It’s Getting Hot in Here
Summer heats up in Orillia
By Emily Macdonald, Staff Writer
Summer is coming, and that means Orillia is about to get a lot busier! With cottagers returning, day trip opportunities made abundant, and lots of events offered around town, you certainly won’t be bored this summer. Orillia is known to have some significant events from the renowned Street Fair to a Lumberjack Festival in Brechin. April through to September can be a lot of fun.
Starting in April, St. Paul’s United Church will host its annual production; this year is Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat from April 3-6th. Be sure to check out this event, as some Lakehead Orillia students will be acting in the play! April 20th is a big day for Orillia, as the Downtown Easter Egg Hunt begins. On the same day, the Perch Festival will start, which is exciting for all local fishers. The fish are tagged and ready to be caught, and participants have the opportunity to win financial awards. This festival runs until May 11th, so grab your fishing rod and throw your line!
Moving into May, we have a lot of concerts, ranging from bands to vocal ensembles, along with the Library walk. The OMAH History Speaker Series with Chris Decker will be happening on May 15th, and the Green and Blue Street Festival will begin shortly after on May 25th.
June will be exciting this year, from the start of concert season to the famous boat show, taking place from June 7-9th. Streets Alive kicks off on the 15th, and that is something you do not want to miss. On the same day, the Leacock Poetry Contest and the Family History Festival will begin. On June 22nd, the annual Summer Reading Club will launch at the library, followed shortly after by the Library Story Walk on June 28th. Most notably, the Rolling Stones will be in Oro-Medonte on June 29th, so be sure to get your tickets before they are sold out!
July is always a good time with Canada Day celebrations happening to kick the month off. A local mom told The Argus, “I love to bring my kids around to the different places on Canada Day. It’s fun and interactive and we never run of out things to do. Fireworks at the end provide a good closure.” Be sure to check out the family-friendly festivities! Mariposa Folk Festival is a classic city favourite, and it is happening from July 5-7th this year. Movies in the Park will happen on the 10th and 24th, while Sunday concerts start to roll back onto the scene. The 27th will be an excellent day for our inner nerds, as Comicon and The Toy Show are here, along with the downtown Summer Block Fair.
With the great weather in August, be sure to hit up Tudhope or Couchiching beach! Movies in the Park continues on August 7th and 21st, while the Waterfront Festival is taking place August 9-11th! Many local vendors will be there, so this event is an absolute must if you want to see some cool stuff. And of course, Boots and Hearts will be in town from August 8-11th.
The same weekend will also host Under the Pavillion. Driftwood Theatre’s Shakespeare in the Park will be performing ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ on the 13th, and it will certainly serve you a lot of laughs; this makes a great date night too! The Car Show drives into town on the 17th, so if you like cars and want to see some cool models, you’ll want to head downtown for the day.
After all of this excitement, summer will be approaching its end. September will bring a quietness back to Orillia and the Thunderwolves will be ready to begin the next school year.
For more information on Orillia’s summer activities, check out https://www.ontarioslakecountry.com/summer-experiences/
