This is a special two-week road trip roundup post, packed with things you can see and do in Ottawa, Eastern Ontario, the Outaouais and Montreal between December 24 and January 6. There’s more to the next two weeks than turkey and stockings (fun as those are)!
Count birds with your kids in Lansdowne and Perth Road Village
In the Christmas Bird Count for Kids, a nationwide event coordinated by Bird Studies Canada, families head out into nature to learn about birdwatching and do some citizen science. Two events are coming up near Ottawa in the next few weeks. Check them out at the Landon Bay Centre in Lansdowne, near Gananoque, on Saturday, December 29 (advance registration required) or at the Elbow Lake Environmental Education Centre in Perth Road Village (between Kingston and Perth) on Saturday, January 5. There will be hot chocolate and snacks!
Have fun at the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
At Winter Frolic (December 26 to January 6) at the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum in Ottawa, families can learn how animals adapt to winter through demonstrations by experts from the Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre, play with vintage toys and classic games, admire a gingerbread house village, make gingerbread and other festive treats in the demontration kitchen, and try their hand at holiday crafts. All the fun is free with museum admission.
Learn about the cosmos and the Northern Lights in Montreal
At the Planétarium Rio Tinto Alcan in Montreal, you can learn about astronomy and the aurora borealis through two immersive movies: Continuum and aurorae. I’ve seen Continuum (at the AstroLAB in the Eastern Townships) and it absolutely blew me away—and I say this as someone who normally isn’t a big fan of Philip Glass’s music (he wrote the score).
Sing your heart out in McDonald’s Corners
The Twelfth Night Wassail Evening at the MERA Schoolhouse in McDonald’s Corners is a chance to sing in the New Year, raise a glass of wassail punch, sip coffee and tea, and nibble on desserts, all for free (but please bring some nibbles to share). If the weather is bad, the snow date is Sunday, January 6; check the MERA Schoolhouse website for updates.
Cheer on young hockey players in Ottawa
The Bell Capital Cup is one of the world’s largest hockey tournaments, drawing hundreds of youth hockey teams from around the world to Ottawa. This year, you can enjoy the action from December 27 to December 31 at arenas across the city, including the Richcraft Sensplex, the Nepean Sportsplex and the Canadian Tire Centre. You might just spot a future NHL star or two.
Take the (frosty) plunge in Perth
Not cold enough for ya yet? Then strip down to your bathing suit and take the Perth Polar Bear Plunge on January 1. The annual glacial dip into the Tay River, sponsored by the local Royal Canadian Legion, raises money for community causes; this year, the chosen charity is the Canadian Cancer Society. Yikes, this looks COLD!!!!
Bounce the day away in Gatineau
So the presents are unwrapped, the new toys have been played with, you’ve watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas approximately 47 times and the kids are getting restless. The Gatineau Playground Festival (December 27 to 30) at the Complexe Branchaud-Brière—with its 67,000 square feet of bouncy castles, trampolines and other active, indoor fun—might just be the answer to your family’s cabin fever.
Dance the night away at the Canadian Museum of Nature
This month’s Nature Nocturne after-hours dance party at the Canadian Museum of Nature is happening on Friday, December 28. The theme is “White Out” and the evening promises to let you “get creative with snowy art.” As well as exploring the exhibits, you can buy food and drinks to fuel up before or after hitting the dance floor. Bottle service is available in La Mezz lounge. And for an extra $5, you can visit the Butterflies in Flight show. Note that this event is for people 19 and over, and photo ID is required.
Enjoy a guided snowshoeing hike in Gatineau Park
The Friends of Gatineau Park’s popular Snowshoe Under the Stars program launches for another season on Friday, January 4. On Friday evenings from now until March 8, you can take a two-hour (3K) snowshoeing hike with a naturalist. Prices vary, and you can bring your own snowshoes or rent a pair for $5. Reservations required.
See the lights in Ottawa and at Upper Canada Village
Afraid that you missed Alight at Night, the spectacular illuminated festival at Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg? Don’t worry—you can still see it until Saturday, January 5. At Wesley Clover Parks in Nepean, you can enjoy the Magic of Lights display until Saturday, January 5, as well. And in downtown Ottawa, Confederation Boulevard will still be glowing with lights as part of Christmas Lights Across Canada until Monday, January 7.
Cry “Mush!” in Bristol
Flickr/Creative Commons photo of sled dogs by Ralf Κλενγελ.
OK, I know sled dog racers don’t really yell “Mush!” But I watched too many Saturday morning cartoons as a kid to shake the image entirely. Mush or no, the place for sled dog fans to be on the first weekend in January is Bristol, Quebec, where the Pontiac International Sled Dog and Skijoring Race (January 5 and 6) will attract some of the world’s fastest dog-powered racers.
Ring in the New Year
Looking for ideas for New Year’s Eve? I have lots of them in this post—everything from fireworks and champagne to comedy and at least one contortionist.
All the best to you and yours for the holidays and for 2019!
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