Labour Day weekend always signals the end of summer for me, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do this weekend—far from it! You can see tall ships in Brockville, cutting-edge animation in Montreal or hot-air balloons in Gatineau. You can applaud fiddling step-dancers in Pembroke or go mountain biking in the Adirondacks. You can enjoy a Latin fiesta in Ottawa or tap your toes to Brett Kissel at the Shawville Fair. Wherever your travels take you, have a wonderful time!
Have a horsey weekend in Morrisburg
Horse Lovers’ Weekend at Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg (August 31 to September 2) showcases horses and riding techniques of all descriptions. You can see driving horses, riding horses, and work horses, and try your luck in a mock 1860s horse auction. And did you know that Canada has a national horse—called, unsurprisingly, the Canada Horse? You’ll see some of those, too. This is one of Upper Canada Village’s most popular events of the year, so you’ll probably want to buy your tickets in advance.
Go mountain biking in the Adirondacks
The Wilmington Mountain Bike Festival will take keen mountain bikers along forest trails in the Adirondacks this weekend (August 30 to September 1). As well as hurtling down more than 40 kilometres of trails in group rides and races for all levels (including a kids’ race), you can check out bike demos, camp, and enjoy live music, local food and beer.
Enjoy three festivals in one in Brockville
In Brockville, the Big River Festival started last week and runs until September 1. Along with everything from a fishing derby to a summer snowball-throwing competition, it also includes the Red, Hot and Blue Rockabilly Weekend (August 29 to September 1). That event offers music-lovers four days of live rockabilly, along with a fashion show, a vintage market, a boat cruise, a guitar workshop, jive dancing classes and more. As if all that weren’t enough, Big River also includes the Brockville Tall Ships Festival (August 30 to September 1), which will see competitors in the Tall Ships Challenge Great Lakes 2019 Series (including the Bluenose II) moored along the St. Lawrence River waterfront. You can see a grand Parade of Sail on Friday, August 30 (starting at 4pm) or tour the ships on Saturday and Sunday, and enjoy live entertainment on shore throughout the festival.
See animated films from around the world in Montreal
Animation fans: The Animaze festival in Montreal (August 29 to September 1) features screenings, talks, a conference, a student film festival and more, highlighting animation of all sorts. Special events include a singalong on Boulevard Saint-Laurent to a remastered version of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine.
Fly high at the Festival de montgolfières de Gatineau
To me, the Labour Day weekend is a bit magical: it’s the one weekend of the year I can look up and be almost guaranteed to see something like a giant ice cream cone or a large pink elephant drifting overhead. Yes, this weekend you can catch the Festival de montgolfières de Gatineau (AKA the Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival) (August 29 to September 2) at Parc de la Baie. If you want to enjoy a balloon ride, book ahead and be prepared to arrive at the crack of dawn (afternoon flights are available, too, but the weather can be trickier at that time of day). Throughout the weekend, you can enjoy everything from fireworks and a big midway to live music, a graffiti contest and a classic car show. If you want to avoid the traffic or don’t have a car, check out the range of free shuttles.
Get your blues fix in Alexandria Bay
Blues in the Bay (August 30 to September 2) brings bluesy grooves to Alexandria Bay, New York, this weekend. As well as four days of free concerts, there will be a craft fair on Saturday and Sunday.
Eat, drink and be merry at an Eastern Townships festival
The Fête des Vendanges in Magog (August 31 to September 2, and September 7 and 8) offers culinary demonstrations by Quebec chefs, food and wine tastings, children’s activities, and more, all on the shore of Lake Memphrémagog.
See a play about witches in Gananoque
Check out two festivals in Ottawa
At the family-friendly Ottawa Serbian Festival (August 31 to September 2), you can enjoy traditional foods, folk dances, a kids’ program and sports competitions. It’s happening at St. Stefan Serbian Orthodox Church at Prince of Wales Drive and Colonnade Road South, and admission and parking are free.
On Sunday, September 1, the Festival Latino Ottawa-Gatineau features a parade along Sparks Street and a fiesta of music and food at Ottawa City Hall.
Catch a concert at Tremblant
The hills of Mont Tremblant will be alive with the sound of music this weekend during La Fête de la Musique de Tremblant (August 30 to September 2). Concerts will range across Canadian and international musical genres, from classical music and jazz to Japanese drumming and South American rhythms. Choose from more than 30 performances on stages across Tremblant, all for free.
