31 road trips from Ottawa this week: Antiques in Kingston, disco in Gatineau, and cross-country skiing

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Whether you want to get outside and play in the snow or stay indoors and hide from it, I have ideas for you this week. Outdoors, there are three ski events, a polar bear swim in Kingston, winter games in the Adirondacks and a slew of seasonal carnivals (including Winterlude). Indoors, you can sample beers, enjoy concerts and theatre, or go to a film festival. Enjoy!

Browse for antiques in Kingston

The Kingston Winter Antique Show (AKA the Cabin Fever Show) is happening this weekend at the Portsmouth Olympic Harbour Centre (February 1 and 2). Dealers from across Ontario and Quebec will be selling jewellery, vintage advertising materials, mid-century modern furniture, folk art and much more. Many dealers come back every year to this hit show, which has been running for almost four decades.

Cross-country ski in Brudenell or Deep River

On Saturday, February 1, Deep River is hosting the 48th annual Silver Spoon Ski-Fest. This nordic ski event offers a wide variety of courses for all ages—there’s even a 0.5km circuit for kids aged 5 and under. Hurry if you want to enter this one; registration for some categories closes late Wednesday night, although you can register on race day (by 10:30am) for the open and skating events.

Since you’ll have your skis in the car anyway, you could make a weekend of it by stopping in Brudenell on the way home. Where is Brudenell, you ask? It’s a small community in Renfrew County, about halfway between Eganville and Barry’s Bay, and roughly 15 minutes south of Killaloe. And on Sunday, February 2, the Opeongo Hills Nordic Ski Club in Brudenell is hosting the Opeongo Classic Loppet, a cross-country ski event with 2.5km, 5km, 10km and 20km courses. You can sign up online before 9pm on Saturday, or onsite between 8:30am and 10am on Sunday.

Catch a concert in Wakefield, Kemptville, Westport, Brockville or Burnstown

It’s a busy weekend for music lovers. At the Neat Coffee Shop in Burnstown, MonkeyJunk frontman Steve Marriner (see video above) takes to the stage on Friday, January 31. That same night, prolific folk singer-songwriter Dan Bern will be at the Black Sheep Inn in Wakefield; Kingston-based musician Mario Franco will be entertaining diners with Cuban rhythms at the Cove Country Inn in Westport; and Pat Johnson and Nellie Holmes will be performing on a songwriters’ double bill at the Spitfire Cafe in Brockville. Johnson will also be performing at the South Branch Bistro in Kemptville on Saturday, February 1.

Cheer for athletes in the Adirondacks

The Empire State Winter Games (January 30 to February 2) bring together athletes from across New York state to compete in more than 30 winter sports in venues across the Adirondacks, including Olympic training sites. You can cheer on the athletes in multiple communities, including Lake Placid, Saranac Lake and Malone.

Get groovy to disco in Gatineau

Mirror balls, platform shoes, three-piece suits and Gloria Gaynor: If this list fills you with wistful nostalgia rather than existential dread, then put on your best polyester and head to the Maison de la Culture in Gatineau on Thursday, January 30, for Disco Fever Experience. The live stage show recreates the glittery days of ’70s disco with the music of the Bee Gees, KC and the Sunshine Band, and others.

Enjoy a winter festival in Ontario, Quebec or New York state

It’s another busy week for winter festivals. Along with a little event you might have heard of called Winterlude (January 31 to February 17), carnivals on the calendar include Fête Frissons in Orleans (February 1); Feb Fest in Kingston (February 1 to March 8); SnoSpree in Pembroke (January 29 to February 2); the Marionville Winter Carnival (February 1); the Carnaval St-Bernardin (February 1); the Rankin Culture and Recreation Centre Winter Carnival in Pembroke (February 2, and February 5 to 8); the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival (January 31 to February 9) and the Lake George Winter Carnival (February 1 to 23, weekends only) in the Adirondacks; and the Fête des neiges de Magog in Quebec’s Eastern Townships (February 1 to 9, weekends only). Looking for more ideas? Check out my big winter festivals roundup.

