The Downtown Orangeville BIA is bringing back its free outdoor Summer Sounds Sidewalk Music Series starting July 18, 2026, with twice as many stages as past years. Every Saturday through August 29, shoppers and diners can catch 14 local acts at six spots around the core, including new stages on Mill Street and Little York Street.
Performances run Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The series kicks off early at the Farmers’ Market Stage at Broadway and Second Street, while the Mill Street stage by the Taphouse Craft Beer and Kitchen starts at 11:30 a.m. Other venues include the Broadway Music Stage, 75 Broadway, 5 Little York Street, and the Aardvark Music Stage—meaning live music stretches well beyond the traditional Broadway strip.
The series is put together by two longtime local music shops: Broadway Music Orangeville and Aardvark Music and Culture. They booked a mix of talent from across the region, including Juno-nominated guitarist Kenny Vehkavaara, artist Alec Rhodes—whose track “Cider” has passed 60,000 Spotify streams—and Heather Katz, co-owner of Broadway Music, who has shared stages with James Brown and B.B. King. A full list of performers with set times is posted on the Summer Sounds page.
“New this year, we’re expanding the music! In addition to performances along Broadway, you’ll also discover live music on Mill Street and Little York Street, bringing even more energy and entertainment to your downtown stroll,” the BIA says on its website.
For more than two decades, the Orangeville BIA has run events to draw foot traffic to its roughly 230 businesses. The 2024 Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival pulled in close to 40,000 people, showing the appetite for downtown music events. The Summer Sounds series gives residents an easy reason to explore local shops and restaurants every Saturday for seven weeks.
