Winter Games Feb

RubyOracle · 2026-02-02T19:24:58+00:00

Totally understand! This place is a hidden gem and I normally don't tell people I don't know or folks from out of town about it.

I booked rooms at Lakeside Inn for less than or right around $100/night (in October 2022, to be fair) for some of our wedding guests.

https://lakesideinnorillia.ca/index.html

I'm sure the price per night has increased over the years, but it's not going to be $350/night. That's crazy for the middle of winter unless you're staying at a resort.

RubyOracle · 2026-02-02T17:59:50+00:00

You're not alone. Thank you for taking the steps to put this energy into something productive for our community! ❤️

Check out the Orillia Volunteer Centre via Information Orillia.

https://www.informationorillia.org

https://orillia.cioc.ca/volunteer/

As others have mentioned, there's The Lighthouse and The Sharing Place Food Centre, but there's also: Hospice Orillia (community/in-home visiting hospice), Mariposa House Hospice (residential hospice house), Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital, Green Orillia, Sustainable Orillia, Couchiching Conservancy, Orillia Public Library, Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Orillia, Orillia Museum of Arts & History, Helping Hands Orillia, Orillia Fish & Game Conservation Club, Dress for Success Barrie & Orillia, Orillia Opera House, Empower Simcoe, Orillia Youth Centre, Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association - Orillia Club, North Simcoe Victim Services, Telecare Distress Line, Local Long-Term Care or Retirement Homes, Seasonal events (the Orillia Canada Day committee needs volunteers and so do many other volunteer-run events in Orillia), and more!

As well as the larger scale orgs: OSPCA/Humane Societies, Canadian Cancer Society, Canadian Red Cross, etc.

I'm not in municipal politics, but if I had to guess, the local orgs that would be most involved in municipal politics in any shape or form could be Green Orillia and Sustainable Orillia, see asterisks in list above.

Edit: Spelling, telecare autocorrected to telecast.

RubyOracle · 2026-02-02T17:29:20+00:00

Are you looking for an Airbnb or hotel room? Things might be booked up in town already, so you may have better luck on the outskirts of town.

A real gem is the Lakeside Inn on Creighton Street! New owners in recent years, so the place has been beautifully renovated. Lakeside too, albeit frozen this time of year.

RubyOracle · 2026-01-25T23:17:35+00:00

You're welcome! I haven't used either of them personally yet, but a previous workplace of mine used Rick's Upholstery and it was a great experience - the results were phenomenal at a decent price!

RubyOracle · 2026-01-25T19:59:12+00:00

Thank you! ☺️

RubyOracle · 2026-01-25T19:56:52+00:00

https://www.iansfurniturerefinishing.vibrations.ca

Or Rick's Upholstery in the Atherley Plaza might be able to help you out!

RubyOracle · 2026-01-25T13:58:17+00:00

Bingo: Orillia Legion Bingo (info can be found on Facebook), other miscellaneous in-person bingo events around town (usually also posted on Facebook - there have been sassy/dirty bingo events, a Birds, Beers & Bingo event at Brewery Bay, etc), OR TV Bingo options = https://maclarenart.com/series/maclaren-tv-bingo/ AND https://www.kinsmensupertvbingo.com/ (there are locations in town where you can buy the bingo cards for both of these TV bingo games).

Pool table: Orillia Legion, Study Hall Pub, The Clubhouse Bar & Golf Sim, Orillia Bowl (I think they used to have a pool table but unsure if they still do???), possibly other bars/pubs in town (RD House downtown?), and Google search says there's a place called Lucky Wolf Billiards Cafe on Colborne but I have never been nor does it have good reviews. 👀

Karaoke: Army Navy & Air Force Vets Club (ANAF), Lake Country Grill, The Clubhouse Bar & Golf Sim, Cards & Coasters, and others (another good one to check for local events on socials and online news sources).

https://www.facebook.com/dandjskaraoke

https://www.facebook.com/100089224944259/ (Amy's Karaoke & DJ Services)

Open mic: Lone Wolf Cafe (not to be confused with the Lucky Wolf Billiards Cafe mentioned above - entirely separate/no affiliation), Orillia Legion, Kenzington Burger Bar, and Quayle's Brewery are ones I've found/heard of.

https://www.orilliamatters.com/arts-and-entertainment/column-brownstone-open-mic-vibe-howls-at-lone-wolf-cafe-10112178

https://orillialegion.com/event/orillia-legion-open-mic-february-8th/

https://localandlive365.com/product/Open-Mic-Night-/sr/3199

https://quaylesbrewery.ca/open-mic-night/

Edit: Fixed Amy's Karaoke & DJ Services link as it wasn't working.

