Happy 2019, everyone! After what I hope was a lovely and peaceful holiday break, you may just be ready for a road trip. If so, I have lots of ideas. For instance, you can learn about evergreens on a nature hike in Brockville, see a play in Ottawa or Montreal, learn to make a teacup candle in Perth, or photograph snowy owls near Kingston. Enjoy!
Go for a hike in Brockville or Gatineau Park
Photo by Chris Bair on Unsplash.
Sure, they make great Christmas trees, but what else do you really know about evergreens? You can probably learn a lot more about them on an afternoon hike at the Mac Johnson Wildlife Centre in Brockville on Sunday, January 13. The two-hour guided hike with outdoor educator Cherianne Cybulskie will also include the chance to try conifer tea and some wilderness-inspired snacks. Bring snowshoes if you have them.
The gorgeously snowy hills were alive with the sound of squeaking when I took a guided hike through Gatineau Park a couple of years ago. Photo by Laura Byrne Paquet.
This Saturday also marks the beginning of weekend snowshoeing hikes in Gatineau Park. On Saturdays and Sundays from January 12 to March 17 (except February 23 and 24), nature interpreters will lead free walks in French and English, weather permitting. The park will even provide snowshoes! Reservations required.
Take a walk on the theatrical wild side in Montreal
In Montreal, the Wildside Theatre Festival (January 8 to 20) features cutting-edge shows from companies across North America—sort of like a cold-weather fringe festival. Productions this year include Confabulation, “Montreal’s premiere showcase for autobiographical storytelling”; Crime After Crime (After Crime), a comedy riffing on 1950s film noir, 1970s heist movies and 1990s buddy copy films; and Macbeth Muet, a wordless adaptation of Shakespeare’s Scottish tragedy.
Hear classical music in Almonte or Kingston
Photo by Danylo Bobyk courtesy of Infusion Baroque.
J.S. Bach was a busy man. As well as writing countless famous Baroque pieces, the composer also fathered 20 children. Son of a Bach!, an afternoon concert in Almonte on Sunday, January 13, features pieces by J.S. and three of his sons. The performance by the Montreal-based quartet Infusion Baroque is part of the Almonte in Concert series at the Almonte Old Town Hall.
That same afternoon, the Kingston Symphony is offering a program of Schumann and Beethoven at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts in Kingston.
Learn to make a teacup candle in Perth
If you love vintage teacups and scented candles, you might just like a workshop coming up this Sunday, January 13, at the Red Brick Emporium in Perth. Participants will get the chance to make a soy candle inside an antique cup, and all materials will be provided.
Discover Ontario beers in Cornwall
The first-ever Suds and Sap Festival is coming to the Cornwall Civic Complex on January 11 and 12. As well as trying beers from a range of Ontario breweries, you can sample wine and other drinks, maple cotton candy, and more. Proceeds go toward Rachel’s Kids, a children’s charity.
Raise a glass in Niagara or the Finger Lakes
It’s a bit of a hike at this time of year, but the Niagara Icewine Festival (January 11 to 27) offers three jam-packed weekends celebrating Canada’s famous dessert wine, in and around Niagara-on-the-Lake. Slightly closer to Ottawa (but across the border), wineries along the Seneca Lake Wine Trail in the Finger Lakes region of New York state are offering discounts on wines of all kinds during their annual Bargain Bash (January 12 to 21).
Get wedding ideas in Ottawa or Kingston
Photo by Alvin Mahmudov on Unsplash.
Engaged couples might want to check out the Timeless Memories Bridal Show at the Kingston campus of St. Lawrence College on Sunday, January 13, where complimentary goodies will include swag bags, mocktails, admission and parking. Closer to home, at the Capital Bridal Show at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa (January 12 and 13), you can also gather ideas for dresses, catering, honeymoons and more.
Learn about photography on Amherst Island or in Picton
Photo by ShareGrid on Unsplash.
Picton-based photographer Phil Norton is offering two photography outings this weekend: a trip to Amherst Island near Kingston to find and take pictures of snowy owls on Saturday, January 12, and a workshop on contemplative photography in Picton on Sunday, January 13. Advance registration required.
Race through Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg
Grab your headlamps! The Dion Ignite the Night Snowshoe Race takes place at Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg on Saturday, January 12, with 5K and 10K routes. Even though Alight at Night is officially over, the village’s million-light display will be switched on for the race. This is a fundraiser for adults with developmental disabilities. The registration fee is $35 until January 10 and $45 on race day.
Try crazy winter sports in Montreal
Shake off the winter blues with two long weekends of outdoor fun at the Barbegazi festival at Montreal’s Parc Olympique (weekends, January 12 to 20). From snowskating to Christmas tree tossing, it looks a bit like the Olympics crossed with a very strange video game. Fuel up between activities with on goodies from onsite food trucks.
Dance the night away in Almonte
So your New Year’s resolution is to exercise more often, but you can’t face the gym? Why not dance? It seems like a lot more fun. Grab your dancing shoes and head to the Almonte Fair’s annual dance at the Almonte Civitan Hall on Saturday, January 12. You get live music by the Glen Silverson Band, a silent auction and a light lunch, all for $15 in advance or $18 at the door.
See a funny play in Ottawa
Jane Morris and Sharron J. McGuirl star in Ripcord. Photo by Maria Vartanova courtesy of Ottawa Little Theatre.
Two women living in a retirement home. An innocent-seeming bet that gets out of hand and turns into a fraught contest for oneupmanship (or should that be oneupwomanship?). Secrets coming into the open. That’s the premise of Ripcord, a comedy by David Lindsay-Abaire on stage at Ottawa Little Theatre from January 9 to 26 (see the theatre’s website for show times).
Have some laughs in Kingston
Fifteen standup comics from across Canada and beyond—including Mike Wilmot, Shannon Laverty, Rob Pue and Jenn Labelle—will be playing venues all over Kingston during the Ice Cold Comedy Festival (January 9 to 12).
Want more tips on road trips from Ottawa—including info on hotel discounts, contests, festivals and other cool news? Subscribe to my free weekly e-newsletter! I will never spam you—promise.
1 comment
Fabulous list of things to experience in the Ottawa area over the winter, Laura. Almonte is such a picturesque town. I’m glad you have it on your list. Don’t forget there is one of the finest chocolate makers in the world located there: Hummingbird Chocolate–one of my personal favs.