Well folks, I hate to say it, but our short Ontario summer really is winding down. Less than three weeks left before Labour Day and back to school, which is hard to believe.
But there are still many fun events to come this summer, not to mention a plethora of amazing fall events on the horizon.
See You on the Patio just has three more weekends to run, so make sure to get out there and enjoy our pedestrian traffic only downtown before it is gone for another year.
The Friday Art Hop is on the same schedule, so make sure to stroll down Peter Street and check out all the galleries and art displayed there. There are guest artists at both Peter Street Fine Arts and Hibernation Arts, so go inside and look their beautiful work over, as well.
A little birdie told me that Xavier Fernandes has a large display up at Peter Street, in advance of Starry Night, so go check those wooden bowls and prints out as well.
Speaking of Starry Night, I hope you have marked your calendars and told all your friends to come out Aug. 26 from 7 to 10 p.m. This fantastic art crawl features most galleries in town and is a great way to add to your collection or buy for a special friend or occasion. Pass it on.
This Saturday is the Classic Car Show in downtown Orillia, a cultural event to be sure. Come check out the amazing vehicles and enjoy the downtown party atmosphere of the last BIA festival of summer.
And, in other fun and different events, Jack and Maddy downtown is hosting a kids pyjama party this Friday at 7:30 p.m. Krystal from Speaking of Wildlife will be reading from her book, Larry the Opossum Has No Eyes. And, I have heard the kiddos will also have the chance to meet a real live opossum. Grab some dinner at See You on the Patio and then enjoy this super cool bedtime story this Friday.
Don’t forget the Orillia Opera House summer theatre shows continue, get tickets before the summer is gone at www.orilliaoperahouse.ca.
Also, Gangs, Guns, and Grog every Wednesday walking tour ending up with a brew at Couchiching Craft Brewery. Tickets at www.orilliamuseum.org.
Under “mark your calendars”, the concert announcements for the fall just keep on coming. Paso Por Paso is hosting a concert fundraiser featuring Guatemalan born, Toronto-based singer-songwriter Paula Sofia on Sunday, Sept. 17 from 12 to 3 p.m. at St. Paul’s Centre in Orillia.
Tickets are $50 per person and include a live performance plus Guatemalan lunch from El Quetzal Restaurant & Bakery. Get your tickets here. All proceeds go towards Paso Por Paso.
Also at St. Paul’s, Thursday Sept. 21 at 7:30 p.m., a wonderful concert with Lowest of the Low and special guests REAY Music opening for them. This will be an amazing show, presented by Inside the Music as part of its once-a-month Thursday night concert series at St. Paul’s. Tickets are only $40 for two great bands, so hustle on over and grab them here.
Of course, there is lots of live music this weekend, including Ryan Naismith on Thursday, Jamie Drake and the Thunderstealers Friday, and Briar Summers Saturday, all at Couchiching Craft Brewery. Don’t miss Quayle Brewery’s Summer Music Series Aug. 17 to 20, with Ron Whitman, Jess Bowman, Kyle Wauch, and Mitch Szitas.
Enjoy every moment of this week, and if you have arts news, send it to [email protected] by Tuesday at noon to be included.
