Five popular local events are splitting $11,500 in grants after the latest funding announcement from the City of Orillia.
Recipients gathered Wednesday at city hall to pick up their cheques as part of the city’s Partnership Programming for Cultural Festivals and Events Grant Program.
The recipients are as follows: Orillia Canada Day Committee ($2,500), Orillia Perch Festival ($2,500), Orillia Scottish Festival ($2,500), Roots North Music Festival ($2,500) and Starry Night Studio and Gallery Tour ($1,500).
“As a non-profit festival, we depend on donations and grants. Without it, it would be pretty hard to run the festival,” said Laura Grant, a member of the Scottish Festival committee.
The 43rd annual festival is scheduled for July 17 to 19 — this year, honouring the Macrae clan — and the grant will help cover a variety of costs, including paying the bands and other entertainment.
“We are so appreciative to get it,” Grant said.
The funding comes at a good time for the Roots North Music Festival, said its artistic director, Sarah Duffy.
“A lot of our costs are incurred in advance and we don’t have the money coming in until after, so this is really helpful,” she said.
The money will go toward marketing as the festival tries to reach potential audiences farther afield.
This year’s festival, running April 23 to 25, will, for the first time, include children’s programming at Manticore Books. There will also be free concerts at various venues around town.
“They get to discover some new stores, maybe, and new music, too,” Duffy said.
The Orillia and District Arts Council (ODAC) applied for a grant on behalf of Starry Night. The $1,500 will help with marketing, said Starry Night committee member Patti Agapi.
“It will allow us to expand our reach beyond the county,” she said.
“In the long run, the community support will help us expand this, which will bring in more people to the city. It’s a win-win,” added ODAC member Christine Hager.
The Orillia Perch Festival has big plans for its 40th annual event, happening April 18 to May 16. An extra week has been added to the festival because, in recent years, the ice has stayed on the lakes longer.
“With us going to four weeks this year, it does help out,” said Allan Lafontaine, managing director of the Orillia District Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the event.
Some of the grant money will go toward the purchase of rods and reels, which will be given to children whose families might not be able to afford them.
A representative of the Canada Day committee was not on hand for Wednesday’s presentation.
Coun. Ralph Cipolla presented the cheques and told recipients their events “bring our city to life throughout the year and contribute greatly to our local economy.”
“Without you, our economy, especially in the downtown area, would not be as lucrative,” he said.
