Hoping for good weather as we round the corner into the second half of the summer.
The Port of Orillia’s Waterfront Festival is this Friday to Sunday. This annual event celebrates life on or near the water, and features tons of vendors with hot tubs, food, unique handcrafted items, and everything for waterfront living. As well, there will be live entertainment, a beer garden, new and used boat sales, a dock diving dogs contest and the highlight of the festival: the cardboard boat race.
The doggy contest happens Saturday at noon and Sunday at 3 p.m., and the cardboard boat race is on tap at noon on Sunday, all at the Port of Orillia. For more details on the weekend fun, go here.
Of course the big event this weekend is Boots n Hearts at Burl's Creek in Oro-Medonte! Lots of great music, country and pseudo-country and it will be lively for sure! Keep an eye out for traffic delays on Highway 11 during the event. For more information, click here.
The Book Review used bookstore on West Street North has a few Meet the Author events planned this week. The first is Thursday (Aug. 8) from 2 to 5 p.m. and features author Catherine Kenwell, who wrote the book, Life After Loss. Kenwell will be on hand to answer questions and sign your copy of the book.
On Friday, Aug. 9 from 2 to 5 p.m. C.C. Legault, author of the book Who Is Bobbie Mae? will be at The Book Review for questions and signings.
On Saturday, Aug. 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., poet and author Josh Poitras will be on hand. He will do poetry readings at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and is happy to visit with you in between.
Come on out to The Book Review this week and meet these amazing authors.
The Orillia Museum of Art and History (OMAH) is celebrating its 25th anniversary! As part of the party, OMAH is welcoming all guests to come visit for free, Friday Aug. 9. Come check out the excellent exhibitions that are happening right now, including contemporary abstract frescos by Jeanette Luchese, Pawtraits, Backra Bluid, and Reflections of Our Roots. Don’t forget to see the jail cells and the gift shop, too. OMAH is open Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is located at 30 Peter St. S.
Remember the really fun Summer Nights in the Park that the Orillia District Arts Council organized the last couple of summers? They are doing one more this summer, on Thursday, Aug. 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Walter Henry Park at 3050 Orion Blvd. here in Orillia.
Admission is free, but donations to The Sharing Place Food Centre are gratefully received. There will be live music by The Flailing Shillelaghs and an Eat Your Art activity for the kiddos. This will be a really fun night out for the whole family, so come check it out.
St. James’ Anglican Church summer noon-hour recital series is well underway. Aug. 14 will be an amazing one, with singers Alexandra Teske and Christina Bosco, accompanied by Blair Bailey on piano and Cheryl Behan on flute. Christina told me they are singing all classical music, and it’s all the goodies: Pie Jesu, Panis Angelicus, The Flower Duet from Lakme, and so much more.
It all happens on Aug 14 at noon at St. James’. Admission by donation, cold drink to go with your bag lunch provided.
The Orillia Public Library has been hosting Library in the Park this summer on Tuesdays. Aug. 13 it’s at Couchiching Beach Park, at the Rotary train station, and the theme is Tiny Travelers. The fun starts at 10:30 a.m. for an hour, and it’s free! Check the OPL social media for weather updates.
The Orillia Opera House’s last summer theatre play of the season starts next Wednesday, Aug. 14 and it’s Those Movies by Norm Foster, another great funny play to round out the summer. Until then, Every Brilliant Thing is still running, and it’s a goodie…go check it out if you haven’t already! Tickets and more information at www.orilliaoperahouse.ca.
The Sunday Evening Band Concert at the Rotary Aqua Theatre this week features the Newmarket Citizens Band, and the free show gets started at 6:30 p.m. Feel free to bring a chair, and a couple of toonies to throw in the bucket for the Champlain Seniors Club.
Planning ahead, don’t forget that the annual Starry Night Studio and Gallery Tour is coming up, Saturday, Aug. 24 from 7 to 10 p.m. The streets will be closed and the town full of art and artists. Bring your money and come support all of our talented local artists. This event is the biggest sales opportunity of the year for them, so your patronage is really appreciated. We have so many talented artists in town, in so many media…come check it all out!
Live music, Michael McKenna Friday night, Stephan Bernard Saturday night, and Kyle McAdams Sunday afternoon, at Couchiching Craft Brewery.
Have a wonderful week, enjoy the summer, and if you have arts news send it to [email protected] by Tuesday at noon to be included.
