by live entertainment.
Indigenous astronomy will be celebrated at Fires in the Sky at Dindima Wines where telescopes will be provided for families to learn about the skies from astronomers Trevor and Tina Leaman.
Stargazing is also the theme at Nashdale Lane Wines where a large telescope and budding astronomer Matt Dodds will be on site.
And Montoro Wines will be offering mulled wine to warm up festival-goers watching the stars at its bonfire night.
The festival kicks off on Friday August 3 at the Millthorpe Night Market with music from Smith and Jones.
Ms Marshall said a bus, costing $20, will run from the Orange Visitor Centre to the markets and return.
Also on Friday Ross Hill Wines will host the Fiery Friday food and wine event by its outdoor fireplace.
Other activities include a poetry and camp oven night in Molong, a camp oven cook off day at Eugowra, markets at Cargo and Sunday lunchs.
Details at www.orangewinterfirefestival.com.au
David Fitzsimons
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