Have fun at a fair in Shawville, Perth or Newington
Feel like a fair? At least three nearby communities are hosting one this weekend.
Sass Jordan, Wayne Rostad and Brett Kissel are among the headliners at the Shawville Fair (August 29 to September 2). There’s lots here for kids, as the event bills itself as the Valley’s most family-friendly fair.
The Perth Fair (August 30 to September 2) features lawn mower races, chainsaw carvers and zucchini car races (zucchini car races?), as well as concerts by Ambush, the Cronies and more.
At the Stormont County Fair in Newington (August 30 to September 2), highlights include live music, a dog show, a petting zoo, wrestling matches and a classic car show.
All three fairs offer a midway, a demolition derby, livestock shows and lots more. (Looking for fairs in September and October? Check out my extensive list of fairs.)
Tap your toes to fiddlers and step dancers in Pembroke
Want to see some impressive musicianship and dancing—possibly by the same person at the same time? Then the Pembroke Old Time Fiddling and Step Dancing Championships (August 30 and 31) will be just your cup of tea. Over $20,000 in prize money and trophies is on the table, so the competition—in age groups ranging from “9 and under” to “65 and over”—will likely be fierce.
Eat burgers everywhere
If hamburgers are your thing, you’ll love Le Burger Week (September 1 to 7), when restaurants across Canada will be serving up unique versions of the popular barbecue staple. Restaurants in Ottawa, Gatineau, Cornwall, Montreal, Laval and the Laurentians are among the many participating places.
Dance to a Cuban beat in Saint-Sauveur
Saint-Sauveur will be moving to a Caribbean beat this weekend during L’Auténtica Fiesta Cubana (August 30 to September 2). Sip a mojito or a Cuba libre, test your salsa-dancing skills, or just kick back and enjoy the music. (Website is in French.)
Go mad in Maynooth
It’s Maynooth Madness this weekend (August 30 to September 1) in the community between Barry’s Bay and Bancroft. Highlights of the weekend include pony rides and wagon rides, a motorcycle and vintage car show, a turkey and ham supper, and a talent show.
Bring the kids to the Mackenzie King Estate
There’s lots of free fun on the agenda at Labour Day at the Estate at the Mackenzie King Estate in Gatineau Park this weekend (August 31 to September 2), including swing dancing, badminton, croquet, cottage tours and a giant mural to colour. Activities are free but there is a per-car access fee. Note that the parkways in the park are closed to cars on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
See award-winning photography in Montreal
Judges sifted through thousands of photos submitted by photographers around the world to select prize-winning images, which will be on display at the World Press Photo exhibition at Montreal’s Bonsecours Market (August 28 to September 29). The show will be open daily until 10pm and until midnight on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Get some garlic in Verona
The Verona Lions Club is holding its annual Garlic Festival in the community just north of Kingston on Saturday, August 31. Shop for all things garlic, enjoy family activities and see who wins the prize for best bulb.
Find art in Maberly, Ste-Agathe-des-Monts and Prince Edward County
The Sundance Artisan Show (August 31 to September 2) is a juried show held behind the Fall River Restaurant in Maberly, southwest of Perth. Browse for pottery, woodworking items, jewellery, stained glass, paintings and more, and enjoy special dishes from Fall River, along with Perth Brewery beers and Ontario wines.
In the Laurentians, Le Marché des Arts (August 30 to September 1) in Ste-Agathe-des-Monts is a show and sale of jewellery, clothing, mosaics and other products by 35 selected Quebec artisans.
Almost three dozen artists and artisans are participating in the Rednersville Road Art Tour (August 31 to September 2). Watercolours, sculptures, pastels and many other types of artworks will be available to buy. So where the heck is Rednersville Road? It hugs the shore of the Bay of Quinte in Prince Edward County.
If you’re looking for a fall studio tour, check out my list of more than 25 nearby studio tours.
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2 comments
I really appreciate the details you put in these articles. Saves me from searching the internet. I have selected 12 things from your list I want to do this weekend – going to be a busy weekend for sure.
I’m glad you enjoy the posts–thanks! Good thing it’s a three-day weekend; you’re going to be busy!