I think I may have set a “road trip roundup” record this week: I’ve found 42 ideas for things to see and do in and around Ottawa. If you like fundraising races, there are half a dozen cycling, walking and/or running events. If shopping is your thing, you can check out everything from a pop-up shop in Carleton Place and a vinyl record sale in Kingston to a garage sale in Renfrew and craft sales galore. Theatre in Kemptville, a writers festival in Ottawa, a fishing derby, a wood carving show…the list goes on and on.
IMPORTANT: PLEASE check the website of any event you’re hoping to attend before heading out to make sure it hasn’t been moved or postponed due to flooding. Check my flood post for links to local municipalities’ flood information pages, most of which also include details on ways you can help people affected by the disaster. Stay safe, everyone—especially those of you with homes under threat. Let’s help each other get through this, and let’s hope the waters recede very soon.
Learn about urban design and history on a Jane’s Walk
Jane’s Walks are named after urbanist Jane Jacobs, who wrote numerous books about the way cities work. This week (May 2 to 5, with most events on the weekend), numerous cities are hosting free walks with local experts who will explain facets of each city’s history, development and design. You can join a walk in Ottawa-Gatineau, Brockville, Belleville, Kingston, Peterborough, Toronto or Montreal, among many other places; check the Jane’s Walk website for walks in other communities across Canada.
Enjoy comic book fun in Carleton Place
Superhero Saturday: Free Comic Book Day (Saturday, May 4) is an annual family-friendly event in downtown Carleton Place. Kids can get a free comic book (while supplies last) and meet costumed super heroes.
See a funny play in Kemptville
From May 2 to 5, the Kemptville Players are staging a quirky comedy by João Bethencourt called The Day They Kidnapped the Pope. In it, a Brooklyn cabbie named Sam kidnaps the pope and names his ransom: for 24 hours, Sam demands that no one be killed, anywhere in the world.
Learn about the Kashubs in Wilno
Wilno—a village near Barry’s Bay—is home to one of Canada’s biggest communities of Kashubs, who originally hailed from what is now Poland. On Saturday, May 4, they’ll be celebrating their heritage on Kashub Day with live music by local musicians, rib-sticking food, wagon rides, traditional dancing and more.
Bike, skate or walk for a good cause in Ottawa
The CN Cycle for CHEO takes to Ottawa’s streets on Sunday, May 5, with 15K, 35K and 70K cycling routes. In-line skaters can also join the 15K route, while there are 2K and 5K routes for walkers. They all start at the Canadian War Museum. Proceeds go to support the CHEO Foundation, Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Support Programs and Ronald McDonald House.
See the world in Brockville
The 38th annual Brockville Multicultural Community Festival (May 3 and 4) features a packed slate of performances ranging from a steel band to bhangra dancers.
Paddle your canoe in Canton
The 58th annual Canton Canoe Weekend is happening in Canton, New York, on May 4 and 5. Racers can choose from a wide range of courses, including 1, 3, 5, 8, 12 and 14-mile routes; there’s also a 2-mile relay race for recreational paddlers. Bring the kids—there’s a children’s playground, a Saturday night chicken barbecue and free camping.
Shop for unique items all over
Get the jump on your Mother’s Day shopping on Thursday, May 2, when a pop-up shop in the ballroom of the Grand Hotel in Carleton Place will feature 20 craft, art and other vendors from 4pm to 8pm. There will be fun for kids, too. Donations to the Lanark County Food Bank appreciated. Stores throughout Carleton Place will also be staying open until 8pm that night.
The latest 613flea sale is happening on Saturday, May 4, in the Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park. The event includes vendors of all sorts—artisans, crafters, antiques dealers, food producers and more. That same day, the Great Downtown Garage Sale is happening in Renfrew, there’s a craft show in Limoges to raise money for Crohn’s and Colitis Canada, and the Swirlicious and Friends Annual Spring Shopping Event comes to the Carambeck Community Centre in Carleton Place.
The Cheerfully Made Market at the Almonte Agricultural Hall (May 4 and 5) features a different selection of more than 50 makers each day. Browse for food, clothing, jewellery, home decor and other goodies.
You can shop for paintings and other artworks at the Stittsville Art Sale from May 3 to 5. On the same dates, you can also check out the South Grenville Guild of Fine Art Sale in Maitland (between Prescott and Brockville) or the Before the Summer Fine Art Show at the Firehall Theatre in Gananoque.
If vintage music is your bag, check out the Kingston Symphony’s annual Vinyl Records Sale (May 2 to 5). Along with LPs of all descriptions, you’ll find CDs, DVDs, receivers, turntables and more.
It’s a bit of a hike, but the Mother of All Craft Shows on Saturday, May 4, in Belleville looks like fun, with more than 70 vendors offering everything from knitted items to hot sauces.
Kick back to classic rock in Pembroke or Brockville
Journey to the Heart is a tribute, not surprisingly, to two big-name acts: Journey and Heart. It’s on stage on Saturday, May 4, at the Festival Hall Centre for the Performing Arts in Pembroke. That same night, in Brockville, you can catch Sly High Music: A Tribute to Sly and the Family Stone, at the Brockville Arts Centre.
Go for a walk or run in Manotick, Wakefield, Renfrew, Perth, Prescott or Ogdensburg
Feeling achy? Want to get your kids off the couch? How about a walk or run?
The Wakefield Covered Bridge Run on Saturday, May 4, is actually five events in one: 3K, 5K and 10K walk/runs, along with 10K and half marathon runs, all though some pretty scenery in the Gatineau Hills.
Also on Saturday, the Stampede 5K and 10K walk/run starts at Hosmer’s Marina in Ogdensburg, New York, at 10am. The race raises funds for the nearby Frederic Remington Art Museum. Remington, who grew up in the area, specialized in sculptures on Old West themes.
