I hope everyone enjoyed their long weekend and some yummy Thanksgiving food as well. The weather continues beautiful, albeit cooler, but that’s as it should be in October.
Events continue apace; we sure are lucky to live somewhere so beautiful and also vibrant with lots of creativity and fun things to do for all of us.
This Friday night is The Cellar Singers’ fall concert, featuring Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace. This mass features Orillia native Lillian Brooks as soprano soloist. She is in high demand across Canada and has a very impressive repertoire and resume for someone so young. This is going to be a beautiful evening of music, and I heartily encourage you to go.
The show starts at 7:30 p.m. at St. James’ Anglican Church in Orillia. You can get advance tickets through Eventbrite here, or through choristers, or maybe at the door. See you there!
Unfortunately, but amazingly, there are three fantastic events this Saturday night, so you are going to have to choose. The Orillia Concert Band is teaming up with the Orillia Big Band to do a fundraising show for The Sharing Place Food Centre. This is at St. Paul’s at 7:30 p.m., it will be great, with monies going to a wonderful cause. Tickets are through Zeffy here.
The Orillia and District Literacy Council is venturing into the fundraising event field with Blingo Night Out, this Saturday from 6 to 10 p.m., at the Atrium at the new Hub, 250 West. St. N. (parking off Peter Street North)
Blingo Night Out will be a full gala evening event featuring emcee DJ Wilverine from 89.1 MAX FM, a "Blingo" mini-marketplace and prize filled bingo game, a salon (Northern Roots) and clothing (Maurices) fashion show, fabulous food, and a silent auction. You are to come dressed in your most “Blingy” outfit.
Tickets are $100 and 100 per cent of the proceeds go towards the Orillia and District Literacy Council to support the community. You can get your tickets here.
The third event Saturday night is the Orillia Jazz Festival evening concert. The afternoon show at 1 p.m. features Autorickshaw (check out their YouTube here) as well as Orillia’s own Brassworks and talented youth from our high schools singing and playing! It’s going to be a wonderful afternoon of catchy music with creative and talented musicians.
The evening show is at the Orillia Opera House at 7:30 p.m. and features Caity Gyorgy, the Thompson Egbo-Egbo trio, and some amazing dancers, too. You can read all about it here. Tickets are available at www.artsorillia.ca for both shows. See you there!
Don’t forget Live from the MET this Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Galaxy Theatre, featuring the Opera Grounded.
Mariposa Arts Theatre’s Film Nights is back next Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 4 and 7 p.m. with the film, Ghostlight. The promo for the movie says, “When a construction worker unexpectedly joins a local theatre's production of Romeo and Juliet, the drama onstage starts to mirror his own life.”
Roger Ebert’s review says: “Ghostlight, which focuses on a construction worker drawn into a production of Romeo and Juliet, is a drama about traumatized people healing themselves with art.”
The trailer for the movie is here. It looks funny, touching, feel-good, all the feels. Check it out next Wednesday at the Galaxy Theatre.
Lightfoot Days 2024 is happening Thursday, Oct. 31 to Sunday, Nov. 3, with various events throughout Orillia. This home-grown festival, run by a group of Orillia volunteers, is full of partnerships and special glimpses into Lightfoot’s life and legacy.
On Oct. 31, The Lightfoot Band takes to the stage at the Orillia Opera House. They are really good, if you love Gordie’s music, grab your tickets now at www.orilliaoperahouse.ca. This will likely sell out.
On Nov. 1, you can participate in music workshops with The Lightfoot Band all afternoon at Creative Nomad Studios. In the evening, from 7 to 9 p.m., it’s Memories of Gordon Lightfoot, stories and music, at Creative Nomad Studios. Then, hit venues throughout downtown Orillia and beyond, for the Music Folk Crawl for the rest of the night.
On Nov. 2 at 11 a.m., the mayor will proclaim the day Gordon Lightfoot Day, outside of the Orillia Opera House. Then, you can enjoy a pop-up art show in the Green Room, music throughout the downtown, and the Streets Alive Lightfoot installations downtown. From 1 to 2 p.m., take a tour of the Opera House with stories of Gordon Lightfoot.
Sunday at 10:30 a.m., St. Paul’s United Church will have a special Gordon Lightfoot service (this is where Gordon sang as a youth). At 12:30 p.m., there will be closing ceremonies at Mariposa Market. Then, finally, from 3 to 5 p.m., celebrate the festival’s conclusion at PICNIC with the High Steppin’ Strutters.
What a fun four days of celebrating our Lightfoot! Thanks to the volunteers and everyone who partnered up. To keep up with all the Lightfoot events, go to the Facebook page here.
Last thing for this week: Trunk or Treat is happening at ODAS Park Saturday, Oct. 26 from 1 to 4 p.m. They are still looking for Trunkers to hand out candy at this fun event ... you just need to decorate your car and have 400 pieces of candy to hand out, it’s a fun way to advertise your business and be part of our community. Go here to sign up.
Have a great week and if you have arts news, send it to [email protected] by Tuesday at noon to be included.
