There’s something about an open fire in winter that cuts through everything. The noise, the cold, the ordinary. And for ten days every August, the Orange Region leans into that feeling completely, building an entire festival around it.

The Orange Region Fire Festival runs from Friday 7 August to Sunday 16 August 2026, and it is genuinely one of the most distinctive winter events in regional NSW. This isn’t a single-venue affair with a main stage and a beer tent. It’s a ten-day program spread across Orange, Blayney and Cabonne. Wineries become performance spaces, historic streets fill with fire pits, and local producers, artists and musicians come together in a way that feels entirely organic to the region.

If you’ve been looking for a reason to visit Orange in winter, this is it.

We’re based right in the heart of Orange at de Russie Boutique Hotel, and we look forward to Fire Festival every year. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your visit.

TL;DR: The Orange Region Fire Festival runs 7–16 August 2026 across Orange, Blayney and Cabonne. Expect winery dinners, truffle hunts, fire-lit markets, art workshops and live music. Book your accommodation and ticketed events early — the intimate experiences sell out fast.

Each August, the Orange Region’s Fire Festival showcases local artists, musicians and producers through a series of collaborations spanning a ten-day program. The concept is beautifully simple: fire, warmth and light as a unifying thread, woven through food, wine, art, music and community.

What makes it special is the way it uses the whole region as its venue. Food and wine venues become performance spaces. Cultural venues open their doors to fire-inspired dining, artistic workshops and film screenings. The result is something that feels less like a ticketed event and more like the entire region coming alive for winter.

The festival is organised by Orange360 and spans venues across Orange, Blayney and Cabonne, with events ranging from free community gatherings to intimate ticketed experiences.

“Reconnect, be curious and let the region’s country hospitality do what it does best. The perfect antidote to winter.” — Orange360

Key Details at a Glance

• Dates: Friday 7 August to Sunday 16 August 2026
• Locations: Various venues across Orange, Blayney and Cabonne
• Event types: Food and wine events, live music, art workshops, film screenings, markets, truffle hunts and more
• Accessibility: The festival welcomes people with access needs; contact individual event organisers for details
• Full program: Available at orange360.com.au

The 2026 program is packed. Whether you’re after a long, leisurely winery lunch or a hands-on creative workshop, there’s something worth building your itinerary around. Here are some of the standout events.

Millthorpe Fire Fair (7 August, from 5:00pm)

This is where it all kicks off. The historic village of Millthorpe comes alive on the opening night of the festival, with the main street transformed under festoon lights and a star-lit sky. Fire pits line Pym Street, local producers and wineries set up stalls, live music fills the air and kids can roast marshmallows while you browse the boutique shops. It’s a genuinely lovely way to start the festival, and the village atmosphere is something you don’t find anywhere else. Entry is $15.

Fireside Feast at The Oriana Gardens (from 7 August)

The Fireside Feast runs across four winter evenings during the festival at The Oriana Gardens, one of Orange’s most beautiful settings. This is the kind of long, unhurried dinner that winter was made for.

Brushstrokes and Barrels at Hillside Harvest (8 August, 2:00pm–4:30pm)

For something a little different, this workshop at Hillside Harvest is a genuine highlight. Hosted by local artist Kerrie Stewart alongside Hillside Harvest and Orange Mountain Wines, guests paint a guided masterpiece in the old packing shed orchard studio before heading to the Orange Mountain Wines cellar door to taste handcrafted, basket-pressed wines. No artistic experience needed. Tickets are $85 and it’s the kind of afternoon you’ll talk about for months.

Fire and Wine at Hotel Canobolas (8 August, 3:00pm–9:00pm)

Chefs Joel Bickford and Danny Corbett take to the grills and wood-fire in the Hotel Canobolas courtyard, preparing a menu built around the region’s growers: smoky vegetables, fire-kissed meats, charred herbs and bold flavours. A lineup of Orange wines accompanies, from textured whites to earthy reds. Tickets are $35 and include a barbecue plate and a glass of wine, with live music carrying the evening through to 9:00pm.

Forage and Feast: Truffle Hunt and Long Lunch (8 August, 11:00am–2:30pm)

Join renowned local trainer Teneka Priestly and her truffle dogs for a special Fire Festival edition of Forage and Feast at Borrodell Estate in Nashdale. The morning begins with a Firekeeper’s Welcome around a crackling fire. From there, a guided walk among Borrodell’s 30-year-old oak trees leads you to Black Périgord truffles hidden beneath the winter soil. From there, a three-course long lunch paired with estate wines awaits indoors. Tickets are $250 and bookings are essential for this one.

Fire Night at Philip Shaw Wines (8 August, 3:00pm–11:00pm)

Gather around the bonfire at one of Orange’s most celebrated wineries. Philip Shaw Wines lights the fire at 3:00pm to ward off the winter chill, with live music and an open-fire BBQ carrying the evening through to 11:00pm. Tickets include entry, food and a drink on arrival, and are priced from $30.

Kintsugi Workshop with Yoko Kawada (8 August)

Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, turning damage into beauty. This intimate workshop with Yoko Kawada, held in Molong, is a meditative and creative experience that fits the festival’s broader theme of warmth and craft perfectly. Check the Orange360 program for ticketing details.

For the full program and ticketing, visit orange360.com.au/Events/Orange-Region-Fire-Festival.

Some events sell out quickly, so it’s worth booking ahead.

Ten days is a lot of ground to cover, and the program spans three council areas. A little planning goes a long way.

• Book early. The intimate events (truffle hunts, workshops, winery dinners) sell out well in advance. If something catches your eye, don’t wait.
• Pack for winter. Orange sits at 860 metres above sea level. August nights are cold, genuinely cold. Layers, a good coat and warm boots are non-negotiable, especially for outdoor events like the Millthorpe Fire Fair.
• Hire a car or plan your route. Events spread across Orange, Millthorpe, Borenore and beyond. Having your own wheels gives you the flexibility to move between venues without stress.
• Check the full program. New events are added as the festival date approaches. The Orange360 events page is the most up-to-date source.
• Allow time to wander. Some of the best moments during Fire Festival are unplanned: stumbling into a cellar door with a fire going, finding a market stall run by a local producer you’ve never heard of, or ending up at a live music set you didn’t plan to attend.

The festival runs across a full ten days, so there’s no need to cram everything into one weekend. Staying for three or four nights gives you the space to actually enjoy it.

If you’re coming to Orange for the Fire Festival, where you stay matters. The festival spans the region, but the CBD is your natural home base. Most ticketed evening events, the best restaurants and the main festival energy are all within easy reach of the centre of town.

We offer 25 self-contained luxury suites and two and three-bedroom apartments at de Russie Boutique Hotel, all positioned close to the Orange CBD. After a long evening at a winery dinner or a night at the Millthorpe Fire Fair, coming back to a warm, well-appointed suite makes all the difference. Our suites include kitchenettes and kitchen facilities, so you can store your cellar door purchases and enjoy a slower morning before heading out to the next event. We also offer EV charging on-site and a continental breakfast to set you up for a full day of festival exploring.

August books out quickly in Orange. If you’re planning to attend the Fire Festival, we’d recommend securing your accommodation sooner rather than later.