Midsummer Fire Festival (21 June - 5 July)

The Fire Festival comes to Ruth'eran Village

Replacing the old Engineers’ Explosive Extravaganza, the Midsummer Flame Festival (official event page may be found here) is a celebration of fire ending with a grand fireworks show on 4 July. There are festival camps scattered around Azeroth, each with a bonfire and a Ribbon Pole, tended by Flamekeepers and firebreathers.

Festival bonfire in Ashenvale
  • Dancing around the pole (with at least one other player) yields +30 fire resistance for an hour.
  • The bonfires themselves have curative properties and will burn you clean of ailments; you activate the bonfire (and the Ribbon Pole) by right-clicking on it.
  • When Burning Blossoms are cast into the bonfire, you (and those in the immediate area) gain the Fire Festival Fury buff (+42 crit rating and spell crit rating for 1 hour).
    Burning Blossoms are not soulbound, so they may be freely sold or traded. They expire in 14 days (actually, they become useless anyway when the bonfires disappear on 5 July).

Flamekeepers also issue quests for a variety of seasonal items - including a pet red wisp vanity pet. The initial quest (”[60] The Festival of Fire”) is different for Horde and Alliance characters, but the remaining quests are shared. None of the quests are chained, so you may attempt all of them simultaneously. For those who really seek adventure, you can steal the opposing faction’s flames from the bonfires in their capital cities! Note that while Exodar and Silvermoon have bonfires and questgivers, none of the quests (including the flame-stealing) require interaction with these. To the best of our knowledge, there are no reputation gaining opportunities this season.

References:

  • The Ribbon Pole is based on the May pole tradition.
  • The festival starts on 21 June, which is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. The bonfires are an example of solestitia, or symbolic practices of the solstice. They were lit to deter evil spirits who were emerging as the days waned. Coincidentally, in previous years, the Scourge Invasion happened at the same time, so the bonfires don’t seem too effective.
  • In the Celtic tradition, jumping over the bonfires was thought to cleanse you from a variety of maladies.
  • Plants picked on Midsummer’s Eve were assumed to have greater virtue, as reflected by the buff granted by the Burning Blossoms.
  • The bonfire flames track the quality colors - green for the mid-level flames, blue for the high-level ones.
 Dancing 'Round the Maypole

