Noella Festival

Noella Festival Nov 18th – Dec 17th, Downtown Barrie

Christmas in Downtown Barrie is a feeling you just have to experience. The Noella Festival gives you four weeks of family fun to check out! We would like to thank our event partners who collectively bring the community a fantastic kick off to the festive season. This includes the Barrie Chamber of Commerce, the Barrie Rotary Club, the City of Barrie and most importantly our Downtown Barrie businesses! Together, they all make this event a very special time of the year!

FREE EVENT!

WINDOW DECORATING VOTING AND WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT – Friday, November 24th to Sunday, December 17th

Downtown Barrie’s Noella Window Decorating Contest returns! We’re partnering with Corus Radio @fresh931 and @big101barrie to feature the 2023 Contest on the radio.

The theme this year is open, so get creative! The public will be the judge and voting takes place between November 24th – December 17th. Each vote earns a chance to win a $250 Downtown Barrie Gift Card and the winning business is awarded $1000 towards an ad campaign with Corus Radio!

To register your downtown business, email [email protected] with your name, your business name and your business address.

Best of luck, we can’t wait to see downtown decked out for holidays!

Vote

Noella Tree and Wreathe Lot

Our Annual Tree and Wreath Lot returns to Meridian Place in December. Once again supported by Drysdale Tree Farm. All proceeds are donated to Hospice Simcoe. 🎄🎄🎄

Dates & Times

Voting: Friday Dec 1st (4pm – 8pm) & Saturday Dec 2nd (10am – 2pm), Friday Dec 8th (4pm – 8pm) & Saturday Dec 9th (10am – 2pm). The Tree Lot will be open Friday Dec 15th (4pm – 8pm) & Saturday Dec 16th (10am – 2pm) as well if we have remaining inventory.

Noella Christmas Market – Sunday November 19th

Head downtown this Sunday for the first Noella Festive Market! Find unique handcrafted gifts from local artisans and delicious treats. Enjoy free art activities, Christmas carolers, lumberjack performances and a visit with Santa Claus. It’ll be a holly jolly good time!

 

Noella – Saturday, November 18th

Schedule for a festive day of FUN at Meridian Place: 

  • Free Wagon Rides – 10am to 4pm.
  • Free Art & Family Activities – 10am to 4pm.
  • Festive Window Displays – Vote for a chance to win a $250 prize pack!
  • Free hot chocolate from Tim Horton’s with a toy or non-perishable food donation.
  • Carolers & Street Performers.
  • Cleary Ellis – 3pm.
  • Scott Murray – 3:20pm.
  • Brett Caswell & Choir Revolution – 4pm.
  • Festive Outdoor Movie also starting – 4pm.
  • Birds of Bellwoods – 5pm.
  • Santa Claus Parade begins making it’s way Downtown at 5pm.
  • Noella Tree lighting and fireworks between 6 – 6:30pm!
  • My Son the Hurricane performs after the tree is lit!

Free wagon rides – 10am to 4pM 

Free Art and Family Activites – 10am to 4pM  

Festive Window Displays – Vote for a chance to win a $250 prize pack  

Free Hot Chocolate – Sponsored by Tim Horton’s

With a donation of a non-perishable food item to Barrie Food Bank or an unwrapped toy item for the Rock 95/KoolFM Toy Drive.

Carolers & Street Performers

The Barrie County Chordsmen and the Barrie Soundwaves will be spreading holiday cheer up and down Dunlop Street.

 

Cleary Ellis – 3pm

Cleary Ellis performs on Meridian Stage from 3pm -3:20pm.

Scott Murray – 3:20pm

Scott Murray performs on Merdian Stage from 3:20pm – 3:40pm.

Brett Caswell & Choir Revolution – 4pm

Choir Revolution is a drop in singing event where all abilities of singers are welcome to share the joys of group singing, while fostering a sense of community, love and even mental health benefits.

Festive Outdoor Movie also starting at 4pm – Sponsored by Tim Horton’s

Birds of Bellwoods – 5pm 

Toronto-based alt-rock outfit Birds of Bellwoods have wasted little time making an indelible mark on Canada’s musical landscape, having amassed an impressive pile of achievements and accolades in a few short years on the back of their boisterous blend of anthemic alternative, folk, and pop music.
 

Santa Claus Parade begins making it’s way Downtown at 5pm

Noella Tree lighting and fireworks between 6 – 6:30pm

The tree lighting and fireworks begin at Meridian Stage after Santa completes his tour down Dunlop Street!

My Son the Hurricane – 6PM (ish) to 8PM

Once the tree is lit and the sky is ablaze with fireworks, My Son the Hurricane takes the stage! My Son the Hurricane is a multi-horn, multi-drummer, multi-singer brass funk beast from Niagara, ON. The 12-piece brass-dance crew has toured over multiple countries and played some of Canada, USA and Europe’s biggest festivals. Over 45 sold out shows in 2023 and a viral video with 20 million views in a week proves that there is no live show like My Son the Hurricane. The band features trumpets, saxophones, trombones, drums, guitar, keys, percussion and a wild front woman…We dare you not to dance! In 2023/24 the band will take on an over 70 date Canada, United States and Europe-wide tour and share the stage with acts like Foo Fighters, The Wailers and more.

 

 

2-hours free on-street parking in december

For the entire month of December, enjoy 2 hours of FREE on-street parking in Downtown Barrie to help with your shopping visit! Remember that parking in our Downtown Parking Lots is always FREE after 5pm Monday through Friday and all-day Saturday and Sunday (excluding the Collier Street Parkade)

Supporters

SPONSORS

The Downtown Barrie BIA acknowledges that the Business Improvement Area is located on the traditional land of the Anishnaabeg people. The Anishnaabeg include the Odawa, Ojbwe and Pottawatomi nations, collectively known as the Three Fires Confederacy. The Downtown Barrie BIA is dedicated to honoring Indigenous history and culture and committed to moving forward in the spirit of reconciliation and respect with all First Nations, Métis and Inuit people.