This local harbor hosts a Christmas celebration in June

PRESS RELEASE
ORILLIA REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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This Saturday, the long-time 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 25th. It’s one of the most popular sailing events of the year, with hundreds arriving in port to enjoy holiday fun without the cold weather.

This year, the celebration is expanding to downtown Orillia. There will be a sidewalk sale along with lots of Santa-themed fun, including children’s activities at the Orillia Public Library, an Elf on the Shelf scavenger hunt and promotions at participating businesses.

In the harbor, there will be a Christmas market along the boardwalk from noon to 7 p.m., with more than 20 eclectic vendors. In the Waterfront Gazebo, DJ Santa Steve will be spinning tunes to keep the holiday spirit high from 3pm to 7pm.

Of course, Christmas in June wouldn’t be complete without the famous decorated boat competition, and this year the competition is expected to be fierce, with over 200 boats expected to be in attendance. The gates at the harbor docks will be open from 1pm to 5pm to allow the public to walk around and view the entries.

The Decorated Boat Contest is open to Port of Orillia guests only, but members of the public attending as spectators are welcome to join in the fun by donning Christmas-themed clothing or accessories. Between the natural beauty of Orillia’s waterfront 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 Christmas in June events is available at www.orillia.com/christmas-in-june.

Anyone interested in booking a last-minute balloon can contact the Port of Orillia at 705-326-6314 to inquire about availability.

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