We have been from summer to fall and back to summer and now fall-ish this month, so who knows what October will bring. One thing’s for sure, there will always be lots of arts and culture here in Orillia and this week is super busy, so let’s get to it.
Hibernation Arts is having a house concert Thurs. Sept. 26 with Sean Patrick and Darrin Davis. These guys are both great musicians and well worth the $20 price of admission. Molly will have refreshments as well, so make sure to head on down and enjoy an intimate house show in the cozy surroundings of Hibernation Arts at 7 Peter St. S. Show gets underway at 7 p.m.
Then, start your weekend off with a bang Friday night with a Wine and Paint Night with Tanya Cunnington at the Orillia Museum of Art and History (OMAH) at 30 Peter St. S. The fun gets underway at 6:30 p.m. and two drinks are included with the price of admission! You will be sure to be a great artist after two drinks! Tickets are $30 for OMAH members, $40 for non-members and you can register by calling 705-326-2159 today.
Another option for Friday night is the Banff Centre Mountain Film World Tour at the Orillia Opera House. Lots of amazing extreme films or maybe films of extreme events. A really fun night; you can get your $28 plus fees tickets online here.
Saturday at 4 and 7 p.m., the Geneva Event Centre at 16 West St. S. is hosting two showings of the movie I’m Just Me, The Charlie Pride Story. The producer and a local music journalist who is a friend of the family will be on hand to answer questions after the shows. Tickets are $10 and can be picked up online here.
Also Saturday, the Mariposa Grandmothers to Grandmothers group is hosting a Yards and Yarns sale at St. Paul’s Centre 62 Peter St. N., to fundraise for the Stephen Lewis Foundation. The sale runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and there are tons of material, yarn, sewing supplies and more for the happy crafter or fibre artist. Don’t miss it!
Continuing with your busy Saturday, a new shop in town, Le Petit Chapeau, is having its grand opening starting at 10 a.m. and running until 8 p.m. This little gem is located at 5 Peter St. S., upstairs in suite 206 and there will be snacks and fun as well as gorgeous handmade hats and accessories. Click this link to RSVP.
Sunday, The Kington Brass and organist Marshall Martin present a fundraising concert in support of The Lighthouse Building Hope campaign. Don’t miss this whole afternoon of fine music and an opportunity to support an important cause. The concert starts at 2:30 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 99 Peter St. N., and admission is by freewill donation.
If you are more into the spoken word, Storytelling Orillia’s first story circle of the season gets underway Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Orillia Museum of Art and History. Bob Graham is your host and he will explain what makes a good story. Come to listen or share a story of your own. Admission is free.
Looking ahead into October, there are, of course, many great events going on in this busy little O-Town. Orillia’s Jazz Fest runs Oct. 17-20 and features great performances by Lance Anderson, The Danny McErlain Trio, Brassworks with a host of guest artists, and many more, in venues ranging from the Hog ‘n’ Penny to St. Paul’s Centre. For more information to start planning that weekend, go to the website.
The Orillia Silver Band has two concerts in October. On Oct. 27 at 2:30 p.m. at the Orillia Opera House, join the OSB in supporting Hillcrest Lodge in the annual fundraising concert for that worthy institution. Oct. 20 at 2:30 p.m. the band trips the Light Fantastic in its concert of that same name, just up the road at the Gravenhurst Opera House. Tickets for each show are $25 and are available through each Opera House box office.
Orillia Centre for Culture has a couple of great shows coming up in early November that you would be wise to pay attention to and plan for now.
Kune, Canada’s global orchestra, featuring 11 musicians from all corners of the globe, will be on stage Nov. 2 at 8 p.m. at St. Paul’s Centre. Nov. 1 Jane Bunnett and Maqueque, an all female Cuban jazz ensemble, will be at St. Paul’s Centre as well.
Both these nights are guaranteed to be mind-blowing. We are lucky to have such talent come to our small town, please come out and support so we can continue to have these opportunities. For tickets to Kune, click here. For tickets for Jane Bunnett, click here.
And a quick note that tickets for Mariposa Folk Festival’s 60th anniversary are now on sale. At $135 it's the lowest price you will get them for, and they are available online here.
Music in the bars? You betcha! At The Brownstone Café, Friday Ewan McIntyre Band, Saturday The Honky Tonk Zeros. At the Hog ‘n’ Penny, live music Friday Saturday and Sunday, Friday Darrin Davis. At Fionn MacCool’s, Friday Mark Ekins, Saturday Marshal Dane. At the casino, Friday Mind Kontrol, Saturday Al Bano.
Have a great week and weekend, and don’t forget to send me your arts info, to [email protected], by Tuesday at noon to be included.
