I hope everyone had a great long weekend and are ready for a summer full of fun right here in good old Orillia.
This weekend is, of course, the big Mariposa Folk Festival weekend in our fair city. The festival is sold out, except for a limited number of Friday evening passes, so expect lots and lots of people and traffic near Tudhope Park as well as throughout Orillia.
The Mariposa downtown stage is a fun and free event for the whole family, happening Friday and Saturday right in the middle of downtown Orillia. Friday, the Mariposa downtown stage features The Gardeners at 2 p.m.; I, The Mountain at 3 p.m.; and The Pistolettes at 4 p.m.
Saturday, the Mariposa downtown stage starts at 11 a.m. with Les Fireflies; Po’Boy Jeffreys and Calamity Jane follow at 12:20 p.m.; Doghouse Orchestra is at 1:40 p.m.; and the stage finishes up with The Handsome Devils at 3 p.m.
If you didn’t get a Mariposa ticket this is a great way to enjoy a mini festival with the family; they even have crafts for the kids as well. If you did get a pass for the festival, you can find all the information you need right here at www.mariposafolk.ca. Enjoy!
The St. James’ Anglican Church Wednesday noontime summer recitals started July 5 and run throughout the summer. July 12 features Autumn Debassige and Blair Bailey, so that will be a good singer/accompanist one. The July 19 event features Alan and Sophy Cooper with local storyteller Susan Charters. Lots of fun, free lunchtime pop; freewill offering, just bring your lunch and enjoy.
The Orillia Museum of Art and History (OMAH) also has Wednesday earmarked all summer long. Every Wednesday evening at 7 p.m., the popular Gangs, Guns and Grog historical walking tour will be happening, starting at OMAH and ending at a local pub, of course, where the first drink is on OMAH.
Tours talk about Orillia’s mysterious tunnels, shootouts and brawls, brothels and more…Orillia was quite the town in the 1870’s. Tours cost $25 and you can book your ticket here.
There are some exciting events coming up through the summer, and I want to draw your attention to this one, this week: The Back to the 90’s Video Dance Party on July 29. The Big Event is putting this fun night on in support of The Sharing Place Food Bank, which is very much in need of donations during the summer months.
The party is being held at ODAS Park and participants are encouraged to dress to the theme. There will be lots of fun, food, a cash bar, videos of course, and prizes. Nineties themed music and dance videos will be shown on three large screens inside, so you really will be going back in time.
You must be 19 plus to attend. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door and you can get them at www.thebigevent.ca. Have fun!
Couchiching Craft Brewery has live music this weekend with Paige Rutledge on Friday and Bob Taylor on Saturday.
Enjoy your week and weekend and if you have arts news, send it to [email protected] by Tuesday at noon to be included.
