Welcome to the last weekend in June ... already! I hope you are well and truly geared up for summer. We mustn’t waste a moment of this beautiful season, living as we do in the best spot in Ontario for enjoying it.
Shout out to Lake Country Pride, Mariposa Arts Theatre (MAT) and the Orillia Public Library (OPL) for the best Pride Day activities anywhere, last Saturday.
The sign and button making at the OPL brought out lots of kids, teens, families, etc. to create and be together. The décor at the library was awesome.
The second annual Pride parade was a huge success, with hundreds of happy LGBTQ2+ folks and allies marching together down Mississaga Street, with people waving and cheering from the sidelines as well. It was a feel good time, with the barbecue in Couchiching Park at the end the icing on the cake: a chance to get together, mingle, and get to know each other.
I had the pleasure of attending the early Saturday show of MAT’s Queer Cabaret later that day, and wow! It blew me away. Just amazing talent on the stage, and the joy, or Queer joy as director Stevie Baker labelled it, in the room was palpable. It was a chance for the performers to really strut their stuff and strut it they did.
From Josh Halbot singing from the show Hedwig and the Angry Inch, to the incredible burlesque dancer, to Champage Top’Her, to an amazingly perfectly choregraphed drag debut ... it was a wonderful night.
Congratulations to everyone involved for a wonderful, joy-filled Pride Day in Orillia!
And now, it’s suddenly Canada Day weekend. I must admit to having some trouble with celebrating Canada Day over the last several years. There is a lot in our past and in our present that is troubling, and it is difficult to celebrate that. But, some of us are trying to get it right, too ... and make amends. So, my feelings about Canada Day are a really mixed bag.
Regardless of my feelings, the Orillia Canada Day committee has really been working very hard over the past several months to make Canada Day 2024 a really good party for everyone in Orillia and area, and it is shaping up beautifully.
All weekend long, the midway is returning to Couchiching Beach Park! Starting Friday (June 28) from 3 to 10 p.m., there will be inflatables, a selection of rides, and food and games thanks to Gable Brothers. Midway continues all weekend.
July 1 starts up with a community pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon (or until they run out of food), in the pavilion in the centre of Couchiching Beach Park. Kids $5, adults $10, and yes, they will take debit and credit.
The vendor village will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Canada Day, along the Terry Fox Circle.
The Wheely Great Parade, for kiddos and their wheels, happens in the park at 10:30 a.m. You can register at the information booth in the park starting at 10 a.m.
The midway runs from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Canada Day, with inflatables free from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Canada Day only.
The Children’s Village runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with arts and crafts, demonstrations, superheroes (and villains!) and much more. At 4 p.m., head over to the Rotary Aqua Theatre for a magical performance.
The Beer Garden also runs 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Canada Day. Also, food vendors all day into the evening!
There will be live music all day and into the evening, starting at 11 a.m., at the Rotary Aqua Theatre. All your favourite local bands will be playing, promise!!
At noon, the Canada Day Parade starts at Andrew Street, on to Mississaga Street, on to Centennial Drive and disperses at the north park entrance on Jarvis Street.
Opening ceremonies are happening at 1 p.m. at the Rotary Aqua Theatre. And at 2 p.m. the Canada Day cake, supplied by Mariposa Market, will be cut at the pavilion by the water. Free cake until they run out!
Finally, the big day will conclude with fireworks over the water, at approximately 9:45 p.m.
Thanks to all the volunteers, sponsors, and the committee for all your hard work, it wouldn’t be possible without all of you.
If you are looking for a very different vibe on July 1, grab a ticket for the Orillia Youth Centre benefit, Farm Fest, at Brightview Farm in Sebright.
Featuring performers Zachary Lucky, the Lonesome Ace String Band, and Bella Frances, this will be a beautiful time in the country with farm fun and food, too. Funds raised go to support youth programming at the Orillia Youth Centre along with the Nelson Bell, Jake Beers, and Vern Heron Dental Fund Bursaries. Admission is by donation of $20. Get your ticket here.
Hopefully you all know Mariposa Folk Festival is July 5 to 7, at Tudhope Park. She is the grande dame of folk festivals, and well worth coming out to, celebrating and enjoying. We are so lucky to have this jewel of a festival in our jewel of a park in our jewel of a town. If you don’t have your ticket yet, get it now. Full lineup, schedule, and everything you need to know, here www.mariposafolk.com.
The Orillia Opera House Professional Theatre Summer Series returns on July 3 with The Long Weekend by Norm Foster. Directed by Jesse Collins, the comedy follows two couples getting together for a long weekend in 1994…where everything goes awry. Guaranteed to make you laugh, and just the ticket for a fun summer night out! Tickets www.orilliaoperahouse.ca. This show runs until July 19.
Lots of live music other than Canada Day, this weekend. Boston Pizza has Robb Watts this Thursday at 4:30, live on the patio. Couchiching Craft Brewery has James Gray Friday and Mr. B the Band Saturday.
And Live at the Loft at Quayle’s Brewery presents Meredith Warboys Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m.; Chris Lemay Friday from 5 to 8 p.m.; Ron Whitman Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m.; Stephan Bernard Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m.; Rebekah Hawker Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m.; Burke Erwin Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m.; Mike Schultz Monday July 1 from noon to 3 p.m.; and finally, Cam Galloway July 1 from 4 to 7 p.m.
Also don’t miss the first concert of St. James’ summer noon-hour concert series, next Wednesday, July 3 from noon to 1 p.m. This event will feature Autumn Debassige, versatile singer/performer, and Blair Bailey, accompanist/performer of local fame. It’s going to be a good one.
Have a wonderful long weekend, however you celebrate it. And thank a volunteer!
If you have arts news, send it to [email protected] by Tuesday at noon to be included.
