September is when Barrie takes the stage.
Whether you’re looking for a soundtrack to your evening, a thought-provoking theatre experience or a show that takes you back through decades of music, Barrie Takes the Stage this September.
Start with a Song: Troubadour Festival Finale
September 12 | Meridian Place | Free Admission | Live Music
There’s no better way to say goodbye to summer than with live music on the waterfront. The Troubadour Festival wraps up its summer concert series on September 12 with a free outdoor show at Meridian Place, bringing Canadian country superstar Tim Hicks to Downtown Barrie.
Known for hits including Get By, Stronger Beer, No Truck Song, Loud and Wreck This, Hicks has become one of Canada's most recognizable country artists. Expect a night filled with country favourites, big sing-alongs and the kind of energy that makes an outdoor concert feel like a celebration of the whole city.
And the best part? Admission is free.
When: September 12, 2026
Where: Meridian Place
What: Troubadour Festival Finale featuring Tim Hicks
Admission: Free
An Afternoon of Virtuosity: Romance of the Violin
September 13 | Bethel Community Church | 2:30 p.m.
Earlier that same day, music lovers can experience something altogether different. Romance of the Violin brings acclaimed violinist Andrew Sords and celebrated Canadian pianist Cheryl Duvall together for an afternoon of expressive performances spanning contemporary and classical works.
Sords has performed for audiences around the world and has been praised for his technical mastery, sensitivity and passionate performances. Joining him is Toronto-based pianist Cheryl Duvall, one of Canada's foremost contemporary music interpreters and co-founder of the Thin Edge New Music Collective.
It's an opportunity to slow down, settle in and let two exceptional musicians take centre stage.
When: Sunday, September 13, 2026 | 2:30 p.m.
Where: Bethel Community Church, 128 St. Vincent St.
What: Andrew Sords & Cheryl Duvall
Genre: Classical / Contemporary
A Dark Secret Takes the Stage: The Maids
September 17–October 3 | Barrie By The Bay Commercial Complex | Theatre
Then things take a darker turn. Talk Is Free Theatre brings its acclaimed production of The Maids to Barrie, presenting a provocative and unsettling story about power, identity, class and the masks people wear to survive.
Based on a true story, the play follows two sisters employed as servants in a wealthy household. When they are alone, they engage in elaborate role-playing games, taking turns playing their superior, Madame. But as long-suppressed frustrations and desires rise to the surface, their private rituals begin to spiral toward devastating consequences.
Darkly comic, psychologically charged and deliberately uncomfortable, The Maids is theatre designed to stay with you long after the curtain falls.
THE DETAILS
When: September 17–October 3, 2026
Where: Barrie By The Bay Commercial Complex, 80 Bradford Street
What: The Maids by Talk Is Free Theatre
Genre: Theatre / Drama
Take a Trip to Hotel California: Take It to the Limit
September 18 | Georgian Theatre | 7:30 p.m.
From Hotel California and Desperado to Heartache Tonight, the show brings the band's biggest hits to life in a 100% live performance.
THE DETAILS
When: Friday, September 18, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.
Where: Georgian Theatre
What: Take It to the Limit
Genre: Eagles Tribute / Rock
Forget the Red Carpet: Step Into the Show
September 24–October 3 | Barrie By The Bay Commercial Complex | Immersive Theatre
Created and curated by Griffin Hewitt, this immersive experience transforms a large building into a maze of performances, installations, rooms, hallways and unexpected encounters. There is no single path to follow. You decide where to go, what to explore, how long to stay and what you discover next.
Every audience member creates their own experience and because the combinations of performances, encounters and pathways can change, no two visits are exactly alike. You can stay for up to two hours, making this less of a traditional night at the theatre and more of an adventure.
And there’s an added bonus: the opening night on September 24 is free as part of Barrie Culture Days.
THE DETAILS
When: September 24–October 3, 2026
Where: Barrie By The Bay Commercial Complex, 80 Bradford Street
What: Don't Touch the Art
Duration: Up to 2 hours
September 24: Free admission as part of Barrie Culture Days
Regular Admission: $49 | Student/Artist with ID: $24.50 (+ fees and HST)
Three Decades. One Big Night of Music.
September 25 | Georgian Theatre | 7 p.m.
This high-energy production takes audiences on a musical trip through three decades, bringing together rock 'n' roll, pop, disco and funk with live musicians, singers, dancers, video imagery and more than 30 costume changes.
From Elvis and The Beatles to The Supremes, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, ABBA, Queen, the Bee Gees and Tina Turner, the setlist is packed with familiar favourites.
THE DETAILS
When: Friday, September 25, 2026 | 7 p.m.
Where: Georgian Theatre
What: Relive the Music 50s, 60s & 70s
Genre: Rock / Pop / Disco / Funk
Voices From Wales: Toronto Welsh Male Voice Choir
September 26 | Collier Street United Church | Choral Music
But don't expect a performance limited to traditional Welsh music. The choir's ever-growing repertoire also includes spirituals, operatic arias, North American folk songs, Broadway show tunes and pop favourites, creating a wonderful blend of traditional and contemporary music.
THE DETAILS
When: September 26, 2026
Where: Collier Street United Church
What: An Evening with the Toronto Welsh Male Voice Choir
Genre: Choral / Classical / Contemporary
Your September Soundtrack Starts Here
From Tim Hicks singing under the stars at Meridian Place to Celtic rock at the Georgian Theatre, from the intimate beauty of a violin and piano to theatre that asks you to step inside the story, September proves that Barrie's stage is anything but one-dimensional. And that's the beauty of Barrie Takes the Stage.
