It’s going to be a great weekend to explore Ottawa or hit the road! I have 37 ideas for you, ranging from fundraising runs and a river paddle to an art show in Almonte, tulip festivals in Merrickville and Ottawa, a Ron James comedy night in Cornwall, children’s festivals in Ottawa and Hawkesbury, plant sales, bird watching and concerts galore. Wherever your travels take you, have fun!
Shop for local art in Almonte
The 29th annual Art in the Attic show and sale at Almonte’s Old Town Hall (May 10 to 12) is a community-wide affair. It features art by a wide range of high-quality work by local creators—everyone from the pre-school Rugrat Rembrandts and teen artists from Notre Dame High School to participants in the Lanark County Support Services’ art program and full-time artists—at great prices. Photography, watercolours, jewellery, acrylic paintings and much more will be available. And the artists will be unveiling their latest community art project in progress—a large work that will take almost a year to complete.
Head to a farmers’ market
Craving some fresh spring veggies? You’re in luck. Four farmers’ markets—in Carleton Place, Carp and Metcalfe, and at the Log Farm—are opening for the season on Saturday, May 11. A few others are already open, and some—including markets in Vankleek Hill and Ottawa—are open year-round. Check out my newly updated list of more than 35 farmers’ markets in Eastern Ontario and West Quebec for details.
Catch a tribute show in Gatineau or Pembroke
Country music fans, take note: Alan Jackson & Garth Brooks Fever, a tribute to the two superstar country singers, will be giving the audience lots of hurtin’ tunes to enjoy at the Lac-Leamy Casino in Gatineau on Friday, May 10.
If “Stairway to Heaven” was the last song at every—and I mean every—school dance of your youth, then the Led Zepagain show at the Festival Hall Centre for the Performing Arts in Pembroke on Saturday, May 11, will bring back some fond/awkward memories. According to the tribute band’s promotional material, Jimmy Page himself says “It’s as close as you’ll ever get to the real deal.” So there.
Tiptoe near the tulips in Ottawa and Merrickville
The Canadian Tulip Festival rolls into town this week for 11 days of spring fun (May 10 to 20) at Commissioners Park on the edge of Dows Lake. Along with viewing gorgeous displays of tulips (weather cooperating), you can check out an artisans’ market, take a guided tour of the gardens, nibble on food truck fare, enjoy fireworks (on Sunday, May 19) and more. This year sees the debut of the Tulip Cup, a rowing regatta on Dows Lake, on Saturday, May 11.
Looking for a different way to celebrate everyone’s favourite spring flower? Then check out the Merrickville Tulip Festival (May 10 to 20), a partnership site with the Ottawa event. The pretty Rideau River village has been planted with 2,600 tulips. Visitors can also check out a dinner dance, a paper flower making workshop and a choral concert this weekend, as well as live music, an artisan/craft show, more workshops and a play next weekend, among many other activities.
Go for a run in Franktown or a walk in Ottawa
Naturally enough, the Where’s Franktown race on Saturday, May 11, takes place in the village of Franktown—which, to answer the question, is on Highway 15, partway between Carleton Place and Smiths Falls. The event features 5K, 10K and 15K runs, as well as a 1K family fun run/walk, and there’s a barbecue lunch for all participants at the finish line. You can register online before the race (until 11:59pm on Thursday) or in person on race day. The event is organized by Calvary Christian Academy.
Closer to home, the 5K Hike for Hospice Care walk winds through scenic trails in and around Carleton University on Saturday. Registration starts at 8:30am and the hike starts at 10am.
Laugh along with Ron James in Cornwall
Looking to laugh for a couple of hours with one of Canada’s best-known standup comics? Then head to Cornwall on Sunday, May 12, where Ron James—who helmed CBC-TV’s The Ron James Show for five seasons and has nine one-hour comedy specials to his credit—will be bringing his Full Throttle show to the Aultsville Theatre.
Bring the kids to LeBreton Flats or Hawkesbury
At the jam-packed Ottawa Children’s Festival (May 8 to 12), pint-sized fans can see everything from a clay puppet show from Spain to an installation of fantastical paper trees and animals created by an Australian theatre group. Kids can learn acrobatic basics from Cirque du Soleil artists, tackle a rock-climbing wall, try their hand at archery and more. It’s happening at LeBreton Flats.
The Festival des Petits Sourires (Festival of Small Smiles) is a child-oriented event at the Centre Culturel Le Chenail in Hawkesbury. On May 11 and 12, kids and their parents can enjoy a songwriting workshop, marionette shows and more, featuring both local artists and performers from around the world. Much of the content is in French only, but there are some bilingual sessions.
Treat your mom on Mother’s Day
Why not treat Mom to a road trip this year? Here are just a few of the special events and deals on the calendar this Sunday, May 12.
- Moms get free admission to Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg.
- Sunday is the opening day of the season for the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum and Pinhey’s Point Historic Site. At Fairfields Heritage House in Nepean, you and Mom can learn to make bath bombs at a drop-in workshop (anytime between 10am and 4pm).
- Here’s a nice twist: as well as a sit-down Mother’s Day brunch ($25 per person, half price for kids aged 3 to 10, kids under 10 eat free), Winchelsea Events in Winchester is also offering a Mother’s Day take-home dinner, complete with spring salad, roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and chocolate cake, for $22.50 per person.
