On Saturday, July 25, our community came together for the very first edition of the “Music in the Woods” Summer Festival—and what an unforgettable, joy-filled day it was!
What started as a tiny seed of an idea well over a year ago blossomed into a breathtaking, sunshine-filled afternoon of music, laughter, and togetherness overlooking the beautiful woods surrounding the Roy Hobbs Community Centre.
Powered by Passion: Our Incredible Volunteers
We all love Ottawa’s big downtown music festivals, but we wanted to bring that magic right to our own backyard! By transforming the lower parking lot of the Roy Hobbs Community Centre into a cozy, welcoming oasis, we created an event that was easily accessible on foot, by bike, or with a stroller.
This magical day was made possible by an extraordinary crew of dedicated community heroes! Just mid-April, our proposal was officially greenlit, giving our team a whirlwind 3–4 months to build a top-tier festival completely from scratch.
A passionate core of a dozen lead volunteers spearheaded logistics, artistic direction, vendor management, security, and promotion, while nearly 50 volunteers jumped in on event day to bring the vision to life. A massive thank you to the students from Algonquin’s Police Foundations program for keeping things smooth and secure, and to our partners at the Chatelaine Village Community Association (CVCA) for standing side-by-side with the Convent Glen Orléans Wood (CGOW) Community Association!
This initiative was proudly sparked by Ottawa’s 200th anniversary celebrations, and we gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the City of Ottawa’s Ottawa 200 Civic Fund, which helped turn this dream into reality.
Unbelievable Talent on Stage
With crystal-clear, top-tier sound generously provided by Wall Sound, the music was nothing short of incredible! The breezy, dreamy atmosphere was the ultimate backdrop for an extraordinary lineup:
- Rising Stars: Budding young performers from the Allegro School of Music wowed the crowd, taking the stage early in their musical journeys with incredible confidence!
- Local & Francophone Pride: Wonderful musicians from right here in our neighbourhood played alongside fantastic Francophone acts, shining a spotlight on the rich, bilingual culture of Orléans.
- A Grand Finale: The show-stopping, award-winning singer-songwriter Mimi O’Bonsawin closed out the day with an unforgettable, inspiring performance that honoured Indigenous history and our deep connection to the land and rivers.
Delicious Eats & Family Fun!
The energy throughout the day was pure magic, with smiles everywhere you looked:
- Treats & Eats: Festivalgoers stayed cool and happy with ice cream and lemonade, savoured delicious meals from local food vendors, and enjoyed craft beer from Dominion City Brewing Co.
- The Ultimate Kid Zone: A massive hit with our youngest residents! Thanks to SAVVY PARTY Inc, kids spent the afternoon bouncing in the bouncy castle, getting creative with crafts, playing games, and showing off fantastic face painting designs.
- Heritage & Culture: The Société franco-ontarienne du patrimoine et de l’histoire d’Orléans (SFOPHO) hosted a popular info booth, giving residents a wonderful opportunity to connect with our area’s fascinating local history.
Over 900 Strong: A Resounding Success!
Designed to bring together everyone from toddlers to seniors, the turnout exceeded our wildest dreams—over 900 residents joined the festivities throughout the afternoon!
This huge success wouldn’t have been possible without our wonderful community partners. A heartfelt thank you to:
- Ward 2 Councillor Laura Dudas and Ward 1 Councillor Matt Luloff for their enthusiastic support.
- The Heart of Orléans BIA, Dominion City Brewing Co., and all of our incredible local vendors.
Looking Ahead to Next Summer!
“Music in the Woods” proved just how vibrant, welcoming, and tight-knit our neighbourhood truly is. We are already looking forward to making this an annual tradition—bringing even more music, more neighbours, and more summer fun to Orléans next year!
We’d love to hear from you! If you attended, please drop us a line and share your favourite moments. See you all next summer!
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.