Midsummer Items

    Crown and Mantle of the Festival

  • Burning Blossoms - As previously mentioned, these grant the Fire Festival Fury (+42 crit/spell crit rating) buff when cast into a bonfire. They stack in 20s, have a 14 day life, and are not bound. All other items are Bind on Pickup.
  • Fiery Festival Brew - When consumed, these cause you to breathe fire (same effect as the Festival Firebreathers) for 10 seconds.
  • Elderberry Pie - Increases Defense by 13 for 1 hour. 14 day item life.
  • Fire-toasted Bun - Improves your chance to hit by 2% for 1 hour. 14 day item life.
  • Midsummer Sausage - Increases damage done from spells by up to 23 for 1 hour. 14 day item life.
  • Toasted Smorc - Increases healing done by magical spells by up to 44 for 1 hour. 14 day item life.
  • Mantle of the Fire Festival - (Cloth Shoulder) AC: 2 - Bronze shoulders with flaming basins
  • Crown of the Fire Festival - (Cloth Head) AC: 2 - Looks like a flaming circlet hovering above your head like a halo
  • Cinder Bracers - Summons a Cinder Elemental (miniature flame elemental) that will protect you for 10 min (3 charges).
  • Captured Flame - Summons or dismisses a Spirit of Summer (red wisp non-combat pet).
Quest Given By Description Reward
[60] The Festival of Fire (Alliance) Festival Loremaster Touch the bonfires within Stormwind, Ironforge, and Darnassus, then speak to a Festival Loremaster within the capital cities. 650 xp
10xBurning Blossom, 10xFiery Festival Brew
  • outside the Explorer’s League in Ironforge (65.1, 25.5)
  • in the Canal District outside the Stockades in Stormwind (39.1, 61.7)
  • in Ruth’eran Village on Teldrassil (56.5, 92.1)
  • near the entrance of the Crystal Hall in Exodar (41.3, 25.3) (not needed for any quests)
[60] The Festival of Fire (Horde) Festival Talespinner Touch the bonfires within Orgrimmar, Thunder Bluff, and the Undercity, then speak to a Festival Talespinner within the capital cities. 650 xp
10xBurning Blossom, 10xFiery Festival Brew
  • outside Grommash Hold in the Valley of Wisdom in Orgrimmar (42.3, 34.5)
  • in the old Lordaeron throne room above the Undercity (66.0, 36.3)
  • at the southwest edge of Spirit Rise in Thunder Bluff (21.4, 26.6)
  • in the Court of the Sun in Silvermoon City (70.1, 42.4) (not needed for any quests)
[25] Flickering Flames in Eastern Kingdoms Festival Loremaster/ Talespinner Visit the bonfires within Hillsbrad Foothills, Silverpine Forest, Westfall, and the Wetlands, then speak with the Festival Flamekeeper. 1500 xp
Choice of: Elderberry Pie, Fire-toasted Bun, Midsummer Sausage, Toasted Smorc
  • Wetlands - across the road from the dwarf militia in Dun Modr (51.2, 17.2)
  • Hillsbrad - outside the ruined tower at the crossroads southwest of Tarren Mill (54.3, 33.7)
  • Silverpine - off the main road just east of Pyrewood (54.2, 69.6)
  • Westfall - on the Longshore cliffs just north of the Deadmines exit (34.1, 80.3)
[25] Flickering Flames in Kalimdor Festival Loremaster/ Talespinner Visit the bonfires within Ashenvale, the Barrens, Darkshore, and Stonetalon Mountains, then speak with the Festival Flamekeeper. 1500 xp
Choice of: 5xElderberry Pie, 4xFire-toasted Bun, 5xMidsummer Sausage, 5xToasted Smorc
  • Darkshore - off the main road in Twilight Vale, just south of The Master’s Glaive near the Ashenvale border (41.4, 90.6)
  • Ashenvale - off the main road through Nightsong Woods just east of the Falfarren River (64.7, 71.3)
  • The Barrens - west end of Ratchet (59.8, 39.3)
  • Stonetalon - off the Webwinder Path at the southwest end of Windshear Crag (59.6, 72.5)
[60] Wild Fires in Eastern Kingdoms Festival Flamekeeper Visit the Fire Festival camps located in Blasted Lands, Eastern Plaguelands, the Hinterlands and Searing Gorge, then speak with the Festival Flamekeeper. 3300 xp
10xBurning Blossom, Mantle of the Fire Festival
  • Blasted Lands - at the crossroads where the road to Nethergarde curves back to the north (53.9, 31.3)
  • Searing Gorge - at the foot of the steps leading up to Blackrock Mountain (33.1, 73.0)
  • Hinterlands - off the road just east of the fork to Skull Rock (62.0, 53.4)
  • Eastern Plaguelands - on the west side of Corin’s Crossing (57.4, 72.7)
[60] Wild Fires in Kalimdor Festival Flamekeeper Visit the Midsummer camps located in Azshara, Silithus, Un’Goro Crater, and Winterspring, then return to the Festival Flamekeeper. 3300 xp
10xBurning Blossom, Cinder Bracers
  • Winterspring - at the first bend in the road leading from Timbermaw Hold (30.7, 43.0)
  • Azshara - on the cliffs overlooking the Ruins of Eldarath, southeast from the Bear’s Head Timbermaw camp (41.5, 43.3)
  • Un’Goro - inside the crater near the Tanaris-side entrance (70.4, 75.9)
  • Silithus - at Valor’s Rest just southwest of the Cenarion camp (78.1, 18.9)
[60d] A Light in Dark Places
Obtainable at L50
Spirit of Summer
The Spirit of Summer
 Festival Flamekeeper Find and touch the bonfires located within Blackrock Spire, Dire Maul, Scholomance, and Stratholme, then return to the Festival Flamekeeper. 10xBurning Blossom, Captured Flame
  • Dire Maul North - about halfway in (up the ramp after Guard Slip’kik)
  • Lower Blackrock Spire - after the Smolderweb spiders on the opposite side of the ogre pad
  • Scholomance - in a corner of the Viewing Room (the area filled with neutral embalming students)
  • Scarlet (Live-side) Stratholme - in front of the Crusade citadel (near where Timmy spawns)

This quest may be repeated for an additional 10 Burning Blossoms. It is also alleged that after completing the quest a second time, you will be able to trigger the Fire Festival Fortitude buff city-wide by wearing the Crown and Mantle and dancing around the Ribbon Pole with at least one other character, both of you with red streams. We haven’t verified this.

…there is power inherent in all festival fires burning throughout the holiday. We’re taking care of ours, but I’m certain there are sacred flames burning deep within our enemy’s cities… - Festival Lorekeeper/Talespinner

Flame of Orgrimmar In order to gain the Crown of the Fire Festival , you must venture into the capital cities of the opposing faction and risk guards and PvP to retrieve the flames from the bonfires. When you trigger (via right-click) the bonfire, you will gain an item which you must turn in to a Lorekeeper/Talespinner in one of your own faction’s capitals. Turning in all three opposing flames unlocks “[60] A Thief’s Reward” and earns you the crown, a nice bit of experience (for sub-70’s), and some cash. Please note that while you can get the Flame items at any level, you must be L50 to complete the quests and earn the crown.
Quest Given By Description Reward
[60] Stealing Undercity’s Flame
[60] Stealing Darnassus’s Flame
Obtainable at L50		 Flame of [City] (item) Return the Flame of [City] to the Festival Loremaster/Talespinner 4950 xp
70s, 20xBurning Blossom, Choice of 10: Elderberry Pie, Fire-toasted Bun, Midsummer Sausage, Toasted Smorc
[60] Stealing Orgrimmar’s Flame
[60] Stealing Ironforge’s Flame
Obtainable at L50		 Flame of [City] (item) Return the Flame of [City] to the Festival Loremaster/Talespinner 4950 xp
70s, 30xBurning Blossom
[60] Stealing Thunder Bluff’s Flame
[60] Stealing Stormwind’s Flame
Obtainable at L50		 Flame of [City] (item) Return the Flame of [City] to the Festival Loremaster/Talespinner 4950 xp
70s, 20xFiery Festival Brew, 20xBurning Blossom
[60] A Thief’s Reward Festival Loremaster/Talespinner 4950 xp
Crown of the Fire Festival
Note that when you complete this quest, all in the area receive the Fire Festival Fortitude buff (+30 Sta for 1 hour).