There’s a little something for everyone in this week’s road trip roundup, whether you want to drive to Delta for maple syrup-slathered pancakes, cheer for broomball players in Cornwall, see the Glorious Sons in concert in Kingston or Ottawa, or go to a farmers’ market in Greely. Happy travels!
Enjoy maple treats in Delta
The Delta Maple Syrup Festival is back! On April 16 and 17, you can enjoy the 55th annual edition of this popular event in the village of Delta, about an hour and a half southwest of Ottawa. Highlights include a magic show, an Easter egg hunt, a “ginormous” book sale and, of course, a pancake breakfast.
Have some Easter fun in Ottawa and beyond
There’s lots of Easter fun happening in and around Ottawa this weekend, especially for children. Here’s just a taste of everything that’s going on.
- Easter at the Log Farm includes fun like an Easter egg hunt in the forest and the chance to visit the farmyard animals, including bunnies. It’s happening from April 15 to 18, and you need to register in advance online. The Log Farm is in Ottawa’s west end, between Bayshore and Barrhaven.
- The Town of Perth is hosting an Easter egg hunt in Stewart Park on Saturday, April 16, rain or shine. The fun starts at 11am and includes live music, a balloon artist and more. The organizers warn attendees to arrive at or before 11am, because the hunt is quick!
- At Ashfield Farm in Ashton, the Bunny Hop on Saturday includes lots of fun for little ones, including a tea room, story time, pony rides, a petting zoo, Tarzan swings and more. You need to register in advance.
- The Easter Eggspress event rolls into the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario in Smiths Falls on Saturday, from 10am to 4pm. Tickets for rides on a vintage train are sold out, but you can still enjoy a petting zoo, explore the non-moving engines and rail cars, check out the gift shop, and keep your eye open for the Easter Bunny.
- In Centennial Park in Harrowsmith, just north of Kingston, Kingston 4 Paws Service Dogs is holding a fundraising Easter egg hunt on Saturday from 10am to 2pm. Naturally, the event is dog friendly, and the site includes a dog park.
- At Ferme Pure Consciousness in Bristol, Quebec, the Spring Celebration on Monday, April 18, includes an Easter egg hunt, face painting, a farm tour and a gardening workshop. Registration required.
Catch The Glorious Sons in concert
Kingston rockers The Glorious Sons are on tour with opening act JJ Wilde. You can see the show in Montreal (April 13), Kingston (April 15), Peterborough (April 16) or Ottawa (April 22).
See painted cows and silos in Prescott-Russell
Looking for a good excuse for a country drive? Hey Cow, I See You Now is an outdoor exhibition by the Festival de la Curd of about 30 painted cow statues. They’re installed in locations across Prescott-Russell, immediately east of Ottawa. The installation has been around for a couple of years now, so ignore all the stuff at the top of the linked website about events last summer. Just scroll down to the map at the bottom of the page. The newest cows are indicated with purple stars; you’ll find them in communities such as Limoges, Embrun and St. Albert.
While you’re out that way admiring the painted cows, you could also keep your eye out for the colourful painted silos that are part of the Popsilos project. For more ideas for things you can see and do in Prescott-Russell, see my post about day tripping from Ottawa to Vankleek Hill.
Tap your toes to Riverdance in Ottawa or Kingston
Say what you will about Riverdance—and cynical types have said plenty—they do put on a toe-tapping show. (And, yep, colour me a fan.) This week, the Irish dance sensation brings its 25th anniversary tour to the Leon’s Centre in Kingston (April 14) and the National Arts Centre in Ottawa (April 15 to 17).
Cheer for broomball players in Cornwall
It’s been rescheduled twice (due to the pandemic), but the 2020 Canadian Juvenile Broomball Championship is finally happening in Cornwall this week! Men’s and women’s under-20 teams will be battling for broomball supremacy at the Benson Centre from April 12 to 16.
See a sound-and-light show in Brockville
Sure, I’ve been recommending the Brockville Railway Tunnel for years now…but that’s because it’s fun! Walk through the one-time railway tunnel—Canada’s oldest, now without its rails—and enjoy the play of multicoloured lights on the stone walls, along with music and sound effects. Wait for the sound and sight of an approaching train, but don’t worry—it’s just an illusion. The tunnel opens for the season on Friday, April 15. Admission is free but donations are appreciated.
Indulge in some retail therapy in the Glebe, Metcalfe, Cornwall or Kingston
613Flea is holding its huge monthly flea market in the Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park on Saturday, April 16. You’ll find about 140 vendors, including many selling Easter-themed items—such as the cozy bunnies made from pre-loved cashmere sweaters at Likalila and the clay bunny earrings at Cozy Crosby. And don’t hesitate to bike, as Lansdowne Park has some 600 bike-parking spaces.
That same day, there’s also an Easter Market at the Rideau Sports Centre, featuring over 20 vendors selling jewellery, ceramics and more. (The RSC is at the western end of Donald Street in Overbrook, next to the Rideau River.) Also, the Metcalfe Farmers’ Market is holding an Easter Market at the Greely Community Centre, and there’s an Easter market featuring one-of-a-kind artisans’ products at Cornwall Square in Cornwall. Finally, Kingston Fibre Artists’ latest show and sale, Art Threads, continues until the end of the month at the Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning.
Looking for more ideas for things to see and do in our region? Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter or pre-order a copy of my upcoming book, Ottawa Road Trips: Your Weekend Getaway Guide, which will be published in May.
As the owner of Ottawa Road Trips, I acknowledge that I live on, work in and travel through the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be present on this land. Ottawa Road Trips supports Water First, a non-profit organization that helps address water challenges in Indigenous communities in Canada through education, training and meaningful collaboration.