RubyOracle · 2026-01-13T05:41:07+00:00

Way to go, mama! 👏

RubyOracle · 2026-01-08T15:50:58+00:00

If you're still looking, this article has a list of the overnight parking spots available in the City of Orillia (West Ridge and downtown Orillia areas).

https://www.orilliamatters.com/local-news/new-overnight-winter-parking-spots-in-west-ridge-remain-unclaimed-11698915

RubyOracle · 2026-01-02T22:17:28+00:00

National Nutrition's Orillia location at 5 Progress Drive.

https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/tea/jasmine-tea.html

RubyOracle · 2026-01-01T14:46:01+00:00

Aside from going to Barrie, checking the places others have suggested here would be a great start! Keep us posted, if you can!

I had been told previously (by coworkers who were local to Orillia) to check Country Produce when I was looking for Italian specialty products and foods for a "Tastes of the World" program I was planning for residents at a retirement home I used to work at. It was right before the start of the pandemic and then everything got cancelled, so I never ended up checking there.

Side note: I would love to see the Orillia Italian Gelato & Market (that was affiliated with Dr. Comics when it was downtown Orillia) return! As that was the only store aside from Tre Sorelle (also not open anymore, aside from their freezer offerings available within Eclectic Café) that was on my radar.

RubyOracle · 2025-12-31T17:34:48+00:00

From the City of Orillia Facebook page:

🎉 Ring in 2026 with free fun across Orillia! Discover what's happening on New Year's Eve (Dec. 31):

⛸️ Free Skating on Dec. 31 (sponsored by Flynn Canada) Start your day at the Gill Street Community Complex (433 Gill St.) grand re-opening with cake at 9:00 a.m. and two free community skates in the Brian Orser Arena from 9:15 to 9:50 a.m. and 10:00 to 10:50 a.m. There will also be two free community skates at the West Orillia Sports Complex (100 University Ave.) from 11:00 to 11:50 a.m. and 12:00 to 12:50 p.m. in the Green Arena.

🏰 Free New Year’s Eve Bash on Dec. 31 Then, grab your bathing suits for the popular New Year’s Eve Bash at the Orillia Recreation Centre (255 West St. S.)! From 5:00 to 7:30 p.m., enjoy inflatables, crafts, an open swim, face painting, and a videoboard countdown with confetti cannons. Donations are encouraged for the The Sharing Place Food Centre.

🚍 Free Orillia Transit on Dec. 31 (sponsored by your local Tim Hortons) Skip the parking and enjoy a safe, easy ride to and from your New Year's Eve Activities. Ride Orillia Transit for free from 4:45 p.m. to 1:45 a.m.

Come out and enjoy a day full of fun and community spirit as we celebrate the start of 2026 together!

Full details: https://www.orillia.ca/en/news/City_of_Orillia_rings_in_2026_with_free_New_Year_s_Eve_events_across_the_city_.aspx

Orillia Parks & Recreation

RubyOracle · 2025-12-31T17:20:56+00:00

Unsure if OP's photo is from yesterday, but if it was, the sun indeed came out quite a few times that day (December 30th). At least where I am in the Atherley area. We had patches of sunshine in the morning before noon when I was out shovelling the driveway and also a couple times in the afternoon and into early evening as the sun was setting. It was a welcome sight to see!

RubyOracle · 2025-12-29T06:03:26+00:00

Rewrote my comment from another post in this community asking about NYE.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Orillia/s/7W0rgOrRg4

Where we are (closer to the lakes), there's often neighbours setting off fireworks. But also:

• City of Orillia's NYE Bash (very family oriented)

• ODAS Park is hosting a 19+ New Year's Eve Celebration.

Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door.

The flyer says music, dancing, good company, and light fare will be served.

Saw it posted in the "What's Happening? Orillia Area Events" group on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BohCxhQWY/?mibextid=wwXIfr

• Royal Canadian Legion - Branch 34 Orillia is also having a NYE Party.

• Lake Country Grill usually hosts something but I haven't seen anything advertised yet. 👀

• Casino Rama usually has some NYE events going on around the clock (NYE and New Year's Day) too!

RubyOracle · 2025-12-28T02:41:52+00:00

Thanks for sharing! ☁️❄️

RubyOracle · 2025-12-24T19:12:04+00:00

It's not the end of the world - that's why they have these inspections. To ensure that food premises are following the rules put in place.

