Holiday fun is in full swing this week, as Alight at Night opens its ever-popular doors at Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg, three towns hold Santa fun runs, another three towns hold holiday home tours, and eight communities—from Aylmer to Merrickville and beyond—hold festive fêtes. There’s The Nutcracker in Ottawa, the CP Holiday Train in multiple locations, and an illuminated waterfall in the Pontiac. But if you’re looking for something different, no worries—I also have The Mikado in Carleton Place, Lumina Borealis in Kingston, a Bee Gees tribute at the Casino du Lac-Leamy, and a rock and gem show in Ottawa. Happy travels!
Visit Santa’s workshop at a heritage farm in Nepean
Original buildings have been carefully restored at the Log Farm.
You don’t even have to go outside the Ottawa city limits to visit an 1860s style farm. And from December 1 until Christmas, the Log Farm in Nepean will be open every Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 3pm. You can shop for wreaths, trees and locally made gifts, see farm animals, sip hot apple cider and nibble cookies around a bonfire, and take a horse-drawn wagon ride to Santa’s workshop (where you can spy on elves at work and drop off a letter for Kris Kringle).
Enjoy a village-style Christmas in multiple communities
Many nearby towns are hosting community Christmas events this weekend. Highlights of Manotick’s Olde-Fashioned Christmas (December 1 and 2) include a Santa Claus parade and a Victorian tea on Saturday, a festive breakfast and sunset carolling on Sunday, and a crafters’ market at Watson’s Mill on both days.
The Chocolate Party in Carleton Place (Saturday, December 1) features yoga, live entertainment, a visit from Santa and, of course, lots of chocolate.
Festivities at the Casselman Christmas Festival (November 29 to December 2) include concerts, a Santa Walk and Run, and a Santa Claus parade.
Christmas in Merrickville (Saturday, December 1) is packed with activities, including a parade, a chili tent, glass-blowing demonstrations, a petting zoo and a broomball match.
Starting this weekend, Christmas in Old Aylmer (November 30 to December 9) includes a Christmas market that runs every day and a Santa Claus parade on Saturday, December 1.
Flickr/Creative Commons photo by Tom Childers.
Perth is hosting fireworks on Friday, November 30, as part of the Festival of Lights at the Crystal Palace. You can also enjoy a bonfire, live music and hot food, and admire Christmas trees decorated by local businesses and community groups.
Delta’s Celebrating the Season festival (Fridays and Saturdays from November 30 to December 22) features church suppers, wagon rides, and 100,000 lights illuminating Lower Beverley Lake Park and surrounding buildings.
A bit further afield, Skaneateles (pronounced “Skinny Atlas,” oddly) is a super-cute town near Syracuse, New York. And every weekend until December 23, it will be hosting a Dickens Christmas. Costumed actors portraying the Victorian novelist and some of his famous fictional characters will be strolling around town. You can also enjoy live music, horse-drawn carriage and wagon rides, and more.
P.S.: If you like seeing Kris Kringle on the move, don’t forget to check my roundup of dozens of nearby Santa Claus parades.
Rock on in Ottawa
Photo by carole smile on Unsplash.
Fans of gems, rocks and crystals take note: Silver Cove’s Rock and Gem Show is coming to the EY Centre in Ottawa for four days this week (November 29 to December 2).
Catch a play in Carleton Place, Perth or Morrisburg
In Carleton Place, the Mississippi Mudds are staging Gilbert and Sullivan’s classic Japan-set operetta The Mikado from November 30 through December 9 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
On select dates from November 30 to December 16, Barn Door Productions in Perth is presenting Hansel & Gretel, an all-new Christmas pantomime. Bring the kids and prepare for lots of interaction.
In Morrisburg, The Christmas Express tells the tale of the little town of Holly. Locals there aren’t feeling the Christmas spirit until a mysterious fellow named Leo arrives and revives hope that a beloved holiday train may return to town. The musical is on stage at the Upper Canada Playhouse from November 30 through December 21.
Go for a run (or walk) in Ottawa, Kemptville, Cornwall or Kingston
Photo courtesy of the Santa Shuffle.
Grab your winter running shoes (or boots) and your Santa hat—The Santa Shuffle is coming to Ottawa, Kemptville, Cornwall and Kingston on Saturday, December 1. The fundraiser for the Salvation Army is actually two events in one: a 5K fun run and a 1K Elf Walk.
See Wayne Rostad in Pembroke
Singer Wayne Rostad brings a new version of his Christmas in the Valley show to the Festival Hall Centre for the Arts in Pembroke on Friday, November 30. Lots of special musical guests will be joining him on stage.
Thrill to the Nutcracker in Ottawa
For some, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without going to see The Nutcracker. You can see the Alberta Ballet’s production of the beloved holiday show at the National Arts Centre from November 28 to December 2.
See the Christmas train
Photo courtesy of the CP Holiday Train.
Listen for the whistle! The CP Holiday Train will be in the Montreal area on Tuesday, November 27, and it will be coming closest to Ottawa on Wednesday, November 28, with stops in Finch, Merrickville, Smiths Falls and Perth. After that, it continues on to Belleville and points beyond. Don’t forget to bring a donation for local food banks.
