Hooray it’s June! The start of summer, which means tons of outdoor fun, lots of events, and great things to see and do in our area. It all goes by too fast, so make sure you make plans to have lots of summer fun in these fleeting three months of perfect weather!
June is Pride Month, as well as Indigenous History Month in Canada. Take the time to learn the true history of our country, which includes discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and our First Nations people, as well as many other folks.
Pride in Orillia is mostly courtesy of Lake Country Pride, with lots of great partners. Pride on the Patio is a new event this year, happening Friday, June 12 in downtown Orillia. Things kick off with Pride Yoga from 5 to 6 p.m. at Sol to Soul Yoga, 8 Peter St. S. The class is $20 with all proceeds going to Lake Country Pride.
From 6 to 10 p.m. next Friday, June 12, Mississaga Street will be closed from Peter Street to Matchedash Street with expanded patios, live entertainment, and an outdoor vendor market. As well, many main street stores will stay open late for your shopping enjoyment.
Also Friday night, the first Pride on the Patio: Queer Elopements, at the Rustica Patio, in collaboration with AWAKE Ceremony, are happening. For only $150 per couple (you bring the licence), come get married on the patio at Rustica! You even get a wedding portrait done, by Brit Deck! To register, click here.
Saturday, June 13, the Orillia Public Library is once again hosting sign and button-making from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., so you have everything you need for the annual Pride Parade, which starts at 1 p.m. at the Library Courtyard. March on down to the post-march gathering at Couchiching Park, where there will be live drag performances, vendors and community booths, and lots of PRIDE!
Mariposa Arts Theatre’s Queer Cabaret is the next weekend, June 19-21, and you don’t want to miss that! Limited tickets remain for the Friday and Saturday night shows, and Sunday afternoon all-ages matinee. Get them here.
Don’t forget to check out the new exhibits at Orillia Museum of Art and History (OMAH), featuring two fine Rama-born artists. The Many Faces of Paul Shilling: A Retrospective; and Drake Williams: Awaken the Spirits opened last weekend to a big crowd, and run until September. Come in to OMAH and see these fantastic exhibits.
This weekend, Elvis in his many incarnations comes to St. Paul’s Centre, Friday at 7:30 p.m. If you love Elvis, you will love this tribute show to three decades of Elvis. Tickets here.
This Saturday night at 7 p.m., St. Paul’s is again the venue, this time for the Orillia Silver Band show, Bright Nights. Theatre and dance tunes are in the spotlight in this fun spring concert, which features solos from some of the band’s own members. Come out and enjoy, tickets at the door (cash) or online here.
Sunday, it’s Arts for Peace! This venerable festival is still going strong, and being headed up by some of the kids who first attended, back in the ’80s! Come out to the Rotary Aqua Theatre from 12 to 5 p.m. and peacefully enjoy music, arts and crafts, storytelling, drumming, Tai Chi, and more, all celebrating community and a peaceful way of life. And all free of charge!
Next Wednesday, June 10, the Orillia Public Library also catches the Elvis bug, as Elvis tribute artist Bruce Andrew Stewart comes out to wow the crowd at 6 p.m. There will also be Elvis trivia, stories and insights, and it should be a must-attend event for true Elvis fans. Register here.
Thursday, June 11, Marc Jordan is coming to the Orillia Opera House. Grab your tickets at www.orilliaoperahouse.ca and get out there and hear this wonderful show!
Live music this week at Quayle’s, Thursday, Burke Erwin; Friday, Francesca Panetta; Saturday, Kyle Wauchope; and Sunday, Steve Charlebois.
Have a fantastic start of June, and if you have arts events, send them to annaproctor111@gmail.com by Tuesday at noon to be included.