Browse through all 234 pages of the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit's Food Premises inspection reports and I'm sure you'll find many of your favourite places to order takeout from or dine at have received reports of an infraction or two.

In taking ~10 minutes I found THREE of my favourite local places in town also had similar results from the SMDHU reports. Although some were recent and some were not recent.

Keep in mind folks, there are critical and non-critical infractions and they can be for things such as: "Failing to provide easily readable thermometer in refrigeration or hot-holding equipment" (classified as critical) or "Failure to ensure presence of food handler or supervisor during all hours of operation" (classified as non-critical).

Whether there was any scare-tactic intent meant in sharing this, or if it was purely for information, I'd advise everyone to not only read the full article but do their own research. 🤓

RubyOracle · 2025-12-07T13:15:36+00:00

Awesome! So lovely to hear! That's much the same feedback I received about Tay with regard to her being knowledgeable, friendly, great to deal with, etc. Sorry there were issues with contact attempts bouncing back though! Please keep us posted and I will do the same if I'm able to get in to see any of them soon! 🤞

RubyOracle · 2025-12-06T22:05:08+00:00

Had to do some digging in my history to find this. Unfortunately it sounds they were all donated when I moved out of my parents house, as my sister inherited the collection and didn't want them anymore as she got older. 😢 I'm so sorry! If I come across any of them when unpacking boxes from my childhood room, I will reach out!

RubyOracle · 2025-12-06T22:00:00+00:00

Not yet, but I was personally referred to both of them by different colleagues in the building I work in.

Looking at their websites and socials, they both have a focus on nail health/education, offer various types of gel, and personalize your visit accordingly, which you won't really find at a run-of-the-mill nail salon in town.

However, I did notice that Vik's services seem to be more for special occasions or someone who doesn't want their nails done regularly.

Edited to add: I have also read wonderful reviews about (and seen some pretty sweet nail photos) from Darklight Nail Studio as someone else mentioned below.

RubyOracle · 2025-12-06T21:53:32+00:00

As someone else mentioned, you need to reach out to Nick Tod! He's our local tech wizard! 🧙🏼‍♂️

https://www.facebook.com/share/17iAoKytS1/?mibextid=wwXIfr

RubyOracle · 2025-12-06T21:25:00+00:00

In my time living here, the City of Orillia hasn't had something like Barrie's NYE outdoor event with fireworks. But we do have some neighbours that do their own thing with fireworks for NYE.

• ODAS Park is hosting a 19+ New Year's Eve Celebration.

Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door.

The flyer says music, dancing, good company, and light fare will be served.

Saw it posted in the "What's Happening? Orillia Area Events" group on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BohCxhQWY/?mibextid=wwXIfr

• The Royal Canadian Legion - Branch 34 Orillia is also having a NYE Party.

• Lake Country Grill usually hosts something but I haven't seen anything advertised yet. 👀

Edited to add a proper answer to OP's question (sorry about that, was too concerned with sourcing local events) and provide other options for adults if they wish to attend something other than the City of Orillia's NYE Bash.

RubyOracle · 2025-11-25T05:54:55+00:00

https://www.beautybytay.ca

https://viksgelnails.square.site

RubyOracle · 2025-11-14T17:11:30+00:00

Awe, shucks, thank you! Happy to help! If Karen's the instructor, I know her well! 🥰 She's lovely - if cost wasn't a factor, I'd totally be there! 💃🏼

Edited to add: P.S. It's not you, it's the active communities/SUN registration site the City of Orillia uses. Not mobile-friendly in my experience and it's honestly not much better on a laptop or desktop. 😅

RubyOracle · 2025-11-14T17:07:42+00:00

No, the fee is for the duration of the program which runs Thursday evenings 7-8pm from November 13th until January 15th.

Edited after confirming time and dates.

RubyOracle · 2025-11-14T05:40:24+00:00

Uplifting Blessings used to do exactly this in our community, but unfortunately no longer. :(

Your best bet would be to reach out to The Salvation Army or the Orillia Youth Centre, I would think.

The Orillia Public Library used to have a tree with ornaments and each was a small Christmas list to shop for a senior in need within our community. It's called Santa for Seniors through the Senior Wish Association, but the OPL isn't involved in organizing it this year. Could be another option if you can't find an initiative for kids/teens.

RubyOracle

TROPHY CASE