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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).
Take home your perfect Tree ($65) and Wreath ($30) for the Holidays! You can reserve your tree at the Tree Lot then return for pick-up at the end of your Downtown visit. Sip, savour, shop & support local! Proceeds from sales are donated to Hospice Simcoe. For this week leading up to the weekend, you can email us at [email protected], call (705) 734-1414, or direct message us on Instagram @downtownbarrie and let us know if you would like us to reserve a tree – we will gladly set it aside and arrange a convenient time to pick it up. The Lot will also be open this weekend: Saturday, December 7th – 10 AM to 4 PM and Sunday, December 8th – 10 AM to 4 PM.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 16th (1pm – 8pm) the Noella Tree Lighting Celebration in partnership with the Barrie Chamber Santa Claus Parade, Rotary Festival of Trees and the City of Barrie’s Festive Decor and Fireworks weekend includes live music, a festive vendor market, a festive tree lot supporting Hospice Simcoe, ornament art activities, inflatables, and more, plus a stunning fireworks show to kick off the holiday season.
Return SUNDAY NOVEMBER 17th (10am – 4pm) and find the perfect local gift! Over 20 local artisan vendors will be set up within Meridian Place with unique gifts for that someone special. There will be a festive tree lot with proceeds supporting Hospice Simcoe, come down and purchase your tree while taking in all the local Downtown shops and restaurants.
– Family Activities start Saturday @ 1 PM: Bring the family down and start celebrating and having fun!
– Chamber Santa Claus Parade: Starting at 5pm the best view of the route will be in Downtown Barrie!
– Live Music: Headliner DogHouse Orchestra will entertain the entire family; James Gray will bring in the parade and local group Choir Revolution will carry the crowd with sing-alongs!
– Inflatables: Enjoy the festive sounds and themed inflatables.
– Festive Art Ornament Craft Stations: Get hands-on with The Paint Bar & creative activities that celebrate the festive season and place them on our magnificent winter tree!
– Local Craft Vendors: Browse unique offerings from local artisans.
– Fireworks: The season will start with a bang with another awesome light show over Downtown Barrie
– Sunday Festive Market & Tree Lot (10am – 4pm): Support local vendors, businesses and Hospice Simcoe while finding that special local gift!
LOCAL SINGER SONGWRITERS & COMMUNITY CHOIR @ 3PM
Local performances by singer songwriters Rebekah Hawker, B Knox as well as Choir Revolution will be kicking off the afternoon of live music on Meridian stage.
JAMES GRAY BRINGING IN THE SANTA CLAUS PARADE @ 5PM!
James Gray is a contemporary version of an old-school travelling folk singer. In the past decade, Gray has toured throughout Canada, Europe and Australia, seeing the world and sharing his beloved songs along the way. A unique finger style guitarist, with a vocal that is hauntingly beautiful, Gray, often accompanied by a rather droll, humorous stage patter, immerses himself in each and every song with a soulfulness and attack that is infectious and disarming. James has released three albums, the most recent in 2023 entitled “New Friends That Talk Like Old Friends.”
DOGHOUSE ORCHESTRA HEADLINES ON MERIDIAN STAGE @ 6:30!
Doghouse Orchestra is an eclectic Toronto-based ensemble that masterfully blends elements of gospel, jazz, funk, and country into a vibrant, genre-defying sound. The band was born amongst the thriving music community on Queen Street West, where you can find them Sunday nights at The Cameron House. Their dynamic performances offer an immersive experience through improvisation and crowd participation, creating a communal atmosphere that celebrates the joy of live music. This group weaves through musical styles, stretching creative boundaries, offering a sound that is both timeless and irresistibly modern.
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.
