NEWS RELEASE
DOWNTOWN ORILLIA BIA
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The Downtown Orillia BIA is proud to highlight a number of festive activities happening in downtown Orillia throughout November as a way of kicking off the holiday season.
The weekend of Friday, Nov. 22 and Saturday, Nov. 23, in particular, we’re calling the Holiday Festive Weekend in downtown Orillia. We’re also proud to work alongside and support some amazing community partners to be able to make these things possible.
The first activity is the traditional Christmas tree-lighting ceremony. With the recent addition of a majestic new blue spruce tree nicknamed Fred’s Tree 2 on the Orillia Opera House property, the tradition of a community tree-lighting ceremony in the downtown continues. The ceremony will be at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22 at the Orillia Opera House. Special recognition to the City of Orillia and Coun. Ralph Cipolla for acquiring the new tree, transplanting it and installing the tree lights.
The next activity is the Children’s Candlelight Parade. All are welcome to join us at the corner of Mississaga Street and Front Street as we marshal and then begin walking west along Mississaga Street. The parade will begin at 7 p.m. sharp on Friday, Nov. 22 with a special signal to begin the parade. The Orillia Fire Department (OFD) will lead the parade, which will end on the steps of the opera house just in time for the tree-lighting ceremony. We’re very grateful for the support of the OFD for this activity. We’re thankful for the contribution of the Salvation Army.
The next activity is the Orillia Christmas Market, an indoor/outdoor artisan market organized by Creative Nomad Studios supported by the BIA and other partners. The market will run Friday, Nov. 22 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and continue on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The special Friday night market may have up to 100 vendors both outside on Mississaga Street (across from the opera house) and indoors at Creative Nomad Studios, the Orillia Public Library and the Orillia Opera House. The Saturday market will have vendors indoors at Creative Nomad Studios and outdoors on Mississaga Street. To learn more, visit their website, www.orilliachristmasmarket.ca.
The final activity of the weekend will be the Orillia Santa Claus Parade on Saturday, Nov. 23 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Organized by the Orillia District Chamber of Commerce, this annual tradition attracts thousands of smiling faces as it winds its way through downtown Orillia and showcases over 100 floats, bands and vehicles as well as jolly old St. Nick himself. For more information, visit www.orillia.com.
Some additional activities being planned for November and December in downtown Orillia are as follows:
- Late-night pre-Black Friday shopping — in downtown Orillia on Thursday, Nov. 21 at select businesses throughout the downtown. Shoppers can win one of three prizes of 50 downtown dollars.
- Black Friday downtown dollars half-price sale — Friday, Nov. 29 at 9 a.m. at 23 Mississaga St. W. While supplies last. Maximum $100 purchase.
- Twelve Days of Giving — A special daily promotion where Downtown Orillia BIA elves will be out catching people supporting random downtown businesses and giving them gifts of downtown dollars. The promotion will run from Dec. 3 to 14.
- Grand-prize draw — There will be a grand-prize draw of 500 downtown dollars for one lucky winner on Saturday, Dec. 14. More details to follow.
- Late-night Christmas shopping — Select downtown Orillia businesses will be open late on Dec. 5, 12, 13, 19 and 20 for all of your festive shopping needs. Watch for specials, discounts and so much more. Details to follow.
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