BRUTHEN MEDIEVAL WINTER FIRE FESTIVAL

 THE BRUTHEN MEDIEVAL WINTER FIRE FESTIVAL

      Fire • Folklore • Feasting • Revelry

As the longest night descends upon Bruthen, the village shall once again awaken with blazing fires, wandering warriors, glowing lanterns and medieval mayhem.

Gather thy cloaks, don thy finest garb and prepare for a night of:
⚔️ sword fighting
🔥 roaring bonfires & fire spectacles

Kids games and family fun
🏮 ritual & winter magic
🎶 music & dancing
🍖 feasting & mulled wine
👑 costumes & chaos

From flaming battles and giant trebuchets to artisan blacksmiths, winter rituals and glorious tavern revelry, this much-loved East Gippsland Winter Festival event promises a magical night for all ages.

CHILDREN 17 YRS AND UNDER ARE FREE.  ADULTS $15.    Get tickets here.

Download the shortened PROGRAM here:-  https://baec.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/SHORT-PROGRAM-June-26.docx

NB This is a dog free event. Please leave your dogs at home.

⚔️ FESTIVAL PROGRAM OF PROCEEDINGS IN DETAIL

🕝 2:30pm — The Gates Open

The village awakens!

Enter the festival grounds and discover artisan market stalls, wandering warriors, medieval music, fabulous food vans and winter merriment throughout the Village.

⚒️ From 2:30pm — Medieval Hall & Living History Village

Step inside the Main Hall and journey into the medieval world through hands-on games and activities. Hear the ring of hammer on steel as traditional blacksmiths and metalworkers showcase handcrafted blades, tools and forged creations.
⚔️ chainmail making
🎲 medieval board games
🎨 FREE face painting
⚒️ artisan smiths & forgers

🔥 From 2:30pm — Write down your hopes and releases and insert into the Winter Guardian

Good folk of Bruthenshire! What troubles weigh upon thy shoulders? What burdens wouldst thou cast into the flames? What hopes dost thou carry for the season ahead?

Write thy offering upon a scroll and place it within the mighty Winter Guardian wicker effigy. There it shall rest until dusk, held safely by the guardians quiet strength.

Then, as the longest night deepens and the drums begin to call, the Guardian shall be raised before the village and offered to the fire.

🥔 3:30pm — The King’s Games & Village Challenges

A festival favourite for squires, rogues and competitive peasants alike!

Join the hilariously chaotic medieval games arena featuring:
🥔 spud & spoon races
🎃 pass the pumpkin
🏃 sack races
⚔️ tug of war
…and other glorious nonsense.

Victorious competitors shall receive pieces of the King’s Gold!
(Chocolate coins. The kingdom’s treasury has suffered difficult times.)

⚔️ 3:40pm — Clash of Steel

The Ashen Circle enters the lists!

Witness thrilling sword fighting displays as warriors clash in tests of courage, skill and medieval combat artistry. Steel shall ring across the village!

🦆 4:00pm — Fling Thy Fowl!

The Royal Trebuchet Games

A medieval trebuchet. A noble rubber duck. What could possibly go wrong?

Select thy chosen fowl and launch it skyward in this gloriously ridiculous medieval challenge.

Prizes awarded for: 👑Greatest Flight 🦆 Finest Fowl🥄 Most Disappointing Launch

An absolute crowd favourite.

🐴 4:00pm — The Grand Jousting Tournament NEW EVENT FOR 2026!

The kingdom’s bravest riders mount their trusty hobby horses and charge into battle wielding fearsome jousting lances (sharpened pool noodles!!) in a thunderous test of courage and balance.

Accompanied by loyal squires clapping coconut shells to summon the sound of mighty steeds, this outrageously entertaining new spectacle promises heroic victories, dramatic defeats and much medieval hilarity. A must-see event for all ages.

⚔️ 4:30pm — Trial of Arms

The East Gippsland Historical Reenactment Society returns to the battlefield with displays of armoured medieval combat.

Watch warriors battle for honour, glory and the roar of the crowd in a spectacular clash of shields and steel.

🔥 5:00pm — The Slaying of the Dragon

A great beast has captured the Royal Princess!

The King and Queen shall summon the bravest warrior in the land to slay the dragon, rescue the princess and ignite the mighty bonfire, with the promise of the Princesses hand if he is successful! Expect fire, heroics and medieval chaos.

🔥 5:20pm — The Raising & Burning of the Winter Guardian

NEW FESTIVAL RITUAL FOR 2026!

As darkness falls, festival-goers gather for a powerful winter fire ritual of release and renewal.

Throughout the evening, visitors are invited to write down something they wish to let go of — a burden, a worry or something from the season past — and place it within the great Winter Guardian.

With drums, firelight and ceremony, the Guardian shall then be raised before the crowd and offered to the flames in a breathtaking spectacle of fire, reflection and transformation. May old worries be released. May new hopes take root.

And may the turning of the season bring courage, connection and good fortune to all.

A magical new festival tradition inspired by seasonal fire rituals and the turning of the winter season.

This inaugural Winter Guardian ritual is dedicated to the late Ryan Pedley

⚔️ 5:45pm — Viking Warriors

Ashen Circle returns to but this time to Arena 2 – watch these Viking Warriors battle with much less concern about safety than most warriors! Stay back well behind the safety barrier!!

👑 6:00pm — Grand Medieval Costume Parade & Awards

Knights! Vikings! Tavern rogues! Witches! Royals! Mystical wanderers and woodland spirits! Gather before the crowd in thy finest medieval attire for prizes, glory and admiration throughout the realm.

Awards include: ✨ Best Handmade Costume ✨ Best Dressed ……… ✨ Most Original Character ✨ Finest Medieval Spirit

Costumes are strongly encouraged…… enthusiasm is mandatory.

🔥 6:30pm — Flaming Weapons Battle

The bravest warriors of the East Gippsland Historical Reenactment Society enter the battlefield wielding flaming weapons in one of the festival’s most spectacular traditions.

A highlight of the night.

🔮 7:00pm — The Great Crystal Ball Quest

The Witch and Wizard require assistance!

Join this wildly energetic family spectacle as glowing magical crystal spheres must be powered up before winter magic is lost forever.

Expect laughter, glowing chaos and airborne wizardry.

🔥 7:30pm — The Medieval Fire Show Spectacular – ‘Firelily’

A dazzling performance of flowing flame, fire artistry and breathtaking spectacle by acclaimed fire performer Jess Cooney (from Jessy Spin)

Expect sparks, spinning fire and flaming wonderment!

🎶 8:00pm — The Final Revel

As the fires roar and the night grows wild, gather for medieval-inspired music, dancing and joyous winter revelry beneath the stars.

Raise a goblet of ale or mead, warm thyself beside the bonfires and celebrate the longest night in true medieval style with fabulous local medieval musicians WRioT!

🕘 9:15pm — Festival Closes

The fires burn low and the village rests once more… until next winter…….

⚔️ A FINAL WORD TO TRAVELLERS…

This is an outdoor winter event!
Wear warm cloaks and sturdy waterproof boots! …. And bring a spirit of adventure.

Costumes are highly encouraged! Merriment is inevitable.

Thanks to our valued partners

• East Gippsland Historical Re-enactment Society
• East Gippsland Winter Festival.
• KENNARDS Hire
• Tambo Waste
• Ashen Circle   
• Bruthen Electrical
• Bruthen General Store                         
• Tambo Valley Honey
• Wildkraft Bruthen