Open Air Dunlop

Starting on June 10th Dunlop Street will be closed to cars from Maple Avenue to Mulcaster twice a month, making room for community. You can roll and stroll, shop and patio hop. There’s lots of fun activities planned such as yoga, dance and fitness classes, art activities, live music and more.

 

The dates this year will be:

  • June 10th – Barrie Air Show
  • June 24th – Troubadour Festival
  • July 1st – Canada Day
  • July 15th – Between Sets Live Music Festival
  • August 12th – East Asian Ethnic Mosaic Night
  • August 26th – OMCI Emerging Artist Showcase
  • September 9th – Downtown Barrie Yoga Fest
  • September 23rd – Culture Days
  • October 7th – Thanksgiving
  • October 28th – Halloween

Live at Meridian Place Stage

Hailing from Orillia, ON, Grate Northern is a train that thunders down the track, generating free flowing jams and leaving a series of smoking craters in their wake. Their musical mandate is to harness the energy of their collective experience and create an adventure in the spirit of the Grateful Dead.

The Downtown Barrie BIA is proud to present Grate Northern playing the Meridian Stage on Saturday October 28th at 2pm to finish off the #OpenAirDunlop season!

@itm_insidethemusic @tourismbarrie

More events are popping up!

1. Outdoor yoga class (8am – 10am)

Come join True You Studio at Meridian Place! Final class of the Open Air season!

2. BARRIE FARMERS’ MARKET (9AM – 1PM)

This Saturday at the Barrie Farmers’ Market, bring your carved pumpkins to market and enter our Annual Pumpkin Carving contest by 10:30 am.

3. FREE ART ACTIVITIES (9AM – 5PM)

Join Jenn from Art with Purpose for ghostly paper marbling and printmaking from 9am – 5pm. Paint your own pumpkin on a wooden panel with Art by Alexandra, using acrylic paint, glitter and jewels from 9am till 1pm. Have a go at life drawing with The Drawing House from 10am to 2pm. Paint and create your own custom merch by the Fab Tray Alleyway, near P_ZZA with Dee Ritz and Godone of Creative Streetwear Creations. Play with stencils, stamps, patches, markers and paint From 11am until 3pm. Join the Mexican House for Dia Los Muertos sugar skull decorating at Meridian Place from Noon while supplies last. 

4. Ephemeral Street Art Jam – (10am) 

Begins at the pink building at 10am. It will be led by Clandestinos Art. Beginners, mid-career and professional artists will be coming together to create a pop-up mural, using downtown’s landmark building as a canvas.

5. Barrie Unity Fest (11am – 6pm)

Visit Barrie Unity Fest on Dunlop West. Enjoy handcrafted items and delicious food at this plant-based market. Also featuring trick or treating for kids and a vendor raffle.

6. Ofrenda Day of the Dead – (1:30pm)

Ofrenda is coming to Barrie for an unforgettable evening of dance, music, and celebration honoring & embracing the beauty of Mexican folklore. Catch a preview performance at our Halloween Open Air Dunlop on October 28th at 1:30pm at Meridian Place. Tickets for the November 4th Gala will be available for a discount that day. 

7. Performance by Grate Northern (2PM – 4PM)

Live Music is back on the Meridian Place Stage in the heart of Downtown Barrie! Grate Northern playing the Meridian Stage on Saturday October 28th at 2pm to finish off the #OpenAirDunlop season! 

8. Spooky Historic Stroll – (4:30pm)

Join Mary Harris of Fire and Mist Stories for a free spooky stroll through Downtown Barrie. As part of our October 28th Halloween Open Air Dunlop, she’ll be recounting stories from the past of the strange and spooky variety. You may never look at downtown’s old buildings in the same way.

There will be some mature themes which may be scary to children, so parental guidance is recommended. Meet at the Barrie Public Library parking lot on Worsley Street at 4:30pm.

9. EXPLORE WHAT’S NEW (ALL DAY)

There’s more to explore in Downtown Barrie, from public art, to new shops, to great spots for a bite. Enjoy a wander and discover your city. 

10. CITY CENTRE PATIOS (ALL DAY)

Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Drinks, Snacks and Halloween themed Desserts are all the better when enjoyed on a cozy patio! Be sure to take advantage of the final days of patio season! 

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.