Relive your disco days in Gatineau
Have you ever yearned for a white suit like John Travolta’s in Saturday Night Fever? Did you ever own platform shoes or any clothing item made of velour? Then put on your glam glitter and head to the Casino du Lac Leamy to catch Stayin’Alive—A Celebration of the Music of the Bee Gees (November 29 to December 1). A tribute band will be playing the hits of the most disco-y of disco acts, from “Jive Talkin'” to, yep, “Stayin’ Alive.” (And, yes, I believe it was illegal to put a G on the end of any verb in a disco song.) This show has proved so popular they’ve added extra performances.
Enjoy Cuban music in Kingston
Does this early blast of winter have you shivering? Then the music of Adonis Puentes and the Voice of Cuba Orchestra might be just the thing to warm you up, by transporting you—musically at least—to the sunny Caribbean. They’re on stage at the Grand Theatre in Kingston on Friday, November 30.
Channel your inner Victorian in Smiths Falls
Celebrate Christmas in traditional style during the Victorian Christmas Tea Party at the Heritage House Museum in Smiths Falls on Sunday, December 2. Sip hot cider, nibble on home-baked goodies, and shop for gifts in the museum gift shop or at the Art Show and Artisan Market.
Be dazzled by festive lights at TD Place and in Cumberland, Smiths Falls, Morrisburg and Fort Coulonge
Alight at Night at Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg. Flickr/Creative Commons photo by In the Bag Solutions.
The popular Alight at Night Festival lights up Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg again this year. This event sees the historical village’s homes, shops, church, fences and trees adorned with roughly one million lights. While you’re there, you can enjoy a meal or a carriage ride (book the latter well in advance), take the little ones for a ride on a 1965 carousel or a pint-sized train, enjoy old-fashioned carolling, snack on cinnamon rolls, browse for gifts made by village artisans or visit a Victorian Santa, among other diversions. The fun begins on Friday, November 30, and the event is open select evenings until Saturday, January 5.
TD Place will light the Lansdowne Christmas Tree for the first time this year on Friday, November 30, at 6pm. Everyone from the Redblacks cheer team to Santa will be on hand, and you can warm up with free hot chocolate and cider.
On Friday, November 30, the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum launches its Vintage Village of Lights. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until December 23, the village’s historic buildings will be lit up with more than 30,000 lights, and you can enjoy activities such as gingerbread decorating and horse-drawn wagon rides.
The Festival of Lights opens this Saturday, December 1, at Chutes Coulonge in the Pontiac and runs every Saturday in December. Wander along a lighted trail, nibble on treats from Trimmer’s and thrill to the thunder of the water.
And Victoria Park Campground in Smiths Falls will glow every night with the Celebration of Lights until December 31.
Lumina Borealis returns to Kingston
The extremely popular Lumina Borealis multimedia installation returns to Kingston’s Fort Henry on Friday, November 30, and it runs until Saturday, January 5, 2019. The video above gives you a taste of the hard-to-describe nighttime attraction. Make sure to wear your woollies, and bring your sense of wonder!
Visit pretty homes in Perth, Carleton Place and Richmond
If you’re looking for some decorating inspiration, this is the weekend of both the Heritage Perth Christmas House Tour and the Christmas in Carleton Place House Tour (both running December 1 and 2). The two communities aren’t that far apart; if you were really energetic (or stayed overnight), you might even be able to do both tours! And as if that weren’t enough, there’s also the Village of Richmond Holiday House and Business Tour on Saturday, December 1.
Try your luck in Ottawa
The Vanier Museopark is holding a fundraising Casino Evening at the Guigues Centre on Murray Street in the Byward Market on Saturday, December 1. Try your luck at seven game tables and enjoy a buffet and bar. Money raised will go toward the museum’s school programs and the restoration of Vanier’s murals.
Shop, shop, shop across the region
Photo by rawpixel.com on Unsplash.
Still working on your Christmas shopping—or just starting? My giant roundup of Christmas craft sales includes 30 events this weekend, from Stittsville and Carp to Blue Sea and Kingston (including quite a few events in Ottawa). In Cumberland, the Christmas Market on Saturday, December 1 , is spread across five locations and features roughly 100 artisans. There’s also Festive Friday in downtown Kingston on Friday, November 30, when lots of downtown stores will be open late for your browsing pleasure, and you can enjoy wagon rides, carolling, Drag Queen Gift Wrapping and more. And don’t forget to check out my holiday shopping guide, with tips on everything from shops in Lyndhurst and Perth, and a bed and breakfast in Brockville, to food tours in Almonte and Carleton Place. (Leave a comment on that post and you’ll be eligible for a draw for a $100 gift certificate from Breakaway Experiences!)
Make merry in Montreal
An extended Christmas celebration in Montreal will be launched on Friday, December 1. Noël dans le parc actually takes place across three city parks until December 25, and features amusements ranging from concerts fire-breathing circus performances.
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2 comments
Great post. We plan to bring our granddaughter to 2 of the events. Thanks – you made the search so much easier!!
Merry Christmas
Thanks, Erica! I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Merry Christmas to you, too!