The Christmas season well and truly kicks into gear this week, with parades, shopping events, festive plays, home tours and more—including a brand-new Christmas market at Lansdowne Park. But if you want to do something different, no worries—there’s also a multicultural festival in Ottawa, concerts in Pembroke and Shawville, and a Charlotte Gray book signing in Almonte. Happy travels!
Buy a decorated tree in Prince Edward County
Don’t want to decorate your own Christmas tree? You can buy one fully decorated—and support a good cause—at the PEC Festival of Trees at the Isaiah Tubbs Resort at West Lake in Prince Edward County from November 29 to December 1. Decorated trees aren’t the only items on the silent auction block; you can also bid on works of art, dollhouses, wreaths, bottles of wine and more. There will also be a food sale, live entertainment, draws and appearances by Santa. Funds raised will go toward the purchase of a pediatric and neonatal monitor for the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital in Picton.
See a new Christmas market at Lansdowne Park
There’s a new holiday event in town! The Ottawa Christmas Market at Lansdowne Park is modelled on outdoor European holiday markets. Browse for handmade gifts and food (with an alcoholic drink of your choice in hand, if you are so inclined), and enjoy live entertainment—including a free opening-night concert by Chantal Kreviazuk on Friday, November 29 (when the giant Christmas tree will also be lit). The market runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from November 29 to December 22; check the market’s website for exact hours.
Celebrate world cultures in Ottawa
Speaking of Lansdowne Park: You can check out the World Multicultural Festival there on Saturday, November 30. Learn about international cultures through live entertainment, workshops, food and more.
Catch a play in Ottawa, Smiths Falls, Perth or Morrisburg
Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley is a modern take on the characters from Pride and Prejudice—but, this time, it’s often-overlooked sister Mary Bennet who gets her turn in the spotlight. It’s running at the Ottawa Little Theatre from November 27 to December 14.
On select dates from November 29 to December 15, Barn Door Productions in Perth is presenting Little Red Riding Hood. Meanwhile, the Station Theatre in Smiths Falls is staging Robin Hood (November 29 to December 8). Both look like very family-friendly shows.
In Morrisburg, Ethan Claymore’s Christmas is a new holiday play by popular Canadian playwright Norm Foster. The tale of a struggling egg farmer and his neighbour’s efforts to set him up on a blind date is on stage at the Upper Canada Playhouse from November 28 through December 15.
See the CP Holiday Train
Every year, two CP holiday trains roll across North America—one entirely in Canada, and another that travels back and forth across the U.S.–Canada border. The U.S.–Canada train will leave Kahnawake on the south shore of Montreal on Monday, November 25, before making its way through a series of stops in Quebec and crossing into upstate New York. Meanwhile, the Canadian train will leave Montreal on Tuesday, November 26, and will be stopping in Finch, Merrickville, Smiths Falls and Perth on Wednesday, November 27. For the full schedule of stops in Quebec, upstate New York and Eastern Ontario, see my CP Holiday Train post.
See author Charlotte Gray in Almonte
Canadian author Charlotte Gray will be reading from her new book, Murdered Midas, at the Almonte Old Town Hall on Sunday, December 1, at 1:30pm. It’s the story of the shocking murder of wealthy philanthropist of Sir Harry Oakes.
Channel your inner Victorian in Smiths Falls
Celebrate Christmas in traditional style during the Victorian Christmas Tea Party at the Heritage House Museum in Smiths Falls on Sunday, December 1. Sip hot cider, nibble on home-baked goodies, and shop for gifts in the museum gift shop or at the Art Show and Artisan Market.
Visit Santa’s workshop at a heritage farm in Nepean
You don’t even have to go outside the Ottawa city limits to visit an 1860s style farm. And from November 27 to December 15, the Log Farm in Nepean will be open every Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 3pm. You can shop for wreaths, trees and locally made gifts, see farm animals, sip warming beverages, and take a horse-drawn wagon ride to Santa’s workshop (where you can spy on elves at work and drop off a letter for Kris Kringle).
See Glass Tiger in Pembroke
OK, all you teenagers of the ’80s (you know who you are): Glass Tiger is playing the Festival Hall Centre for the Arts in Pembroke on Saturday, November 30.
Enjoy a village-style Christmas in multiple communities
Many nearby towns are hosting community Christmas events this weekend. Highlights of Manotick Village Christmas (Saturday, November 30) include a Santa Claus parade, carolling on Sunday, horse-drawn wagon rides and a Christmas market.
