The inaugural Shivers & Sizzles festival got underway Saturday in downtown Orillia.
The first-time event, organized by the Orillia and District Arts Council, Arts Orillia, and Couchiching Craft Brewery Co., combines music and art.
The festival kicked off in the Lone Wolf Café outdoor courtyard with an ice-carving demonstration and will continue in the evening with reggae music performances at Couchiching Craft Brewing Co.
“We’ve had a lot of people at Lone Wolf Café today,” said event organizer Christine Hager. “We’ve already decided that this would be a good thing to have next year.”
This year’s event is just a sample of what attendees can expect next year.
“We didn’t have enough time this year to put on the full event because of when we got the funding,” Hager explained.
The main attraction will be the sold-out reggae music performances at the brewery from 7 to 9 p.m. Performing will be Liberty Silver, a multiple Juno and Grammy collaboration award-winning recording artist. The event will also feature M2 Studio band singer Merlene Webber and Errol Lee, a local singer, songwriter, and advocate.
“It’s fantastic that it sold out,” Hager said. “We’ve put a lot of effort into this.”
The event aims to give people another reason to visit downtown Orillia at this time of year.
“It offsets the winter blues that happen here,” Hager said.
“We hope this small festival will bring activity to the businesses. Next year, it will be much bigger, and we will co-ordinate with all the restaurants and stores.”
She says local businesses are embracing the event and are excited about its future.
“Next year will be a good show,” she said. “We are optimistic that if we can keep this quality of music going, and if we get to use the waterfront next year, this festival will be wonderful.”
The festival will conclude Sunday at Creative Nomad Studios with a free djembe drumming and pan drumming performance geared toward children.
“Kids will have the opportunity to make their own drums,” Hager said. “I hope it’s going to be charged with excitement.”
