Huntsville Festival of the Arts

Festival Fringe

HFA COMMUNITY DANCE

JOIN US FOR A MONTHLY COMMUNITY DANCE!

Join us for a monthly Community Dance, where all ages are welcome and no experience is necessary! Hannah Shira Naiman will lead the event, teaching and calling traditional folk dances that are fun, easy, and accessible to everyone. Come and enjoy a lively afternoon filled with music, movement, and community spirit!

3RD (ish) SUNDAYS , 3-5 PM

SEPT 29- SANDHILL NURSERY

OCT 20, NOV 17- LOCATION TBA

 

HFA COMMUNITY DANCE

Canvas Brewery (12 John St)
September 29, 2024 3:00 PM
October 20, 2024 3:00 PM
November 17, 2024 3:00 PM

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SACRED STRENGTH: An Indigenous Ribbon Skirt Installation

Hope Arises Project Inc. is proud to present Sacred Strength, an Indigenous ribbon skirt installation from September 5-30th at the HfA Studio.

Hope Arises Project founder and president, Joyce Jonathan Crone, travelled to Huron Heights Secondary School to share her knowledge of Indigenous ribbon skirts and cultural practices with grade 11/12 fashion students. The students spent a month sewing and crafting unique skirts, they wrote profound emotion filled reflections on their connection and the humbling experience.

Ribbon skirts reflect our connection to Mother Earth, to one another and to our value as Indigenous women. Through this exhibit, student seamstresses hope you will find peace, relationship, and community. It is their expression of Truth and Reconciliation.

EXHIBITION HOURS:
Thursdays | 3pm-6pm
Fridays | 3pm-6pm
Saturdays | 1pm-4pm
Sundays | 1pm-4pm
Exhibition runs from September 5-30, 2024 at the HfA Studio located at 58 Main St. East (entrance across from River Mill Park)

SACRED STRENGTH: An Indigenous Ribbon Skirt Installation

HfA Studio, 58 Main St. East (entrance across from River Mill Park)
September 5, 2024 3:00 PM

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MOVIE ON THE DOCKS

A BOAT-IN MOVIE EXPERIENCE!

Experience the magic of cinema at Movie on the Docks—an unforgettable outdoor movie night unlike any other! Situated on the scenic waterfront, a classic film unfolds on a double-sided screen, offering audiences the unique choice of watching from the water or on shore. Grab your own chair, sleeping bag, or floating device, and settle in for a free film under the twinkling stars.

Film will start at sunset. HfA will be selling popcorn, chocolate bars and cold drinks on site.

SCHEDULE:
JUNE 29 | 9PM | JAWS
AUGUST 3 | 8:30PM | SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE
AUGUST 31 | 8PM | LUCA

MOVIE ON THE DOCKS

Huntsville Town Docks
August 3, 2024 8:30 PM
August 31, 2024 8:00 PM

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DOCKFEST

After a three-year hiatus, Rotary Dockfest returns!

Get ready for an unforgettable Canada Day long weekend in downtown Huntsville filled with games, music, food and fun! At the heart of the festivities lies the beloved Bathtub Derby, where up to forty motorized tubs navigate a challenging course on the Muskoka River. Each bathtub is sponsored by local business vying for victory in a friendly competition that raises funds for local causes. River Mill Park will also be filled with family fun including food & beverage from Lake of Bays Brewing, a live concert with Funkestra, buskers, art activities and more.

10am – Parade on Main St.
11am – Bathtub Derby
1pm – Concert in River Mill Park

Dockfest is presented by the Rotary Club of Huntsville and NyDock in partnership with the Huntsville Festival of the Arts

DOCKFEST

Downtown Huntsville
June 29, 2024 10:00 AM

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EN PLEIN AIR ART MARKET

THE 2nd ANNUAL EN PLEIN AIR ART MARKET MOVES INDOORS DUE TO WEATHER

Due to this weekend’s inclement weather forecast, the En Plein Air Market, originally scheduled to run in River Mill Park on June 22 has been moved to Canvas Brewery located at 12 John St. The market will run from 10am-5pm indoors. Seventeen vendors will be on hand to display and sell their work. There will also be live music from Jack Gaughan and Adina V, Interactive activities by Hear Well Be Well and Red Pine Art Supplies, along with aerial demonstrations by Ascension Aerials.