Also on Saturday, the Chocolate Party in Carleton Place (10am to 3pm) features a tree raffle, a Christmas raffle and, of course, lots of chocolate.
Things will also be lively that day during Pakenham Country Christmas, which offers breakfast with Santa, kids’ activities and more.
Festivities at the Casselman Christmas Festival (November 28 to December 1) include a street party, a Santa Walk and Run, and a Santa Claus parade.
Starting this weekend, Christmas in Old Aylmer (November 29 to December 8) includes a Christmas market that runs every day and a Santa Claus parade on Saturday, November 30.
On November 30 and December 1, the celebrations of Magical Christmas in Chelsea will include a Christmas market outside La Fab Art Centre on Sunday.
Delta’s Celebrating the Season festival (Fridays and Saturdays from November 29 to December 21) features church suppers, wagon rides, and 100,000 lights illuminating Lower Beverley Lake Park and surrounding buildings. There’s also a Christmas market this Saturday and a Festival of Small Halls concert on December 6.
A bit further afield, Skaneateles (pronounced “Skinny Atlas,” oddly) is a super-cute town near Syracuse, New York. And every weekend until December 23, it will be hosting a Dickens Christmas. Costumed actors portraying the Victorian novelist and some of his famous fictional characters will be strolling around town. You can also enjoy live music, horse-drawn carriage and wagon rides, and more.
P.S.: If you like seeing Kris Kringle on the move, don’t forget to check my roundup of dozens of nearby Santa Claus parades.
Be dazzled by festive lights in Cumberland, Smiths Falls and Morrisburg
The popular Alight at Night Festival lights up Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg again this year. This event sees the historical village’s homes, shops, church, fences and trees adorned with roughly one million lights. While you’re there, you can enjoy a meal or a carriage ride (book the latter well in advance), take the little ones for a ride on a 1965 carousel or a pint-sized train, enjoy old-fashioned carolling, snack on cinnamon rolls, browse for gifts made by village artisans or visit a Victorian Santa, among other diversions. The fun begins on Friday, November 29, and the event is open select evenings until Saturday, January 4.
On Friday, November 29, the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum launches its Vintage Village of Lights. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until December 22, the village’s historic buildings will be lit up with more than 30,000 lights, and you can enjoy activities such as gingerbread decorating and horse-drawn wagon rides.
And Centennial Park in Smiths Falls will glow every night with the Celebration of Lights until December 23.
Visit pretty homes in Richmond or Cornwall
If you’re looking for some decorating inspiration, why not check out the Village of Richmond Holiday House and Business Tour or the Cornwall Christmas House Tour, both on Saturday, November 30?
Enjoy a concert in Shawville
Again this weekend, the Little Red Winery in Shawville is hosting live music. On Saturday, November 30, Red Dirt Skinners will be on stage entertaining music fans in the intimate venue.
Shop, shop, shop across the region
Still working on your Christmas shopping—or just starting? My giant roundup of Christmas craft sales includes all sorts of events this weekend.
There’s also Festive Friday in downtown Kingston on Friday, November 29, when lots of downtown stores will be open late for your browsing pleasure, and you can enjoy wagon rides, carolling and more.
Also on Friday, stores across downtown Brockville are participating in a Black Friday event by offering discounts galore.
And the next day—Saturday, November 30—Perth is hosting a Festival of Good Cheer VIP shopping event.
Celebrate Christmas in upstate New York
Indian Lake is about 3.5 hours southwest of Ottawa in the Adirondacks, and for the 22nd year it’s hosting the Country Christmas Tour, a weekend festival of arts, crafts and family fun (November 29 and 30).
Also about 3.5 hours from Ottawa, but a bit further west, Adirondack Christmas on Main Street (November 29 to December 1) takes place in two small communities, Inlet and Old Forge. A light parade, a candy cane hunt, a dog parade and more should keep families amused.
Make merry in Montreal
An extended Christmas celebration in Montreal will be launched on Friday, November 30. Noël dans le parc actually takes place across three city parks until December 24, and features amusements ranging from concerts to circus performances.
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.
Are you promoting an upcoming event you’d like to see in a future weekly road trip roundup? Please email me the details at least two weeks in advance of the event, and I’ll add them to my files. If you have a horizontal photo or two I could use, even better. Thanks!