This weekend is a bit quieter than most, as many organizations are taking a break for the Easter long weekend. However, speaking of Easter, I’ve found a basketful of family Easter activities, as well as a concert in Cantley, a craft sale in Renfrew, a fashion event in Gatineau and a dawn labyrinth walk in Carleton Place (okay, that one is next Monday, but it still counts as part of the long weekend, right?).
Enjoy Easter fun from Carleton Place to Cumberland…and beyond
Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash.
In Ottawa, Easter at the Farm lets kids pet lambs and bunnies, meet chicks and ducklings, rock on at an all-ages barn dance, make Easter-themed crafts, and watch rabbits race through an obstacle course (the bunny race is on Saturday only). New this year are egg rolling races, which will take place if the weather cooperates. It’s all happening at the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum at the Central Experimental Farm (April 19 to 22).
Lots of Easter events are taking place on Saturday, April 20.
- At the Billings Estate National Historic Site, kids can feed animals at the Big Sky Ranch petting zoo, and participate in history-themed activities to earn points for a tasty Easter treat.
- At the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum, kids can try their hand at Easter activities from the 1920s and 1930s, plant carrot seeds, dye eggs and pet bunnies. (Note: Please check news websites re the condition of Old Montreal Road before heading out; as I type this on Monday, the road was closed for emergency repairs.)
- In Perth, the Easter egg hunt in Stewart Park (11am to 1pm) is open to children aged 8 and under. Every child gets a treat and has the chance to pose with the Easter Bunny. All kids must be accompanied by an adult. Don’t forget to bring a basket!
- The 12th annual Carleton Place Bunny Run (11am to 2pm) is a free hunt for Easter treats throughout the streets of downtown. Kids can also sip on hot chocolate and visit fluffy yellow chicks. Again, bring your own bag or basket.
The Ecomuseum Zoo in the Montreal suburb of Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue has lots of kid-friendly activities planned for April 20 and 21, including an egg hunt, face painting, animal encounters and visits from the Easter Bunny. Advance ticket purchase is recommended.
On Sunday, April 21, at Mont Tremblant, families can enjoy an egg hunt, face painting, live music and more. That day, there’s also an Easter egg hunt at the Calabogie Community Centre in Calabogie from 11am to 2pm.
Relax with dinner and a concert in Cantley
Singer-songwriter Michel Robichaud is known for his catchy melodies, sense of humour, and talent on both acoustic and electric guitar. He’s in concert at La Grange de la Gatineau in Cantley on Friday, April 19. You can buy a dinner-and-show package or tickets to the concert only.
Take a nature walk in Ottawa or Calabogie
The Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club has several nature walks scheduled for this weekend, weather permitting. On Friday, April 19, there are two evening walks: a hike to listen for nocturnal amphibians and birds, starting from the Lincoln Fields shopping mall parking lot; and a walk to seek out salamanders and other nighttime creatures, leaving from the parking lot of the Bogie General Store in Calabogie. For those who rely on public transit, there’s a treat on Saturday, April 20: a nature hike leaving from the Dominion Transitway station. And on Sunday, April 21, a gentle morning hike on the Jack Pine Trail near Moodie Drive and Hunt Club Road is on the agenda.
Eat pancakes and shop in Delta
Activities at the Delta Maple Syrup Festival will include tours and milling demonstrations at the village’s National Historic Site, the Old Stone Mill.
Every Easter weekend, the Delta Maple Syrup Festival pretty much takes over the village of Delta (tucked between Upper and Lower Beverley lakes, partway between Smiths Falls and Gananoque). This year, the festivities are unrolling on April 21 and 22. The fun includes a ball hockey tournament, book and craft sales, an Easter egg hunt, wagon rides, face painting, blacksmithing and milling demonstrations, tours of the Old Stone Mill, a dance, and (of course), all-you-can-eat pancakes with maple syrup.
Paddle in a river race in Canton, New York
The Little River Ramble is one of the first kayak and canoe races of the season in Canton, New York. Registration starts at noon and the first racers will take to the water at 1pm. The hub of activity is the Park Street Bridge in Canton, which is about 90 minutes southeast of Ottawa.
Do a bit of shopping in Ottawa, Gatineau or Renfrew
Photo by Lauren Roberts on Unsplash
Does the hint of warmth in the air have you itching to buy something new? Then the Big Fashion Sale by Quebec Designers, coming to the Hilton Lac-Leamy in Gatineau (April 18 to 20), may be just what you’re looking for.
For bargain hunters, the 613Flea market returns to the Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park on Saturday, April 20, with 140 vendors. Admission is free.
The Crafters Only Spring Show is happening at the Renfrew Armouries on Friday, April 19, from noon to 8pm, and Saturday, April 20, from 10am to 5pm. Proceeds support the Golden Age Activity Centre.
Stroll a labyrinth in Carleton Place
Here’s an unusual way to celebrate Earth Day on Monday, April 22: Enjoy a sunrise walk through the Carleton Place Community Labyrinth at 6am, followed by breakfast. The labyrinth is located at 267 Edmund Street, behind the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum.
Enjoy Eagles tunes in Gatineau
On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair, warm smell of colitas… If you automatically finished this line with “rising up through the air,” then you, my friend, are in the target audience for Hotel California—The Original Tribute to the Eagles, a salute to the famously laid-back ’70s and ’80s band. It’s on stage at the Casino Lac-Leamy on April 19 and 20. Some dance to remember, some dance to forget…
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