The City of Barrie’s Culture Days is taking place from September 23 to October 16 and features an interactive three-week schedule of activities in partnership with the Downtown Barrie BIA’s Open Air Dunlop. This year’s programming brings hands-on and behind-the-scenes experiences to audiences both in person and virtually.
Highlights of this year’s programming include:
Culture Days Kick-Off on September 24, 12 to 5 p.m., Meridian Place
Enjoy free, interactive performances and art activities, learn about community arts organizations, and take guided tours of downtown Barrie's history and public art. Featuring workshops and performances by Kempenfelt Community Players, Bootlegged, Alyssa Tess, Salsa Beats, and more.
Comic Fest and Game On! On September 24, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Barrie Public Library (Downtown Branch)
Join the Barrie Public Library for a free, family-friendly event that showcases pop culture with local vendors, cosplayers, artists, and more. Game On! invites you to have fun with retro video and board games and enter into a Gamer’s Tournament.
Becoming Rock: Sculpture & Selfie Project from October 1 to 16, waterfront parks
Explore Barrie’s waterfront and discover seven rocks between the bottom of Mulcaster Street and the Southshore Community Centre reminding us of the importance of connecting with nature. Strike a 60-second pose to create a one-minute sculpture, snap a black and white photo, and post to social media tagging @ptartcolab to become part of the project’s digital archive.
Brightening Barriers Patio Enhancement
Brightening Barriers is a temporary public art project that brings original works by local and regional artists to nine patios throughout the downtown. Enjoy a meal on one of the participating patios before, during or after a self-guided tour of all nine sites. A guided walking tour beginning at Meridian Place will be held on Saturday, September 24 at 1 p.m.
Culture Days programming also includes online offerings with contests, performances and workshops. Be sure to check out partner events hosted by the Barrie Public Library, Barrie Farmers’ Market, Downtown Barrie BIA, MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie Film Festival, Theatre by the Bay, Voices at Word Up, Georgian College Campus Gallery, Skyliners Big Band, Barrie Concert Band, and Barrie Soundwaves.
Visit barrie.ca/CultureDays for all the details.
