The time has come! Summer has arrived and the gradual re-opening of our community has begun. We can now experience many of the events and activities that we have been anticipating for so long. Shop doors are open, patios are bustling, and plans can finally be put in place. Behind those masks are the smiles of business owners who finally get to welcome us back, with care and caution in mind. July in Orangeville presents an opportunity to experience our vibrant community in different ways and with a renewed appreciation for all that it has to offer. Whether you’re looking forward to in-person shopping, patio dining, or attending an adaptation of a favourite event, we warmly welcome you to enjoy it all. 
A new way to experience Orangeville
The Town of Orangeville has partnered with Driftscape to introduce a whole new way to experience the community. Launched on June 28, the partnership offers a unique and safe opportunity for visitors and locals of Orangeville to explore the Town’s sights and activities.
 
Driftscape is a mobile app that serves as a modern-day method to highlight Orangeville’s diverse set of activities, sites and stories. The app showcases the public art, historic landmarks, and recreational activities that can be found in Orangeville and entices locals and visitors to tour and explore each point of interest. This same information is also available on Driftscape’s web-based app. Users can discover attractions from the comfort of home and use Driftscape as a planning tool in advance of a visit to the community.
 
Orangeville’s partnership with Driftscape demonstrates how the Town is evolving its promotion of the community’s tourism assets. The app will allow users to easily find the tree sculptures, utility box art, murals, and monuments that comprise the Town’s growing public art collection. Each location features images and details to explain its significance. The popular Footsteps From Our Past walking tours have also been added to the app. The three self-guided routes lead users through Orangeville’s history, highlighting significant buildings and structures that make up the foundation of today’s community. “Our public art collection and heritage buildings are popular attractions for both locals and visitors,” says Ruth Phillips, Manager of Economic Development and Culture. “Driftscape allows users to create tours and experiences with these assets in a safe, accessible, and interactive way.”
 
With more than 100 points of interest mapped in the app, Orangeville has successfully created a one-of-a-kind self-guided exploration experience for its visitors. For residents who prefer to stay closer to home, Driftscape represents a compelling opportunity for them to explore their own backyards and discover local gems that are often overlooked. User engagement features such as augmented reality and offline exploration elevate the experience even further and make the app suitable for audiences across various age groups, catering to their unique preferences and interests. Driftscape delivers valuable and current information in a way that appeals to users, helping them to plan their trips safely and conveniently, even if they are on the go. Notifications are also available to highlight unique tourism opportunities that surround users as they explore the region.
 
To experience Orangeville in this new way, download the free Driftscape app from Google Play or the Apple App Store. Simply search for Orangeville to get started with your interactive experience.
Orangeville's top ten public art pieces, selected by you
There are over 70 pieces of public art in Orangeville. Tree sculptures, utility box art, statues, and monuments can all be discovered in locations throughout the community. To celebrate this growing collection, we are compiling a list of the top ten pieces of public art. Whether it's their size, scale, or story that makes them special, tell us which ones top your list.

Share your favourite public art pieces by selecting them through this simple online form. You can choose up to ten pieces. Based on the results, a tour of the most popular public art pieces will be curated and shared for everyone to experience through the new Driftscape app.

Voting closes on July 30 and the top ten public art tour will be released in August.
Orangeville Rotary Ribfest
Friday, July 16 | 4 to 8 p.m.
Saturday, July 17 | 12 to 8 p.m.

The Rotary Ribfest is your opportunity to enjoy great food for a good cause. The event will be offered as drive-thru format allowing you to stay in your vehicle as members of the Orangeville Rotary Club safely serve you. Gator BBQ and Brickyard BBQ will be serving up mouth-watering ribs alongside tasty side dishes offered by Scooter's Food Truck. All the funds raised will go towards local Rotary projects.

