After an epic (and only a slightly rainy) inaugural festival last year, this three-day festival is back and offering up more of the region’s gorgeous produce and products for visitors and locals to sample by firelight. There’s a massive program for the festival, with after-dark markets, live gigs, spectacular feasts and other food and wine-based adventures happening in Orange and the surrounding villages.
The frosty fun kicks off on August 2 with the night markets in the historic town centre of Milthorpe. You’ll be sipping local cool climate wine and piping-hot snacks, huddled around the impressive bonfires that line the streets. Gloves, beanies and all other blanket-like items are recommended, plus plenty of warming brews. The village’s incredibly quaint gift shops and artisanal stores will also be open late.
On the Saturday, shake off you wine-tiredness and head to Orange’s cultural centre, the Building, for a huge night of music, art and light shows. Then on August 4, look to the stars with Indigenous astronomers and stargazing enthusiasts who’ll share the local Wiradjuri people's knowledge of the cosmos. This all-ages event will be held at Dindima Wines and will also induce a bush tucker dinner and a range of the wineries vintages.
You can also book in for craft and cooking workshops, plus other sit-down feasts showing off the region’s edible bounty, those who cultivate it and the masters who put it on your plate.
You’ll need to book ahead for some of these flaming hot events, but you can just rug-up and show up for other events on the program.