NEWS RELEASE
ORILLIA DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
*************************
The holiday season kicks off in Orillia this weekend with the Orillia District Chamber of Commerce’s Santa Comes to Town tour and the opening of the Light Up Orillia & Lake Country holiday light contest.
Hydro One is once again our presenting sponsor, providing light installations to energize and illuminate public places.
This year’s event will also feature thousands of dollars in prizes to be won.
“The support from Hydro One means we can make this year’s event even bigger and better than last year’s,” says Doug Bunker, the events coordinator for the chamber.
“We’re excited to build on the success we saw last year and get residents and businesses all around Orillia and Lake Country involved in lighting up the landscape and sharing the holiday joy this festive season," said Bunker.
“At Hydro One, we feel a deep responsibility to support local organizations who are working tirelessly to build safe communities,” said Jay Armitage, Vice President, Marketing & Communications, Hydro One.
“We are proud to be a part of Orillia, where community members and local organizations have come together to support one another during a challenging year. We’re proud to support the Orillia Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Orillia Management Board to energize the holidays for Orillians this season.”
Light Up Orillia & Lake Country 2020 received recognition from Festivals and Events Ontario through their 2021 Adapt-Pivot-Evolve Award Program.
Contest entries were received from residents and businesses from all around Orillia and area, and light displays were in Orillia’s waterfront park and downtown Arts District as well as at a local retirement home and women’s shelter.
For this year’s Light Up Orillia & Lake Country Event, the registration and voting system has been simplified, and the light tour will be available earlier. The Chamber is working with the Sharing Place Food Centre to connect the event with their Healthy Holiday Food Drive by asking participating businesses to place collection bins at their locations.
In addition, a Santa Comes to Town tour, featuring St. Nick riding his float throughout local neighbourhoods and shopping districts, has been added to this year’s festivities.
Pizza Nova Orillia and Orillia Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation are supporting the Chamber’s holiday initiatives as gold level sponsors, along with silver sponsor Kahuna and bronze sponsors Sunshine Superwash, Sunshine Carpet and Flooring, and Scottish Highlands Golf Course.
Drivers from Jim Wilson Chevrolet will be towing Santa’s float during the Santa Claus Comes to Town Tour on Nov. 20-21.
The Santa Comes to Town tour starts off in Downtown Orillia on Saturday morning before heading out to Rama, then to West Ridge and finally the Orillia Square Mall in Severn Township. Sunday’s tour will include another visit to Downtown Orillia and then a tour of the Eight Mile Point and Carthew Bay area of Oro- Medonte.
Details of Santa’s route are available here. Live updates will be broadcast on 89.1 MAX FM and Pure Country 106.
Entries for this year’s Light Up Orillia & Lake County contest will be accepted starting Nov. 20.
Residents of Orillia, Severn, Oro-Medonte, Ramara and Rama are encouraged to set up their light displays this weekend and register here.
Contest registrations will be accepted up until Dec. 20, but participants should register early for the best chance of winning as voting will begin the first week of December.
More information about the Orillia District Chamber of Commerce’s holiday events can be found at www.orillia.com
The Orillia District Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization that provides voice for an integrated and prosperous business community that fosters economic development and advocates on behalf of its members. We do this to promote sustainable growth in Orillia, Severn, Ramara, OroMedonte, and Rama.
*************************
