Page 7 - 2026 Orleans County Travel Guide

OrLy THE OX Scan to follow Orly on

Instagram: @orlytheox
Orleans County’s

Bicentennial Mascot!

025 marked a major milestone for Orleans County and The friendly ox quickly became a crowd favorite,
2the Erie Canal, as both celebrated their bicentennial appearing at parades and events, including a standout role
year. To bring the celebration to life for residents and as grand marshal of the Albion Strawberry Festival and a
visitors, the Orleans County Bicentennial Committee VIP guest on the Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief. Along the
introduced Orly the Ox as its official mascot. way, he revealed a whimsical side, trying hydrobiking on
the Erie Canal, playing pickleball, dancing on TikTok and
joining in plenty of unexpected adventures. His charm
extended beyond the county, earning him three television
features and a growing following on social media.
Fans of all ages engaged with Orly through selfie boards,
stickers and painted rocks by local resident Marilyn Burgoon
(pictured below), which featured colorful depictions of him
and his adventures. Another popular activity, Flat Orly, was
inspired by Flat Stanley (pictured below right with fangirl,
Lori Laine) and allowed people to color, cut out and take
him along on their travels and favorite spots around the
The choice of an ox was no accident. These strong, country. Flat Orly made it as far as Canada and New York
steadfast animals were once the backbone of Orleans City, spreading the bicentennial spirit far and wide.
County’s growth. In the early 19 century, oxen hauled
th
wagons, cleared forests, dug the Erie Canal and helped
transform the wilderness into farmland and thriving
communities. Though often overlooked in history books,
their labor made settlement possible.
Carrying that legacy forward, Orly traveled the county
throughout the year as a cheerful ambassador, visiting
towns, landmarks, festivals and hidden gems. Each stop
was featured daily on the Orleans County Tourism Facebook
and Instagram pages, with photos and short write-ups
highlighting the history and significance of the location.
Many residents discovered places they had never visited or Though Orly’s official duties have ended, his influence
even known about before. endures. He showed that even a small, rural county can
Orly is pictured with Tara Thom, make a big impression—connecting past and present,
coordinator of the Orleans sparking curiosity, and spreading joy wherever he went. He
County bicentennial quilt, which reminds us to notice the beauty and history that surrounds
features blocks representing
the county’s 10 towns and the us every day. Today, residents and visitors can still see Orly
words “Faith, Family & Farming,” at select events, while social media pages continue to
highlighting three cornerstones preserve the record of his travels and the county’s history.
of the community. The quilt
was designed to resemble one
from 1825 while incorporating View “The Orly Chronicles” on pages 8 & 9.
modern elements.

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