See a play in Kingston or Montreal

You still have two weekends left to catch the King’s Town Players’ production of the female version of The Odd Couple (January 30 to February 1, and February 6 to 8). The classic Neil Simon comedy tells the tale of two very mismatched roommates—but in this case, it’s Olive Madison and Florence Unger, who spend their off-hours playing Trivial Pursuit, not poker.

In Montreal, you can see the Dawson College Professional Theatre Program’s production of Alice in Wonderland (January 27 to February 8, select dates). Peter Hinton’s adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s beloved story is suitable for all ages.

Get jazzy in Ottawa

The TD Ottawa Winter Jazz Fest comes to Arts Court and the Ottawa Art Gallery this week (January 30 to February 2). Acts on the packed schedule include the Becca Stevens Band, Roddy Ellias, the Larnell Lewis Band (see video above) and Clarice Jensen.

Check out a food and artisan festival in Ogdensburg

The name is long but it tells you exactly what to expect: The Wine, Beer, Cheese, Chocolate and Artisan Festival is happening at the Frederic Remington Art Museum in Ogdensburg on Saturday, February 1. With more than 40 New York state vendors on hand, you’ll find everything from enamelware and cookies to jewellery and IPA.

Enjoy LGBTQ events at Tremblant and in Kingston

Élévation Tremblant (January 30 to February 2) is a Mont Tremblant event aimed at gay skiers (it’s a Québécois version of the Elevation festivals in Mammoth and Park City). It will feature apres-ski and evening events over four days, including a Neon Party, a Onesie Après-Ski party, a GEAR party with DJ Adam Turner, and a wine and chocolate tasting.

In Kingston, the Reelout Queer Film Festival (January 30 to February 8) will screen 43 films over 10 days from 10 countries in 18 different streams, all with LGBTQ themes. Genres include drama, comedy, horror, documentary and shorts, and the showings are happening at the Screening Room at 120 Princess Street. The stories hinge on plots and themes as diverse as an Indigenous dancer and fashion designer’s quest for success in Toronto; a woman wondering about revealing her love for her best friend; and two men who meet in an opera troupe in 1980s Saigon.

Experience two unique festivals in Prince Edward County

Do you love potatoes—enough to drive to Prince Edward County to celebrate them? Then the South Marysburgh Potato Festival (January 31 and February 1) may be just up your alley, although I suspect it will appeal—or should that be “a-peel”?—mainly if you’re going to be in the neighbourhood anyway. Potato games, potato crafts, bingo and more! (Here’s a report on last year’s event.)

And just a 10-minute drive from South Marysburgh, you can check out the eclectic Ice Box event in Picton (February 1 and 2, and February 8 and 9). This unusual arts installation and festival features everything from weaving demonstrations and puppet theatre performances to Indigenous tools demonstrations and outdoor dancing sessions. Meditation, fire dancers, circus artists, maple taffy on snow—it’s all here.

Jump in the lake in Kingston

Okay, Lake Ontario is going to be really, really cold by now. If that doesn’t faze you, then by all means sign up for the Kingston Polar Plunge on Sunday, February 2. Lots of public-spirited souls will be flinging themselves into the lake to raise money for a great cause: Special Olympics Ontario athletes. Good for them….but BRRRR!

Sip some beers in Vankleek Hill, Montreal or Vermont

Feeling thirsty? You can raise a glass at Beau’s Brewing Company in Vankleek Hill while enjoying country, Celtic and classic rock tunes from two bands—Whiskey on Tap and Full Range—on Friday, January 31.

Meanwhile, in Montreal, you can rock on to 72 bands and DJs during the fifth annual Taverne Tour in the Plateau Mont-Royal neighbourhood (January 30 to February 1). Twenty bars along Mont-Royal and St-Laurent have booked live music to entertain you as you drink.

If you’re in the mood for a serious road trip, the Winter Brewfest in Essex Junction, Vermont (Saturday, February 1), is billed as Vermont’s biggest indoor beer festival. Essex Junction is about 15 minutes east of Burlington and roughly four hours from Ottawa.

And in case you’re wondering: The Festibière d’Hiver, which usually runs around this time at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, is on hiatus this year. Plans are to bring it back in 2021 at the Zibi site.

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!

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