It’s here! It is finally Culture Days in Orangeville and all across Canada. There is so much to do and see this weekend! This three day coast to coast volunteer based event has thousands of activities across Canada designed at getting Canadians involved in the arts and culture in their neighbourhood. The town of Orangeville kicked off the Culture Days celebration yesterday with the 3rd annual Mayor’s Breakfast for the arts. Congratulations to all of the winners and nominees of the of the Orangeville Arts and Culture awards! Keep reading for a listing of some of the activities that are happening in Orangeville and across Dufferin County this weekend. If I have missed an event let me know in the comments! Culture Day at the Orangeville Farmers’ Market – this is the first year that the OFM is taking part in Culture Days, but we are starting with a bang! We have an incredible line up of artists, congregating in Alexandra Park to show and share some amazing talent. All activities are free and are friendly for every age group. It’s never too early, or too late to learn a new skill. Dance workshops with Citrus Dance, Celtic Academy and 369 Dance Collective will pump you up! Tai Chi Classes with Taoist Tai Chi Society of Canada will calm you down! Learn stage fighting with foam swords and some of the cast of Theatre Orangeville Young Company Three Musketeers!

  Broadway Music is hosting a uke jam in the park. Bring your ukulele and meet some new music loving friends. You can’t help but smile when you are playing a ukulele and they are so easy to learn!  Broadway music will have a booth in Artist Village. Drop by to ask them about new instruments, classes and anything musical! Happy Customers ‘Ask an Artist’ Sharon Wadsworth Smith and Michelle Johnston will be painting in the park – Michelle will also be hosting a salsa lesson!   Orangeville Music Theatre is hosting special guest Barb Perkins – play write and lyricist of Home Child the new Canadian musical that OMT will be performing in the New Year. Barb will speak at 10:00am and 12:00pm.  You can also learn the Time Warp with OMT in town circle at 11:00am. Don’t miss Art with Jada in the park from 9:00am – 1:00pm teaching techniques in watercolours and pastels. Also Falun Dafa will be available to show you how to fold Origami Lotus flowers and teach a little bit about Chinese Culture. All of this AND the Orangeville Sustainability Action Team will be holding a tree raffle from the Market information booth. Ten potted trees will be raffled off throughout the day. These trees can be planted in your yard or garden. What a wonderful way to celebrate autumn in our beautiful town. All of the above is just one Spectacular event available! Make sure you “Check out” the Human Library at the Orangeville Public Library. A brilliant idea; you can check out people instead of books! “This unique program pairs readers with "Human Books" - volunteers who are members of a diverse group in our community who are typically subject to stereotyping, stigmas and labels.” Soulyve Caribbean Kitchen is hosting a Merengue/Salsa night in their restaurant. Lesson starts at 9:00pm on Saturday, September 29th with Nislon and Michele! Sure to be amazing! We are smack in the middle of the Headwaters Arts Festival, running until October 8th. Make sure you check out their website for festival details. So much great stuff going on in Dufferin County! The Orangeville Concert Association is celebrating 37 years of great concerts. This Saturday you can catch Sylvia Tyson and Wendell Ferguson at the Orangeville Opera House. Click this link for ticket details. Rhythm and Hues is continuing at the Aton Mill. Just one more great example of arts and culture in our community. Whew! What an amazing list of things to see and do. What will you be doing this weekend?