- Gananoque Boat Line is offering a special Mother’s Day cruise, beginning with brunch on shore followed by the line’s Lost Ships of the 1000 Islands cruise. Rockport Cruise Lines also has a 1000 Islands cruise for Mom, featuring an on-board buffet brunch.
Bike off-road trails in Beachburg
The BORCA Spring Chicken off-road bike race is happening in Beachburg this Saturday, May 11, with 28K and 60K races, as well as a kids’ event. New this year is a family discount, so you can bring the whole crew!
Meet some new-to-you entrepreneurs in Pembroke
Downtown Connect (May 10 and 11) is a chance to check out more than 40 local vendors in downtown Pembroke, while also enjoying face painting, crafts, live music and more.
Enjoy poutine in Orleans
Everyone’s favourite cheese-curd treat will be the star of this weekend’s Orleans Poutine Fest (May 10 to 12). There will be craft beer, churros, donuts, tacos, live music and more to amuse you, too. It’s all happening on Centrum Boulevard (just east of Place d’Orleans).
Catch a concert in Ottawa, Cantley, Merrickville or Renfrew
Friday, May 10, is a big night for live music. Israeli street and stage performer Lior Shoov brings her whimsical mix of acrobatics and music to La Grange de la Gatineau in Cantley on Friday, May 10. You can buy tickets to the concert only, or a dinner-and-show package.
That same night in Ottawa, the Meridian Theatres at Centrepointe will be packed with one-time sensitive ’80s wannabe hipsters (yes, I’ll be there) to hear Joe Jackson ask, in incredulous tones, “Is she really going out with him?” The show is almost sold out but, as of this morning, there were still a few tickets left.
And in Merrickville on Friday, PEI country/folk group the Breakdown County Boys are playing at the Merrickville United Arts Centre.
On Saturday night, you can head to Renfrew to catch blues master Al Lerman, founder of Juno award-winning Fathead, in concert at Batstone’s Northern Ramble.
Buy some new plants at all sorts of sales
On Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 12, rain or shine), the Friends of the Farm are holding their plant sale at the Central Experimental Farm from 9am to 1pm. Growers and nurseries from across the region will be on hand, along with master gardeners. You can nosh on goodies from the refreshment tables and shop for gardening books, too.
Other sales for gardeners include the Gananoque Horticultural Society’s annual plant sale (8am to 11am on May 11) and the South Branch Elementary School plant and bake sale in Kemptville (9am to noon on May 11).
Say cheers in Perth or Ottawa
An after-hours party for local business owners in Perth has become so popular that the Crossroads Tearoom has launched a second version open to the general public. The first public Martiniville event is taking place this Friday, May 10, from 4pm to 7pm. As well as 14 types of martinis, guests can nibble on appetizers such as baked brie and charcuterie.
Meanwhile, in Ottawa, you can choose from 250 beers, ciders and other beverages, most of them made by Canadian makers, at the Ottawa Beer Fest at Lansdowne Park (May 10 and 11). On the Saturday, there’s also a craft beer run and a beer school.
Shop and sip cocktails in Rockland
The Rockland Women’s Show is taking place on Friday, May 10, at the RiverRock Inn. You can browse vendors’ wares or get a makeover while sipping drinks from the cash bar and enjoying DJ tunes. The first 300 guests will get the chance to win one of a dozen gift baskets stuffed with goodies from participating vendors.
Watch for birds across Eastern Ontario
Did you know that Saturday, May 11, is World Migratory Bird Day? Celebrations are taking place across Canada. In Eastern Ontario, the festivities include events at LeBreton Flats in Ottawa and a guided bird walk at the Ferguson Forest Centre in Kemptville. Saturday is also the kick-off to the 10-day Spring Birding Festival at the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory in Prince Edward County.
Paddle the Jock River in Beckwith Township
Looking for some exercise on Saturday morning? Tie your canoe or kayak to the roof and head to Beckwith Township for the 6.5K Jock River Paddle. It starts at 10am on 9th Line and ends at the Ashton Pub. The cost is $20 per paddler.
Get your geek on at Ottawa Comiccon
I use the word “geek” in the most affectionate way possible; after all, I used to know the title of every episode in the original Star Trek TV series. SF, fantasy, anime, comic books—you can immerse yourself in the whole fandom world all weekend at Ottawa Comiccon at the EY Centre (May 10 to 12).
Revel in lilacs in Rochester
Rochester is a bit of a drive from Ottawa, but if you love lilacs—and you can’t wait for lilac-themed events closer to home later in May—the free Rochester Lilac Festival (May 10 to 19) may be worth the road trip. If the weather cooperates, there will be lots of blooming flowers. If it doesn’t, you can enjoy more than a dozen concerts, a parade, food trucks, wine and beer events, a parade, and much more.
See pretty quilts in Ottawa
Attention, crafty types: The Ottawa Valley Quilters Guild’s annual quilt show is coming to the City View Curling Club on Capilano Drive from May 10 to 12. Admire the works of other talented quilters and buy kits to make your own.
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2 comments
Art on the Waterfront June 1 and 2, 2019 in Chesterville .
http://www.artonthewaterfront.ca
It’s on my list–thanks!