This Saturday, the long-held tradition of Christmas in June will take place at the Port of Orillia.
Christmas in June has been a staple in Orillia since the 1980s. It takes place each year on the Saturday closest to June 25. It is one of the most popular boater events of the year, with hundreds arriving at the Port to partake in holiday fun without the chilly weather.
This year, the celebration is extending into Downtown Orillia. There will be a sidewalk sale along with plenty of Santa-themed fun including activities for kids at the Orillia Public Library, an Elf on the Shelf scavenger hunt, and promotions at participating businesses.
At the Port, there will be a Christmas market along the boardwalk from noon to 7:00 p.m., featuring over twenty eclectic vendors. In the waterfront gazebo, “DJ Santa Steve” will be spinning tunes to keep holiday spirits high from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
Of course, Christmas in June wouldn’t be complete without the famous decorated boat contest, and this year the competition is expected to be fierce with over 200 boats expected to be in attendance. The gates to the Port docks will be open between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to allow the public to take a stroll and view the entries.
The decorated boat contest is open to guests of the Port of Orillia only, but members of the public
attending as spectators are welcome to join the fun by donning Christmas-themed clothing or
accessories. Between the Orillia waterfront’s natural beauty and the abundance of holiday lights and decorations around the docks and Port office, there will be plenty of unique photo opportunities!
A full schedule of events for Christmas in June is available at https://www.orillia.com/christmas-in-june. Anyone interested in booking a last-minute boat slip can contact the Port of Orillia at 705-326-6314 to inquire about availability.
