At almost half a century old, the Hills Shire Orange Blossom Festival is one of the biggest and longest running celebrations in the Hills Shire. It was founded in 1969 when a group of locals decided to create an event which would bring the community together and allow them to celebrate life in the Hills.

Over the last 49 years, the festival has taken many forms, such as a community fair, street parade, race day, month-long festival, princess competition and fun run. It continues to evolve each year, reflecting the everchanging and diverse cultures, age groups and interests within the area.

The Hills Shire was known as a citrus producing region from the 1800’s when it became one of Australia’s first commercial providers of Oranges. The founders of the festival chose the name ‘Orange Blossom’ in honour of the region’s history.

This year’s festival runs throughout September, with a Community Fun Day on Sunday the 16^th at Bella Vista Farm, from 12pm to 7pm. The Community Fun Day, which is free to attend, will be jam packed with interactive activities for people of all ages. There will be amusement rides, food and community stalls, games and entertainment. Guests can enjoy a petting zoo, pop-up library, breakdancing, rock-climbing, silent discos, gardening workshops, food trucks and much more. Everything on the day will also have an orange theme.

One of the official events of the Orange Blossom Festival is the Hills Schools Expo at Castle Hill Showground on the 15^th and 16^th of September. The Expo showcases the leading independent schools in the North-West, allowing parents to talk to principals and teachers from some of the country’s top schools. The expo is free to attend, and will be open from 10am to 4pm both days.

Visit the Hills Shire Orange Blossom Festival website to view the workshops and festivities taking place this month.