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Events & Festivals


◘ Orillia Perch Festival  ◘ Orillia Scottish Festival  ◘ Vintage Auto Show



There are several places on the web where you can keep up to date on the various events scheduled throughout the year in Orillia (see below).  Weekly and monthly local events are usually found in The Packet, but only in the print version. I haven't been able to locate the page in the online version of the paper. These events, however, are more likely to be of interest to local residents, and less so to visitors.




One of the things that occurs weekly throughout the late spring to early fall isn't really an event the way some of our festivals are "events", but for vintage car enthusiasts (whether visitors or locals), this weekly meet-up is probably of interest.  Every Friday evening a group of these vintage and classic car owners show up at the parking lot at Home Depot (Westridge area) and show off their cars, and share their stories, whether they're tales of "adventure" running a vintage vehicle, or whether they're tips to repair and restore an old vehicle, or where to find parts ... it's an interesting and fun way to spend an hour wandering through the parking lot and peeking at the cars.


As well as this group of car enthusiasts, our area has a couple of motorcycle clubs (um, yes, clubs, not "gangs"). Ordinary folks who just love to ride. They have scheduled events, rides and meet-ups, and the Gravenhurst Group (The Muskokan Thunder) also promotes rides to support charity groups, so if you happen to be a motorcycle enthusiast up in this area, you can check out the Muskoka group, and the Orillia chapter of the Southern Cruisers Riding Club.



Regular annual events often have their own websites, and that's probably the best option to keep up to date with recent changes and updates on the event schedules. Many of the festivals and events can be found and accessed through the Orillia Chamber of Commerce Events page.

Snowbirds

Not necessarily a yearly event, but every couple of years the Canadian Snowbirds pay a visit to Orillia for an air show. Fairly often it coincides with one of the other major events in the City (Canada Day weekend is usually the scheduled time frame, so watch for the announcements starting in June. See this page for images related to the last couple of shows.


Music Events

The Orillia Spring Blues Festival

Orillia Jazz Fest

The Mariposa Folk Festival

Ashiko World Music Festival or Sharing Place Ashiko

Kiwanis Music Festival

Orillia Beatles Celebration

Sunday Evening Concerts in the Park: This has been a very popular regularly attended event
throughout the summer months. Free concerts from a variety of performing bands and musicians at the (outdoor) Rotary Aqua Theatre in Couchiching Beach Park. They occur almost every Sunday evening, and are free to attend. There are some benches at the venue, but many people bring their own lawn chairs or blankets and site on the hill above to enjoy the free music on Sunday evenings. You should check the schedule as the hours may change slightly from Sunday to Sunday, and there are a couple of Sundays where the theatre or park is in use for other things, and there is nothing scheduled on those nights.


Theatre and Shows

Orillia Film Festival

Orillia Opera House

Orillia Galaxy Cineplex - What's Showing

Casino Rama Events


Special Days & Holiday Celebrations

 Orillia Dragon Boat Festival

Canada Day Celebrations

Maple Syrup Festival (Farmer's Market)

Coldwater Lions Club Duck Race

Rotary Club Fun Fest (always the first long weekend of August at Couchiching Beach Park)



Other Events

Burl's Creek Events Park
- Automotive Flea Market
- Ride for Sight
- Music & Arts Camping Festival
- Boots & Hearts Country Music Festival

Odas Park and The Orillia Fall Fair

Orillia Museum of Art &; History - Showings and Special Events