Find more details at orangevilleribfest.com and make sure to mark your calendars.
Orangeville Farmers' Market
Every Saturday until October 23
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
90 Broadway, across from Town Hall

Find fresh and local food at the Orangeville Farmers' Market on Saturdays. Each week, market vendors offer a tempting selection of produce, meat, baked goods, preserves, and more.

Information about participating vendors and operating guidelines can be found at downtownorangeville.ca. 
Picnic Perfect
Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Order in advance from participating downtown restaurants and cafes


Visit downtownorangeville.ca for details.
Theatre Orangeville's summer line-up

Theatre Orangeville has announced a schedule of summer productions that includes both in-person and virtual performances. The Third Life of Eddie Mann will stream from July 30 to August 17 on the virtual Opera House stage. The Summer Series welcomes audiences back to live theatre with two shows - Chase the Ace will be presented from August 11 to 22 and Josiah from September 8 to 19. Tickets go on sale on July 5.

Find all details and purchase tickets at theatreorangeville.ca.
Summer Concert Series

The second Annual Summer Concert Series is back! Taking place over six days in August, the drive-in style event will be held at Rotary Park. A variety of performances will be featured thanks to the participation of community partners including the Town of Orangeville, the Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival, Theatre Orangeville, B Social Enterprises, and the Orangeville Public Library. Tickets are on sale now.

Visit orangeville.ca/summerconcerts for a full list of dates and performances.
Celebrate Your Awesome on August 7
A virtual celebration to recognize diversity and pride in Dufferin County will be held on the evening of Saturday, August 7. Celebrate Your Awesome has partnered with Theatre Orangeville to put on this year's event. Enjoy all of the entertainment that you would expect from the in-person event right in your own home. Watch Facebook and Instagram for details coming soon.
Get involved in Orangeville’s largest community art project
To honour Canada Day, the Town of Orangeville is inviting Orangeville residents to participate in the creation of a legacy art project. The Town has commissioned Mural Mosaic, an Edmonton-based arts group, to design a mosaic mural showcasing the historic charm of Orangeville.

The mural will be made up of approximately 500 tiles – each a unique hand-painted image – that when combined together create an overall design. The 8-foot by 12-foot ft. mural will be installed at Town Hall upon completion.

“To connect as a community, we are launching Orangeville’s largest community art project to unite us as one, while keeping everyone safe through social distancing," said Mayor Sandy Brown. "I encourage Orangeville residents to get involved by painting a mosaic tile. It will be exciting to see the individual pieces come together to form an iconic image.”

Between June 28 and July 9, individuals, families and community groups can sign up online to get a free art kit for the mural mosaic project. The art kit contains one mosaic tile, paint supplies and instructions. Families can complete one registration form for the entire household. There is a limit of one tile per resident.

Once registered, individuals will pick up and drop off a tile through the Mill Street library’s curbside pick-up service. Curbside pick-up is available Monday to Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Completed tiles should be dropped off to the library by Saturday, July 10 at 5 p.m.

Everyone is welcome to join in. No art experience is needed. Orangeville residents are encouraged to have their design fit the character of Orangeville – nature, local history, local attractions, and celebration of the arts.
Free business coaching supports recovery of local tourism sector
 
Local tourism businesses can now benefit from free one-to-one coaching from BC Hughes Inc. The team of experienced consultants offers specialized guidance on tourism development, management, and marketing. This unique opportunity includes:

  • Two one-to-one virtual meetings: to discuss ideas and opportunities to help your business cater to tourists
  • One written report: outlining next steps to start building better visitor experiences

This free program is open to business owners in Dufferin County who are looking for ways to re-open and recover by creating memorable experiences for tourists. The program is ideal for business owners who:

  • Want to attract visitors to their businesses, but don’t know who to target and how to reach the right audience
  • Have a big idea, but can’t find the time or resources to get it started 
  • Are looking for new ideas and need a fresh perspective on their operations, offerings, or customer service

All support is confidential and personalized for your business. Available only until September 2021 on a first-come, first-served basis with limited funding available. Contact the Orangeville & Area SBEC to learn more.
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