Hello and welcome to week two of Christmas chaos ... or holiday happiness, depending on your perspective.
As per usual, lots going on in these weeks leading up to Christmas.
First off, just a reminder that many downtown businesses and galleries are open late on Thursdays until Christmas. Hibernation Arts is open until 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and Peter Street Fine Arts is open until 8 on Thursday. So, get your art shopping happening and don’t pay for parking after 5:30 p.m.
More than 30 downtown businesses are also open late on Thursdays, you can view the full list here and read our earlier story about it here. Shop local, it really does help your neighbours and your community.
Thursday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. come enjoy Able Theatre’s Christmas season show, improvised by the all-abilities cast. The show is at the Orillia Opera House, so get your tickets here www.orilliaoperahouse.ca and come cheer on this very able cast!
This Friday, Dec. 8 enjoy A Country Christmas with the Scott Woods Band and friends, at St. Paul’s Centre. There will be fiddling, step-dancing, yodelling and more at this sensational show, featuring Canadian Fiddling Champ Scott Woods. Tickets are $45 each and you can pick them up here www.scottwoods.ca.
Also Friday, Dec. 8, A Lunch at Allens Christmas is happening at the Orillia Opera House. Featuring four internationally renowned Canadian talents: Murray McLauchlan, Cindy Church, Marc Jordan and Ian Thomas, this show will have holiday songs new and old as well as lots of stories and feel good moments. Get your tickets at www.orilliaoperahouse.ca now.
On Saturday, Dec. 9 at 2 p.m., Cloud Gallery presents the opening reception of its final show of the fall, The Gift of Art, a Cloud Gallery group show. This show runs until Dec. 22. Many of the artist will be there, so come meet them and take home some art. Open bar and food. Reserve your spot here.
Also Saturday, you could be back at St. Paul’s for Aadsooke, The Moon of Storytelling. This will be a powerful and wonderful evening of storytelling by our Indigenous friends, Jeff Monague, Heather McIntyre, Jennifer Brunelle, Shawn Corbiere, John Rice, and Ronnie Douglas. Admission is free although donations are welcome. Everything gets underway at 7 p.m.
At 7 p.m. Saturday night, at St. James, come out for a Maple Leaf Club Swinging Christmas. Dance the night away to the tunes of the Orillia Big Band, wear your favourite Christmas clothes, and enjoy a cash bar and light refreshments. It’s going to be a very fun night. For tickets, click here.
Also this Saturday, Live from the MET presents Florencia en el Amazonas, a MET Opera premiere, at the Galaxy Theatre. An amazing opportunity to enjoy live opera from New York City’s world class organization. The show gets underway at 12:55 p.m.
This Saturday and Sunday, for a completely different kind of Christmas, check out Trees and Tours at Speaking of Wildlife. Get up close to some of their beautiful Canadian wildlife, including a grey wolf, a coyote, two hilarious beavers, and more…and pick up a Christmas tree and enjoy hot chocolate as well.
All proceeds go to keep these beautiful animals alive and happy. There is also a gift shop for the animal lovers on your list. Tours are $125 + HST per family/group (includes tree) and must be scheduled in advance. To book/reserve your tree, please call 705-327-9450; or email [email protected]. This event is also on Dec. 16 and 17, so grab a ticket for then if you are booked up this weekend.
Monday, Dec. 11 the Barra McNeils East Coast Christmas is happening at the Orillia Opera House. “A musical potpourri of traditional MacNeil family favourites gleaned from Christmas ceilidhs, midnight masses and the general festive frolic that accompanies each holiday season.” Sounds like fun, right? Tickets www.orilliaoperahouse.ca.
On Dec. 12 at 6 p.m., nip on over to Manticore Books for Hannukah Fest and Menorah lighting. There will be latkes, donuts and chocolate, crafts and fun for everyone. Come and celebrate!
Also Dec. 12, but at 7 p.m., the Orillia Secondary School Winter Concert is happening at the school. You can get your tickets through the school office, and it will be a great holiday concert.
Also if you don’t have your tickets for A Skydiggers Christmas, Thursday, Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Centre, what the heck are you waiting for? It’s going to be amazing. I have gone for years now, following them around Ontario, and am so excited to see them finally just a few blocks from my house. This is always an amazing show. Be there. Tickets www.insidethemusic.ca.
Live music this week, of course. Zachary Lucky is at PICNIC Sun. at 2 p.m. Chris Lemay Friday night, Cam Galloway Saturday night, and The Station Duo Sunday at 12:30 p.m., all at Couchiching Craft Brewery.
Next weekend? Orillia Silver Band, Orillia Vocal Ensemble, 4th Street Jazz Project, Brassworks, Merry Streets Alive Christmas, Serena Ryder, and a different kind of show, classical vocal and piano at Windrush Estates, featuring Alexandra Teske, vocalist, and Emily Morrison, pianist…check out this column for all the details.
If you have arts news, send it to [email protected] by Tuesday at noon to be included. Have a great week!
