2023 Culture Days Kickoff

Saturday, September 23, 2023 | 10:00am–5:00pm

Location
Meridian Place
Organization
The City of Barrie
Contact
Economic & Creative Development
Email
creative@barrie.ca
Website URL
barrie.ca/CultureDaysKickoff

Each year, the City of Barrie is proud to celebrate Culture Days, a Canada-wide celebration designed to catalyze and inspire public participation in arts and culture. Running September 22 until October 15, 2023, Culture Days events and activities promise to deliver three glorious weeks of colour, creativity and community.

Join us at the Culture Days kickoff at Meridian Place for an action-packed event with on-stage entertainment and free, interactive arts activities for all ages. 

Entertainment on the Meridian Stage

Schedule subject to change
10amLive Theatre singalong to songs from We Will Rock You with Kempenfelt Community Players
10:45amLasya Indian Folk Dance workshop
11:15amTai chi and square dancing workshop with the Simcoe Chinese Association
11:45amPoetry reading by Barrie’s Poet Laureate, Ty the Poetess
12pmChoir performance and workshop with Bravado!
12:45pmDance party with DJ Cachet
2pmMusical performance by Megan Anne
2:30pmSalsa dance workshop with Salsa Beats
3:30pmCaribbean music performance by Freez’ Careeb
5pmMusical performance by Zaki Ibrahim, presented by the Downtown Barrie Business Association
8pmDance It Out Barrie, hosted by the Downtown Barrie Business Association

Activities in Meridian Place

Schedule subject to change
9am–1pmKids art activity with Alexandra Gronfors
10am–12pmHeritage Barrie pop-up
10am–1pmGrand reveal of the City's refreshed Nature Play Trailer & local pollinator flower art activity with Monica Loney and the MacLaren Art Centre
10am–2pmDrawing chalk monsters with Neil Smith
10am–2pmLife drawing featuring a live model with Drawing House
10am–2pmEn plein air painting with Barrie Art Club
10am–4pmStories in the Square with Barrie Public Library
10am–5pmStep-by-step painting activity with Vivian Heliotis
10am–5pmSalsa dance lessons with Salsa Beats
10am–5pmCarnival headdress craft with Parents Against Racism Simcoe 
10am–5pmHenna and interactive science activities with Ahmadiyya Muslim Women’s Association 
1–5pmKids art activity with Jenn Guerin of Art with Purpose
1:30–2:30pmGuided walking tour of Brightening Barriers, a temporary public art exhibition
2pmPublic art walking tour with Monica Loney, ending in celebration for Home, the Shak’s World mural by Clandestinos Art

Open-Air Dunlop also takes place downtown, which will see Dunlop Street East closed to cars and open for pedestrians and cyclists to roam freely, enjoying shopping, patios and many more activities.

The Barrie Farmers Market also neighbours the event at City Hall, 70 Collier Street, from 9am to 1pm. 

Get the full list of accessible and free Culture Days programming at barrie.ca/CultureDays.

Couples Salsa dancing at Meridian Place in Barrie
Salsa dance workshop with Salsa Beats at the 2022 Culture Days kickoff event
Person painting on a colourful canvas
Collaborative art activity at the 2022 Culture Days kickoff event
Ty the Poetess performing on the Meridian Place stage
Ty the Poetess, Barrie's Poet Laureate, performing at the 2022 Culture Days kickoff event

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    September 23, 2023 - 10:00am - September 23, 2023 - 5:00pm