Sunshine City Festival Gearing Up in Orillia

       

JULY 25, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ORILLIA – Circle your calendar. On August 17-19, the City of Orillia celebrates the 100^th anniversary of the publishing of Stephen Leacock’s “Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town”, the adoption of Daylight Savings Time and the production of the Tudhope Car.  The Sunshine City Festival will take visitors back in time to 1912 for three days in Couchiching Beach Park and feature activities and events for everyone.

Visitors can enjoy live performances celebrating the turn of the 19^th century, visit the Living Mariposa experience, which will include historical exhibits and activities from the Leacock Museum, The Orillia Museum of Art and History and more, get a shave or a haircut right in the park and dress up in period clothes and have a vintage photo taken.

The Sunshine City Festival is a celebration of Orillia’s diversity through a showcase of historical displays, demonstrations, music, dance, film and art. At the heart of the event is an authentic pre-1912 midway and carnival complete with a Ferris wheel, carousel, calliope and vintage carnival games of chance!

Along with the games and displays there is plenty of food, vendors, film screenings, live shows, a kid zone and music programmed in the Couchiching band stand and the Aqua Theatre. There is also an extension of the Orillia Classic Car Show on Saturday featuring several pre-World War I motor cars on display in Couchiching Park.

What’s the best part?  It’s free! There’s something for all ages to enjoy. Come dressed in period clothing and win prizes daily for the best costume.

Friday August 17

Special Events

12:00pm: OPENING CEREMONIES – Couchiching Bandstand

1:00pm and 4:00pm: 1912 FASHION SHOW “The Working Class” – Event Stage

1:30pm, 3:30pm, 5:30pm: “Turning Clouds Inside Out: A Country Woman’s Life in the Twentieth Century” – Catherine Ashton – Living Mariposa Tent

3:00pm: ORILLIA’s BEST BUTTER TART – judged competition – Champlain Pavilion

5:00pm COSTUME OF THE DAY – judged competition – Event Stage

8:30pm: OUTDOOR FILM SCREENING “Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town” – Aqua Theatre

Entertainment

1:00pm: SERENITY ROAD – vocal duo – Couchiching Bandstand

2:00pm:  JAMES HARRIS – hammered dulcimers – Couchiching Bandstand

3:00pm:  THE BAND OF HOPE – brass quartet – Couchiching Bandstand

1:00pm:  ALEX The Minstrel Band – performance – Aqua Theatre

2:00pm: FRESHWATER TRADE – performance – Aqua Theatre

5:00pm: THE BARLEY JUICE STRING BAND – performance – Aqua Theatre

6:00pm: FRESHWATER TRADE – performance – Aqua Theatre

All Day

12:00pm – 11pm – Carnivale Lune Blue – historic midway and carnival

12:00pm – 6pm – Heritage Tents

12:00pm – 6pm – Orillia Fine Arts Association, Couchiching Pavilion

12:00pm – 6pm: Kids Zone, Couchiching Pavillion

12:00pm – 6pm – steam power, farm implements, static heritage displays

12:00pm – close – Food Vendors, Artisan Village, Beer Garden and Market Place

Saturday August 18

Special Events

10:00am – 5:00pm: ANTIQUE CAR DISPLAY – Terry Fox Circle

10:00am – 5:00pm: Horse and Buggy Rides, Blacksmith and Horse Corral

12:00pm: SUNSHINE CITY BALL and period dance lessons – Aqua Theatre

1:00pm and 4:00pm: 1912 FASHION SHOW “Society’s Elite” – Event Stage

1:00pm and 4:00pm: THE MEDICINE SHOW – kids show – THEATRE TENT

3:00pm: ORILLIA’s BEST PIE – judged competition – Champlain Pavilion

5:00pm COSTUME OF THE DAY – judged competition – Event Stage

8:30pm: OUTDOOR FILM SCREENING “The General” starring Buster Keaton – Aqua Theatre

Entertainment

12:00pm:  THE BAND OF HOPE – brass quartet – Couchiching Bandstand

2:00pm:  JAMES HARRIS – hammered dulcimers – Couchiching Bandstand

4:00pm: SERENITY ROAD – vocal duo – Couchiching Bandstand

10:00am: FARRUCAS! – Latin Band – Aqua Theatre

11:00am: ORILLIA SILVER BAND – performance - Aqua Theatre

12:00pm:  THE SILVERY MOON SALON ORCHESTRA  – performance - Aqua Theatre

1:00pm: THE COUNTY CHORDSMEN – vocal performance – Aqua Theatre

2:00pm:  THE SILVERY MOON SALON ORCHESTRA  – performance - Aqua Theatre

3:00pm:  ALEX The Minstrel Band – performance – Aqua Theatre

4:00pm: THE BARLEY JUICE STRING BAND – performance – Aqua Theatre

5:00pm: SHEESHAM and LOTUS – performance – Aqua Theatre

6:30pm: THE RONNIE DOUGLAS BLUES BAND – performance – Aqua Theatre

All Day

10:00am – 11pm – Carnivale Lune Blue – historic midway and carnival

10:00am – 6pm – Heritage Tents

10:00am – 6pm – Orillia Fine Arts Association, Couchiching Pavilion

10:00am – 6pm: Kids Zone, Couchiching Pavilion

10:00am – 6pm – steam power, farm implements, static heritage displays

10:00am – close – Food Vendors, Artisan Village, Beer Garden and Market Place

Sunday August 19

Special Events

10:00am – 12:00pm: COMMUNITY PANCAKE BREAKFAST – Fairgrounds

10:00am – 5:00pm: Horse and Buggy Rides, Blacksmith and Horse Corral

1:00pm and 4:00pm: 1912 FASHION SHOW “Sunday Picnic”  – Event Stage

1:00pm and 4:00pm: THE MEDICINE SHOW – kids show – KIDS ZONE

1:30pm, 3:30pm, 5:30pm: “Turning Clouds Inside Out: A Country Woman’s Life in the Twentieth Century” – Catherine Ashton – Living Mariposa Tent

2:00pm: EVALYN PARRY’S “SPIN” – theatrical show – THEATRE TENT

3:00pm: MARIPOSA CAKE CONTEST – judged competition – Champlain Pavilion

5:00pm COSTUME OF THE DAY – judged competition – Event Stage

Entertainment

12:00pm:  ALEX The Minstrel Band – Gospel Performance – Aqua Theatre

1:00pm: SERENITY ROAD – vocal duo – Couchiching Bandstand

2:00pm:  JAMES HARRIS – hammered dulcimers – Couchiching Bandstand

3:00pm:  THE BAND OF HOPE – brass quartet – Couchiching Bandstand

1:00pm: ST. JAMES CHOIR and Friends with Paul and Amy Doddington, conducted by Albert Greer – Aqua Theatre

3:00pm: SHEESHAM and LOTUS – performance – Aqua Theatre

4:15pm: SKYLINERS BIG BAND – performance, Aqua Theatre

6:30pm: SKYLINERS BIG BAND EVENING CONCERT – performance – Aqua Theatre

All Day

12:00pm – close – Carnivale Lune Blue – historic midway and carnival

12:00pm – 6pm – Heritage Tents

12:00pm – 6pm – Orillia Fine Arts Association, Couchiching Pavilion

12:00pm – 6pm: Kids Zone, Couchiching Pavilion

12:00pm – 6pm – steam power, farm implements, static heritage displays

12:00pm – close – Food Vendors, Artisan Village, Beer Garden and Market Place

For more information or details on the baking contests, visit www.leacockmuseum.com.