North of North Simcoe: Where have your travels taken you this summer? In Parry Sound, you can check out the Tower Hill Lookout for free! A steep climb with incredible views and pollinator gardens. Fun to spend a few minutes or an afternoon. You can also visit the Museum while there for a small fee.
Outside North Simcoe: Check out the Nancy Island Historic Site in Wasaga Beach! While just a stone's throw away, this site is a fun place to explore with the kids to learn about history and the HMS Nancy. The Island actually began to grow over the remains of the wreckage and was later excavated to develop the museum which is under the care of the Wasaga Beach Provincial Park. Borrow a Park Pass from a local library this summer and you go for free!
.
.
.
📍: Wasaga Beach Provincial Park
The latest Streets Alive Productions community art installation is awesome! The 'Pollinator Friendly’ project has larger than life flower pieces with a nod to our butterflies and bees, adorning Missisauga Street in downtown Orillia this summer season. This is just a small taste of the sweet pieces so you will need to go for a walk to see for yourself! Check it out!
The Orillia Summer Concert Series in the Park is back! The Rotary Aqua Theatre is the perfect backdrop for listening to the Orillia Concert Band this evening. More FREE shows happening on Sundays this summer!
The annual Coldwater & Area Tour Studio was a great success! With so many artists and locations to check out, there was art for every style and occasion. Our region is blessed with so many incredibly talented artists and artisans. To learn more about what you may have seen and how to support them year round, visit: coldwaterstudiotour.com.
Ricky the Rock Snake is back on the trail in Orillia and looking longer and better than ever! We hope artists everywhere will contribute to his length now that the warmer months are here!
Spring foraging has begun! It's always fun to explore our region and look for fruit and vegetables that are grown naturally while we are at it. We did not have any luck with fiddleheads this round but found some ramps and wintergreen berries. There is so much to learn about edible plants...this is just a small 'taste'. Be sure to forage sustainably and responsibly, consuming only what you 100% know is edible and in locations that are safe to explore! Some of our local trails do not promote foraging, others encourage it. Regardless, it's time to take to the trails this spring!
Begonia is the Queen of Hearts tonight in Orillia for the Roots North Music Festival!
Anna, Barb and Xavier's downtown adventures continue. This round was their own art crawl! A stop at Peter Street Fine Arts Gallery and Studio, Hibernation Arts and Orillia Museum of Art and History, all on Peter St. South, made for an enriching outing. Orillia' Arts District is a happening place. Let us know if you check it out!
.
.
.
@peterstfinearts @orilliamuseum @hibernationartsorillia
This is your sign to go explore downtown Orillia! Anna took her sister Barb to see all the sights and shops in our downtown core. There's so much to do and see as a local and a tourist! They particularly enjoyed their charcuterie lunch from @therindandtruckle!
.
.
.
@plumlocoorillia @appleanniesorillia
@mariposamarket @orilliaflowers @uptownlivinginteriors @chapter_andverse @alleycatsmusic @hognpennyorillia
Niku Japanese Grill is now OPEN in downtown Orillia. Golden Wok has been operating for awhile but the new feature of All You Can Eat and the DIY grilling experience is now ready for you to enjoy! Swing by soon while they are still in soft-launch mode to receive 10% off your meal!
.
.
.
📍:@goldenwokorillia
Beautiful temperatures means the sap is flowing! Tap into Maple is happening across our region. With so many awesome local businesses and sugar shacks in our area, you don't have an excuse not to pick some up! It's Maple Syrup Time!
.
.
.
Backwoods Maple Syrup
The village of Coldwater came out to play for the annual St. Patrick's Day parade!
The Ontario 55+ Winter Games has made its way to Orillia and the downtown core is here for it. Middle Night was a wonderful evening shopping experience that showcased the fun and awesome small businesses we have in Orillia. So much wonderful food options, places to shop, music and art...Orillia is where it's at! We hope all the athletes had a wonderful time!
.
.
.
Orillia 2024 Ontario 55+ Winter Games
The Couchiching Conservancy, in partnership with the Orillia Public Library, hosted a Passport to Nature: Children's Story Walk event.
This was an all-ages event at Scout Valley with crafts, apple cider, a nature scavenger hunt and of course, the story walk nature hike while reading the book "Over and Under the Snow". A mild day made for great temperatures for engaging with our beautiful outdoors.
.
.
.
Couchiching Conservancy
Orillia Public Library
North Simcoe Life
Visit Orillia
#PassportToNature #Orillia #StoryWalk #OverandUndertheSnow
Lots of fun today at the Orillia Recreation Centre today for a New Year's Eve Bash for families. The balloon drop may not have totally panned out the way organizers anticipated, but the kids had loads of fun with all the other incredible activities. This felt a little remiscent of the Tree Lighting of Fred's Tree earlier in the month, but a reminder as we enter this new year that not everything can go the way you plan and not everything is picture perfect for the Internet. May your plans and dreams for 2024 pan out the way you hope...and if not, may you be able to accept it and find humour in the chaos.
Have you driven down Candy Cane Lane...and all the other magical pathways at the Magic of Lights in Springwater? This is a wonderful activity for all ages and abilities. This Light Show runs until January 6th and the price is per vehicle, not per person. We love seeing your adventures! Thanks to our readers for sending this footage our way!
Coldwater Welcomes Winter! The Village has come out to play, with decorations, festive activities and the perfect Christmas gifts available in the downtown strip. The Market at the Mill, walks in the Winter Wonderland and more... you'll be wanting to hit up Coldwater before the holidays are over.
Quayle's Brewery...a scene out of your favourite Hallmark Christmas Movie. Another fantastic outdoor vendor market weekend, with donations being collected for the Orillia Youth Centre! The only thing missing was a touch of the white, fluffy stuff to complete the aesthetic, but we don't think the vendors minded too much!
.
.
.
Quayle's Brewery