That night, right across from Ogdensburg on the Ontario side of the St. Lawrence, you could also join the Star Wars-themed Fort Town Night Run in Prescott. The 5K and 10K routes take you past many local historical sites, and Prescotters (is that a word?) will be cheering on runners along the route. There’s also a 1K fun run for kids, and the run raises money for youth organizations. The event starts at Fort Wellington and finishes with music, food and fun. You can register online or, if space is available, onsite.
On Sunday, May 5, the Manotick Miler is actually five races, ranging from 1 mile to 10 miles.
Also on Sunday, Hike for Hospice Renfrew and Hike for Hospice Perth will be raising money for palliative care facilities. The Renfrew event features 3K and 5K routes, while the Perth hike is a 2K walk/run.
Learn about electric vehicles in Montreal
Just about any kind of transportation device powered by electricity will be on display at the Montreal Electric Vehicle Show (May 3 to 5), including cars, buses, bikes, motorcycles, boats, scooters and ATVs.
Catch a film festival in Ottawa or Toronto
The 6th annual European Union Short Film Festival (May 2 to 4) will be at Arts Court this weekend. Each screening features a different program of several short films, and Saturday afternoon’s event features kid-friendly movies. Admission is free—and so are the free samples of European food and drinks.
The 27th annual Toronto Jewish Film Festival (May 2 to 12) features a diverse schedule of comedies, dramas, documentaries, shorts, archival films and discussions—everything from a biography of the late Israeli author Amos Oz to Little Man, What Now?, a 1934 Hollywood movie about the rise of Nazi Germany.
Check out a wood carving show in Kars
If you like the woodsy arts, the Ottawa Wood Carving Competition at the Kars Community Recreation Association hall on Saturday, May 4, will be just your cup of shavings. You can see and buy pieces made by artists from across Eastern Ontario and West Quebec, as well as check out demonstrations and shop for woodworking tools.
Find fab fabrics in Hintonburg
Attention needleworkers: Dozens of vendors will be selling fabrics galore and other sewing-related materials at the Hintonburg Fabric Flea Market on Saturday, May 4, from 10am to 3pm. Admission is $2 and it takes place at the Hintonburg Community Centre (just east of the Parkdale Market).
Check out local talent in Kingston
The Homegrown Live Music Festival is a packed day of live performances by local acts across Kingston on Saturday, May 4. Each venue will be showcasing multiple bands in a particular style, including blues, Celtic, psychedelic and country.
Meanwhile, everyone involved in the diverse Juvenis Festival of the arts (May 1 to 11) is aged 30 or younger, but shows are open to all ages. Events this year include a dance production about inclusive education, an LGBT musical showcase, a storytelling coffeehouse and more.
Go fish in the Bay of Quinte
Attention, anglers: The Kiwanis Walleye World Fishing Derby (May 3 to 5) is a big catch-and-release contest for walleye and pike, and a major fundraiser for youth projects in the Bay of Quinte region. The event headquarters are in Trenton but there are also weigh stations in six other communities, including Napanee, Picton and Brighton. Prizes this year include boats, fishing charters and resort stays.
Nosh on poutine in Ottawa
For those who missed the Sparks Street poutine festival last weekend, the Ottawa Poutine Fest at Ottawa City Hall (May 2 to 5) is another chance to get your curds-and-gravy fix (along with craft beer and live music).
Immerse yourself in ideas in Ottawa and Montreal
The spring edition of the Ottawa International Writers Festival (May 2 to 7) features almost 60 authors, including Michael Redhill, Kim Thúy, Cory Doctorow and Tanya Tagaq. Most of the events take place at Christ Church Cathedral.
Blue Metropolis (May 2 to 5) is a huge multilingual event in Montreal that bills itself as a celebration of books and ideas. It regularly draws big-name authors from across Canada and around the world. Participants this year include Dionne Brand, Annie Proulx, Joseph Stiglitz and Esi Edugyan.
Catch a concert in Burnstown
Elizabeth Powell, founder of Montreal indie band Land of Talk, is giving a solo show at Neat Coffee House in Burnstown on Saturday, May 4. You can get tickets for the show alone; a limited number of dinner-plus-show tickets are also available.
Visit Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg
Grab the kids and get ready to travel back in time: Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg opens for the season on Friday, May 3. The living history museum brings the Ontario of the 1860s back to life with costumed interpreters, old-time activities and more. The village will be open daily until September 2, when it shifts to fall hours.
Take a hike or learn to camp in Frontenac Provincial Park
Frontenac Provincial Park is holding four events for outdoors lovers this weekend.
On Saturday, May 4, there’s an introductory day-long workshop on backcountry camping, covering topics such as clothing, equipment, safety and water treatment. Advance registration is required.
For walkers, there’s a guided 3K hike along the Doe Lake trail on Saturday to discover the park’s flora and fauna. On Sunday, you can join a birding walk to watch for spring migratory birds, such as vireos, warblers and scarlet tanagers. For both walks, wear hiking shoes, bring bug spray, and don’t forget a drink and a snack (lunch for the bird walk). Binoculars and cameras will also be handy. Dogs are not allowed.
Finally, for those who would like improve their map-reading and compass-use skills, there’s a two-part wilderness navigation course—an introductory workshop on Saturday and a more advanced class on Sunday. You can register for just the intro or for both.
You can find out more about all four activities on the Ontario Parks events website.
See sketch comedy in Montreal
If you love The Kids in the Hall, SCTV and Saturday Night Live, you might just be interested in Montreal Sketchfest, an annual festival of sketch comedy (May 2 to 11). It features both rising stars and established comic talents, performing in French and/or English.
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