The final edition of the Back to '90s Video Dance Party is set for May 25 at ODAS Park.
The first edition of the event last summer raised over $11,000 for the Sharing Place Food Centre. Volume 2 in December raised $14,000 to buy toys for local toy drives.
In partnership with ODAS Park and Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Orillia and District, the final Back to '90s Video Dance Party aims to raise more than $10,000 to purchase bikes for children in need.
"A lot of the activities at the Severn Winterfest were cancelled this year," explains dance organizer Derick Lehmann. "The polar bear dip was set up to buy bikes for kids. So, I phoned the organizer, Chad Cooke, and said 'Let's resurrect that idea.'"
BBBS is working behind-the-scenes with Lehmann to find kids in the area who could most benefit from a new bike.
While the dance party is marketed toward people who lived through the '90s, it attracts various ages of people 19 and older.
"We've had seniors show up and people who just turned 19," Lehmann said. "We've even had bachelorette parties."
Lehmann says the '90s is a decade with a "great mix" of music that many people can relate to. He expects around 850 people to attend the dance this month.
"It brings people back to a time that is really fun," he said. "A nostalgic throwback gets people excited to come out and have fun with it."
While the '90s theme has worked well over the last year, Lehmann says it's time to give people a bit of a change. He hints that his next dance in July will be a Hawaiian tiki-themed party, featuring a mix of music from different decades.
"We want to keep it fresh," he said.
Lehmann says nightlife is "finally" returning to Orillia and believes his dances are playing a role in that.
"We don't have a club per se," he said. "Our dances kind of turn into that situation with the lighting, the loud music, and video screens."
Lehmann says Orillians have been "starving" for live entertainment.
"I think that combined with the fun themes and the charitable part of it, it is really bringing a lot of people to these events," he said. "People are having a good time and it's for a good cause."
All alcohol sales proceeds from the event go back to the Orillia & District Agriculture Society which operates the bar.
"It's important for me to support them as well," he said. "Every event they hold lets them repair the building, keep the grounds, pay insurance, electricity, and all these other things in order to have those fairgrounds accessible."
Tickets are available for $20 in advance, through the event’s website or at AlleyCats Music & Art in downtown Orillia (cash only). Tickets will also be available for $25 at the doors when they open at 8 p.m. Groups of 10 or more should reach out to Lehmann for a special discount.
"Sales are doing really well," Lehmann said. "I fully expect we will hit capacity because this is the last dance with this theme."