The day will also still feature the popular En Plein Air painting event. Artists will be painting live in select downtown businesses including Cole Art Market, Cedar Canoe Books, Pharmasave, Soapstones, and Up North Games between the hours of 10am-3pm. At 4pm, these paintings will be included in a live auction at Canvas Brewery, with proceeds from the auction going to HfA’s Kareen Burns Scholarship supporting a student studying visual art in a post secondary institution or program. Note: the auction has moved from 5pm to 4pm to accommodate this new arrangement.

While we would have much preferred to be outdoors in River Mill Park, we are thankful to Canvas Brewery and the merchants of downtown Huntsville for stepping up and giving the market an indoor home for the day.

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS:
 Helena Renwick ART | Painting
Craig Fairley Pottery | Ceramics
Lauren Todd Photography  | Photography
Sylvia Kerschel ART | Painting
Catajjen Boxes and Boards | Wood
JWH Designs | Jewellery & Painting
Air Art & Nature’s Drama Art Studio | Mixed Media
Demi Ghinga | Mixed Media
Morgan House Wool Works | Fibre/Wool Painting
Hoda Nicholas | Painting
Painted House – Jennifer Alexis | Painting
Birchnotes Creative | Printmaking
Danielle Vishnever Fine Art | Painting
Nan Peters Designs | Painting
Brenda Behan Turnour | Painting

Live Painting By: Tom Doherty, Robin Walton, Sharon McKenzie, Helena Renwick, Sylvia Kerschl, Pamela Dey, Demi Ghinga, Pam Carnochan, Jennifer Alexis, Dawn Huddlestone, Cindy Keefe, and Catherine Luce.

Live Music by Jack Gaughan, Adina V & Friends
Aerial Performances by Ascension Aerials
Onsite activation by Hear Well Be Well & Red Pine Art Supplies
Mural Tours by Gerry Lantaigne (11am & 2pm)
Cold Alcoholic & Non-Alcoholic drinks by Canvas Brewery
Ice Cream & Paninis: Downtown Espresso

 

EN PLEIN AIR ART MARKET

Canvas Brewery (12 John St)
June 22, 2024 10:00 AM

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EMILY CARR CANOE MURALS

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTISTS WHILE YOU WATCH THE BEAUTIFUL PAINTINGS BEING CREATED!

Back for its 5th year, this popular event is a quintessential Muskoka experience combining art and the outdoors. Artist Gerry Lantaigne will lead a group of local artists in the creation of 7 more canoe murals featuring the work of Canadian Emily Carr. Artists will paint the canoes “en plein air” during a week-long event in Downtown Huntsville’s River Mill Park. Artists to be confirmed. Engage with the artists while you watch the beautiful paintings being created! Once completed, these canoes will be displayed in Downtown Huntsville as part of the Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery Tour and eventually auctioned off in the popular Algonquin Outfitters Paddle Art Auction.

This year’s artists include Col Mitchell, Jennifer Alexis, Michele Schwemer, Andrea Taylor, Paul Ferris, Liz Derksen and Brandon Richard Anderson.

 

EMILY CARR CANOE MURALS

Downtown Huntsville
June 10, 2024 10:00 AM
June 11, 2024 10:00 AM
June 12, 2024 10:00 AM
June 13, 2024 10:00 AM
June 14, 2024 10:00 AM
June 15, 2024 10:00 AM

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HUNTSVILLE ART CRAWL

A FREE SELF-GUIDED ART TOUR IN AND AROUND DOWNTOWN HUNTSVILLE.

The Huntsville ART CRAWL is a free self guided art tour in and around downtown Huntsville, Muskoka. Throughout the month of June, visitors will create their own free art crawl experience by touring local businesses, galleries & studios which feature exhibits, demos & interactive experiences by local artists. In 2023, the event welcomed 4,000 visitors (up from 2,200 in 2022), and included 64 artists and 32 businesses, and generated $15,178 in sales.

This year’s crawl will feature many special events including mural painting, the BIA’s garden party, Walkabout Wednesday Gallery Tours, a celebration of National Indigenous People’s Day and more. The event culminates with an open air art market in River Mill Park on June 22nd that will feature vendors, music and a live art auction.

