Shake off that winter cabin fever! Race a fat bike on an Ottawa riverfront trail, dance to electronic music in Montreal or sip wine in Cornwall. Learn to blow glass in Kingston or shop for local goodies in Russell. Or enjoy one of five winter festivals! Wherever you go, drive safely.
Enjoy francophone folk in Morrisburg
Would some francophone folk blended with Celtic and other world-music influences warm up your cold winter? Then head to Morrisburg on Saturday, January 18, when Le Vent du Nord will take to the stage at the Upper Canada Playhouse as part of the St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage series. The two-time Juno-winning band is known for its infectious rhythms and joyful stage show.
Skate in a kilt in Ottawa
Put on your tartan and grab your blades: It’s time for the Great Canadian Kilt Skate, hosted by the Scottish Society of Ottawa on the outdoor oval at Lansdowne Park, on Saturday, January 18. Admission is free, kilts are encouraged and bagpipers may be involved.
Browse for local products in Russell
Some 100 exhibitors—including farmers, food producers, artisans, and representatives of community groups—are expected to be on hand for the Living Locally Fair at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School in Russell (Saturday, January 18). Don’t forget to bring a food bank donation!
Celebrate Ottawa’s SJAM Trail
SJAM stands for Sir John A. Macdonald, and the SJAM Festival on Sunday, January 19, gives you the perfect excuse to come out and enjoy this relatively new addition to Ottawa’s urban winter amusements. The trail cuts across the riverfront parkland paralleling the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway. During the festival, people of all ages can compete in fat biking and cross-country skiing races, play on a snow hill, try a skiing obstacle course, and more. Advance registration for races is strongly advised. Funds raised go toward trail maintenance and to the Snowsuit Fund.
Enjoy Blues on the Rideau in Westport
Chase away the winter blues…with some blues! Toronto’s Juno-winning Jack de Keyzer Band is coming to the Cove Country Inn in Westport on January 17 and 18 as part of the Blues on the Rideau series.
Check out a winter festival in Embrun, Pakenham, Renfrew, Petawawa or Montreal
This weekend marks the beginning of the four-weekend Fête des Neiges de Montréal (January 18 to February 9). The family-oriented winter festival at Parc Jean-Drapeau features ice-sculpting shows, broom ball, cross-country skiing and other fun.
Closer to home, you can play in the snow at the Embrun Carnival (January 16 to 26), Frewfest in Renfrew (January 17 to 19), the Pakenham Frost Festival (January 17 to 25) and Cabin Fever in Petawawa (January 18 to 25; note that some events in this fest have been postponed due to weather). If you’re looking for winter carnivals later this winter, check out my recently updated list of 30+ winter festivals near Ottawa.
Get outdoorsy in Kingston or the Adirondacks
The Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival showcases award-winning movies from the Alberta festival, which focuses on mountain sports, adventure and the environment. You can catch it in Kingston this week (January 18 to 20). A bit further afield, the Adirondack International Mountaineering Festival in Keene Valley (January 17 to 20) features slideshow presentations, climbing clinics and more.
See a funny mystery in Perth
If you like your murder mysteries with a sense of whimsy, Out of Sight…Out of Murder may be just your style. The plot: Author Peter Knight is writing his latest book in an old mansion with a troubled past. During a lightning storm, the characters in his book come to life—and one of them, at least, appears to have murder on his or her mind. The play by Fred Carmichael is on stage at the Studio Theatre Perth from January 16 to 26.
Dance the night away in Montreal
This Thursday sees the launch of Igloofest, a four-weekend electronic music festival on the Jacques Cartier Quay in the Old Port of Montreal (January 16 to February 8). With DJs and musicians from multiple countries—Canada, the U.S., Russia and France, to name a few—you’ll be able to dance yourself warm no matter how far the mercury falls.
Enjoy wine and food in Cornwall or upstate New York
On Saturday, January 18, wine and food fans will be gathering at the Ramada Cornwall for the 17th annual Seaway International Wine Festival. Enjoy live music and gourmet munchies as you sample wine, beer and spirits from around the world, poured out by some 20 vendors. Hotel packages are available.
It’s a bit of a drive, but it sounds like fun: The Albany Chefs’ Food and Wine Festival (January 16 to 18) features 70 restaurants and chefs, and gives you the chance to sample more than 100 wines (not all at once, please).
Also in New York state, from January 17 to 19, Global Eats and Local Wines is a self-driving tour of participating wineries around Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes region. Each winery will be serving different globally inspired dishes to go with its vintages. Tickets for the designated driver (and you have one—right?) are half price.
Get wedding ideas in Ottawa
Did you find an engagement ring under the Christmas tree? At the Capital Bridal Show at the Shaw Centre (January 18 and 19), you can gather ideas for dresses, catering, honeymoons and more.
Learn to blow glass in Kingston
If you’ve ever wanted to learn to blow glass, here’s your chance: the Kingston Glass Studio and Gallery is offering a glass-blowing class on Friday, January 17, starting at 5pm. You’ll be able to make a paperweight, a cup and a ball to keep. Participants must be at least 16 years old.
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