Viking feasts, fireworks, ice-skating, bonfires: heating-up Winter Fire Fest

An expanded nine-day program of events for the 2022 Orange Winter Fire Festival from August 5–14, means there’s even more fiery good fun to be had this winter.

Ice-skating and fireworks, mulled wine and music, and a meaty Viking feast — this year’s Winter Fire Festival is all about showcasing the best of the frost season in Orange.

 “Our region really sets itself apart, because we are an all-year-round destination, anchored by each of the four seasons, and each of our seasons has a festival,” Orange360 General Manager, Caddie Marshall said in officially launching the Winter Festival last Thursday..

“The Festival offers the opportunity for visitors to the region to experience a true Australian country winter that you just can’t get in the city. Frosty mornings, snow-dusted mountain caps, and taking in the clear night sky in front of a big, roaring bonfire.”

After the past two COVID-affected years, the 2022 program has been expanded to nine days, August 5–14, which means more opportunities for visitors to experience the Festival for themselves, Caddie said.

“[It’s] making sure people get to come out and enjoy winter in all of its fiery fun! We really want people to go out and enjoy the season, whilst nestling in around the beautiful bonfires.

“What we want to do is to make sure that people come and experience our region every season, and that's why we do have a festival every season, because we want them to be able to come all year round.”

Kicking off this year’s festivities are the night markets held in the historic village of Millthorpe, where you can sample the best from local producers, wineries, and businesses, while soaking up the vibe with live music and fireworks.

A real treat for families this year will be the unique, muscle-aching fun, of ice skating that will be available throughout the weekend

“It is a fantastic event, fun for the entire family,” Caddie said. “This year, there will be skating, but, once again, they will be having fireworks — definitely worth heading out to the village of Millthorpe!” 

Another new addition to the Winter Fire Festival will be the Viking-themed feasts at the Oriana Hotel, where the Festival was launched last week 

Held on two weekends — Saturday, August 6 and Saturday, August 13 – attendees are invited to don furs and armour (swords optional) and enjoy a hearty Viking feast.

“We are encouraging people to dress up in all their best fur and Viking gear, and we'll have lots of fire pits, torches – I'm putting on a big feast, very meaty being a Viking feast, and it will be a whole evening of mulled wine and mead and wine and beer and all the bubbles!” said Oriana Hotel owner, Espen Harbitz.

“I think it is going to be really, really good fun. It is the first time we are doing something with a Scandinavian theme and me being Norwegian, of course, it is something that we have thought about for a while.”

The Winter Fire Festival Program is loaded with other events from the family-friendly Field Days Big Bonfire afternoon to cosy fireside evenings of wine and delicious local food.

But don’t forget to book, Caddie said.

“We are hearing some of the events are already starting to sell-out and we are only just launching today,” she said at the launch last week.

“We encourage you to invite friends and family to really celebrate this year's Winter Fire Festival… but make sure you are booking into your winter fire festival event, booking your restaurants and making sure that everyone has a good time.”

Head to the Orange360 website (www.orange360.com.au) and see all there is to explore and enjoy.