Barrie, ON – A full day of fun in Downtown Barrie! Keep summer humming along and experience the downtown’s community culture with your family and friends!

Open Air Dunlop: Eats On The Streets

10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Dunlop Street (Mulcaster to Maple), Meridian Place

Back for its second year, Open Air Dunlop: Eats On The Streets transforms Dunlop Street into a bustling open-air tasting trail, featuring over 40 restaurants and cafés and even more vendors serving up tasting plates for just $5–$10.

Expect global flavours, live street entertainment, sidewalk shopping, and an incredible community vibe. From sweet to savoury, spicy to comforting, there’s something to please every palate as you explore the culinary culture of Downtown Barrie.

NEW! Open Air Dunlop: Alley Cats Mural, DJ and Dance Jam featuring The Clandestino’s, LiftiD and Art + Water Dockside Dance

10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Dunlop Mews (Dunlop St East & Mulcaster St)

Brand new! Starting at 10am, World class mural artist duo The Clandestino’s are leading over 20+ local and area artists as part of the first annual Alley Cat Jam in Dunlop Mews. At 1pm, local and area DJ’s including Barrie’s LiftiD will be spinning tunes throughout the day combining artistry talents and energy. To top it off at 2pm,  Art + Water Dockside events and Barrie’s Boomboxerz are hosting a professional Hip Hop dance competition. Dancers will compete street style for prize money and bragging rights. More detail to come, but make sure to check out this world class street art activation in Downtown Barrie!

• 10:00AM – 7:00PM – Alley Cat Mural Jam featuring The Clandestino’s + Crew
• 1:00PM – 6:30PM – Alley Cats DJ Jam featuring LIftiD + Crew
• 2:00PM – 5:00PM – Alley Cats Dockside Boomboxerz Dance Jam

Troubadour Festival – Outdoor Music Series – 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Meridian Place

After a day of delicious bites, head down to Meridian Place for an unforgettable evening of live music. The night kicks off with the Local Opener Showcase, featuring rising stars from Barrie and area, selected through an open call to perform in front of a hometown crowd.

6:00 PM – Local Opener Showcase

• 6:00pm Tia Nova: Tia Nova is a standout powerhouse—an electrifying 17-year-old singer who brings a fresh vibe to the music scene. With her ability to blend genres and connect emotionally through songs, she captivates audiences everywhere. Tia uses music as a way to release emotion and relate to the personal experiences of others, making her performances feel both honest and impactful. As a passionate songwriter and performer, she’s making her mark and inviting everyone to join her on this exciting journey – https://www.tianovaofficial.com/
  
  
• 6:45pm Smokey & The Bones: Vigorous, Bustling and Buoyant; A songwriter for the ages, Smokey & the Bones is a modern rock group with a classic essence. With an eclectic and cycling crew of collective members, Smokey brings an exciting and authentic experience each and every show. Hailing from Barrie ON, the vision is to keep audiences and band members alike on their toes, forming a genuine connection and present experience for those willing to surrender to the music. Sounds like/Inspired by: J.J. Cale, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, The Strokes, Wilco, The Tragically Hip, Sam Fender, Gary Clark Jr., and many, many more…
  
  
• 7:30pm Ritch Mitchell: Ritch Mitchell is a pop-punk infused country artist returning to music after a 20 year hiatus. He gave up a rising career to care for his mother during her fight with cancer, later becoming a paramedic himself. Now, he’s back: wiser, louder and more honest than ever. Turning pain into purpose, Ritch Mitchell is making the music he was always meant to.

8:30 PM – Headliner Hawksley Workman:

Hawksley Workman is a JUNO Award-winning and Gold Record certified singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Since his ground-breaking self-produced indie debut For Him and The Girls (1999) through to chart-topping singles of 2020, Hawksley has careened between major label international smash hits to Canadiana soaked indie releases. Boasting a catalogue of 17 solo records, Hawksley’s genre defying style strings together folk, chart pop and irrepressible cabaret. His show-stopping vocals on songs about weather, love, heartbreak and tales of end-times have garnered him a league of devoted fans. 

Performing over a thousand shows worldwide, Hawksley has headlined prestigious venues like Massey Hall and The Olympia in Paris. For a uniquely Canadian artist Hawksley has built loyal fan bases in the UK, France, Norway and Australia launching many successful tours, demystifying and delighting fans while drawing on an enviable catalogue of mischievous favourites, glammy stompers and heartfelt hymns to small town Canada. 

Complete Event Schedule – Saturday, August 16:

• 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM – Open Air Dunlop: Eats On The Streets
• 10:00AM – 7:00PM – Alley Cat Mural Jam featuring The Clandestino’s + Crew
• 1:00PM – 6:30PM – Alley Cats DJ Jam featuring LIftiD + Crew
• 2:00PM – 5:00PM – Alley Cats Dockside Boomboxerz Dance Jam
• 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM – Local Opener Showcase
• 8:30 PM – 10:00 PM – Hawksley Workman Live at Meridian Place

A Word From the BIA:

“Downtown Barrie is turning up the heat this August with amazing food and incredible music,” says Craig Strachan, Board Member for Downtown Barrie BIA and principal of Bellwether Real Estate. “This is a day to celebrate our community, our culture, and the creative energy that makes our downtown shine.”

Free Admission | Family Friendly | Everyone Welcome:

Don’t miss this perfect summer Saturday in Downtown Barrie—Saturday, August 16—a full day of food, music, dance and togetherness you won’t forget.

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