Shockingly, I know, October in Orillia is chock-a-block with many arts and culture events and exhibits. Hang onto your hats, because I am going to give a bit of a rundown of most of them.
A lovely fall marketplace is happening this Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Rugby Community Hall on Old Barrie Road. This fundraiser for the hall has been going for years and features excellent quality handcrafts, artisan-made goods, produce, preserves, vintage items, and so much more. It’s a lovely place to pick up birthday presents, a gift for yourself, or maybe start on your Christmas list. Check it out!
The Images Studio Tour is happening Friday to Monday of Thanksgiving weekend, all up and down Horseshoe Valley Road through Oro-Medonte and even a couple of stops in Orillia.
This long-running juried studio tour is in its 41st year, and still going strong. There are approximately 30 professional artists participating this year in 20 stops. Artistic media includes woodworking, pottery, jewelry, stained glass, painting, and lots more.
It’s a gorgeous way to see the fall colours and immerse yourself in artists’ studios and the work that they do. Again, a perfect opportunity to shop for yourself or your loved ones and support the incredible artistic talent in this area.
For all the information on the Thanksgiving Images Studio Tour, including the map of stops and artists, go to the website here. The tour runs Oct. 11 to 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This Saturday, there are a few major musical events happening in town. At St. Paul’s Centre, Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital Foundation presents Grace, 2, Celebrating the Music of The Tragically Hip. The show gets underway at 8 p.m., and these guys are supposed to be incredible. Grab your tickets here.
At St. James’ Anglican Church Saturday, it’s the Maple Leaf Club Dance, Fall in Love, starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are just $30 and include light refreshment, cash bar and spot dance prizes. This is a fundraiser that helps support the St. James’ food programs. If you enjoy Big Band music, or dancing to Big Band music, come out, have a ball, and support live music! Tickets here.
Couchiching Craft Brewery in Orillia is hosting its Rocktoberfest bash this weekend. Some great bands performing, and a Drag-O-We’en event, too. Go to the website here to see who’s playing, and how to reserve your spot.
Orillia Youth Centre (OYC) Executive Director Kevin Gangloff has presented a bunch of amazing shows recently. We were lucky enough to see a lovely, intimate afternoon show at Creative Nomad Studios featuring Josh Small and Andrew Alli, Bella Frances, and SAMMY and the Band. All the artists were incredible, and we sure felt lucky to hear them!
The OYC-presented show with Matchedash Parish last Saturday night was also a night to remember, and really sometimes you have to pinch yourself to believe that you’re seeing this incredible music in Orillia.
Well, Gangloff isn’t done yet. Oct.10 and 11, two shows, the first at Creative Nomad Studios in the evening, the second at the Orillia Youth Centre in the late afternoon, featuring Lenny Lashley with special guests Nixon Boyd and Rebekah Hawker. I can guarantee you will love this show. So, you should just go. Tickets are here and 100 per cent of the proceeds go to support the Orillia Youth Centre and the programs and bursaries that they run.
Coming up on Oct. 19, again there are a couple of different events for you to enjoy. The Orillia Jazz Festival, produced by Arts Orillia, is happening that day, with two different shows, at 1 and 7:30 p.m. The matinee show features Autorickshaw, with contemporary jazz, funk and folk alongside the classical and popular music of India.
Along with Autorickshaw, enjoy Orillia’s own Brassworks with its popular Big Band sound, and special guests, many of our local high school students, performing in their band and choir ensembles, to make this an incredible afternoon of music.
The evening concert features Caity Gyorgy (pronounced George) – a two-time JUNO-award-winning Canadian vocalist famed for her bebop and swing stylings. She has performed at venues and festivals across North America and Asia.
Critically acclaimed composer and pianist Thompson Egbo-Egbo will also be performing. This artist’s aptitude for the piano is riveting! Five stunning dance artists: Molly Tiernan, Olivia Okonkwo, Jeffrey Lapira, Shona Kiyama and Nadia Dardano, will groove to the choreography of Canada’s celebrated jazz dance expert, Vicki St. Denys.
It’s going to be a day to remember! You can get your tickets at www.artsorillia.ca.
Also on Oct. 19, at St. Paul’s Centre at 7:30 p.m., there is a fundraising concert for The Sharing Place Food Centre, featuring the Orillia Concert Band and the Orillia Big Band, both under the direction of Randy Hoover. It’s going to be a fantastic night of great music for a great cause. Tickets here or at the door.
The Orillia Museum of Art and History has a couple of new exhibits happening now, Owl Pen Revisited prints by Gillian Lowry, and Teachers and Their Enduring Impact with works by local art teacher Jose Salas and some of his students’ works as well. Continuing is the exhibit by Jeanette Luchese, The Process Informs Me, which is stunning. Do check out these incredible exhibits at this wonderful local gem. The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
There will be a special reception for these shows and one more new one, coming up, on Oct. 26 from 1 to 3 p.m.
Oct. 26 in the evening, Vitalogy is coming to St. Paul’s Centre. This is Canada’s premier Pearl Jam tribute band so, of course, it’s going to be another great show, presented by Inside the Music. Tickets here.
And, this just in, Skydiggers are bringing their holiday show back to St. Paul’s, on Thursday, Dec. 5. This will be amazing as always. Thanks, Inside the Music, for bringing them here. Tickets through Eventbrite.
Oct. 27, there are two fantastic musical shows happening in the afternoon. The Orillia Concert Association kicks off its 2024-25 season with The Stratton Soloists, at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, at 2:30 p.m. You can go to one or all of the shows this year, check out the website here for all the information and to get tickets.
Braestone Farm is the venue for the other show, which is a fundraiser for Mariposa House Hospice cuddle bed campaign. The show gets underway at 2 p.m. and features Zachary Lucky and The Good Lovelies. It’s going to be ... lovely ... and in the beautiful barn at Braestone, so a really magical event. Get your tickets here.
Quite the lineup and I have run way out of room. I am sure there is more coming but that’s all for this week.
If you have arts news, send it to [email protected] by Tuesday at noon to be included. Have a great week.