 

HUNTSVILLE ART CRAWL

Various Locations
June 1, 2024 9:00 AM

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NUIT BLANCHE NORTH 2024

NUIT BLANCHE NORTH

SPONSORED BY TD BANK: THE READY COMMITMENT & DOWNTOWN HUNTSVILLE BIA

Nuit Blanche North returns this weekend for one night only on July 20th. Now in its 12th year, the free signature event will once again fill downtown Huntsville with 30 different activities and performances by over 100 local and visiting artists.

As in past years the fun gets underway at 8pm and the evening will run to early Sunday morning. Whether you come and experience the whole event or just drop in and enjoy a few aspects of it you can be sure that it will be the most interesting night of the summer.

Music will figure prominently with a 9pm performance in River Mill Park by My Son the Hurricane, a multi-horn, multi-drummer, multi-singer brass-funk beast from Niagara, ON. The Town Docks Amphitheatre will also feature music to guaranteed to have you dancing with a line-up that includes Canada’s biggest & most diverse party brass outfit SHOUT! The Band (8pm), Legendary electric violinist Dr. Draw (9pm) and returning favorites The Rider Raiders (10pm).

Buskers will be in abundance with Kiki Totally Outrageous, The Circus Drummer & Tex Rexman all offering performances throughout the evening and will join forces at 11pm to host the annual fire show at the Town Docks. There will be plenty of aerial performances as well with Hercinia Arts presenting their hilarious show “Construction Guys” in the River Mill Park Parking Lot and local artists Ascension Aerials offering ongoing performances on Main St. Of course, Nuit Blanche North wouldn’t be complete without Silver Elvis who will be shaking his hips throughout the night.

There will be lots of activities to participate in. Hannah Naiman will be leading techno Square dancing sessions at 8pm & 10pm on Main Street. Muskoka Highlands Academy will host the Yeti Lab Construction Yard inviting participants to build great things together. Science North will be on hand with activities that both entertain and educate. Visit the interactive hoops and juggling zone, jump into the community drum circle, have your face painted or join the puppet parades with the Department of Illumination departing at 8:30pm & 10:30pm.

There will also be plenty local representation with over 60 artists and community members creating original works including the Huntsville Theatre Company, Mary Spring & Terri Howell, Sam Sullivan of Red Pine Art Supplies, Pam Carnochan, Pamela Steel, Nancy Hunter, and a special participatory print making activity led by Big Print Muskoka, a new collective including Christina MacBean, Elise Muller, Karen Gray and Dawn Huddlestone. Visiting artists Elena Martoglio will facilitate the creation of mosaics, while Denise Mabee offers the opportunity to create paper shoes that express your identity.

NbN offers a feast for the eyes. Lightsweetcrude presents an ever evolobing projection performance. Event favorite Marc Walter presents an explosive phoenix made from woven branches. Finally Jillian Peever and Corinne Penstone of the S.P.A.C.E. offer an interactive dance performance in Coles Art Market.

Speaking of feasts, be sure to visit the food and beverage garden in River Mill park where the Banger will be serving up savory dishes and Canvas Brewery will be serving cold beverages.

Main St. will be closed to traffic between Centre St. and Brunel starting at 4pm on July 20th . River Mill Parking lot will be closed starting at 6am on the same day. All will reopen to regular use by 4am on July 21, 2024.

 

 

NUIT BLANCHE NORTH 2024

Downtown Huntsville
July 20, 2024 8:00 PM

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MUSIC AT NOON

Refresh your body and spirit with this mid-day free musical offering! Now celebrating its 23rd year! This year’s series is programmed by piano virtuoso Kyung-A Lee, and is sure to entertain with a program of local artists offering performances in different styles. Take a break from your day to enjoy the beautiful sounds that come from our local artists.

July 15th – Jack Gaughan
July 16th -The Orillia Silver Band Quintet
July 17th – Young Musicians Showcase
July 18th – Huntsville String Quartet
July 19th – Broadway Tribute

 

MUSIC AT NOON

Trinity United Church, 33 Main St. E
July 15, 2024 12:00 PM
July 16, 2024 12:00 PM
July 17, 2024 12:00 PM
July 18, 2024 12:00 PM
July 19, 2024 12:00 PM

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