The roster of things to see and do in this week is packed. You can learn about architecture on a guided walk, see a funny play in Merrickville or Osgoode, learn about space or literature in Montreal, see a Supertramp tribute in Pembroke, or shop for art, pottery, crafts and other handmade goods in any number of places. Have fun!
Learn about urban design and history on a Jane’s Walk
Jane’s Walks are named after urbanist Jane Jacobs, who wrote numerous books about the way cities work. From May 6 to 8, many cities are hosting these free walks with local experts, who will explain facets of each city’s history, development and design. You can join a walk in Ottawa-Gatineau, Brockville, Toronto or Montreal, among many other places; check the Jane’s Walk website for walks in other communities around the world.
Enjoy a play in Osgoode or Merrickville
You have not one, but two, community theatre productions to choose from this week. In Osgoode, the ITR Theatre Company is presenting Suburban Standoff (May 6 to 15), a comedy about a bumbling home invasion that goes sideways. Meanwhile, Theatre Night in Merrickville is staging Drinking Habits (May 5 to 8), a farce about two wine-making nuns and the feuding reporters who want to investigate them.
Paddle your canoe in Canton
The Canton Canoe Weekend is happening in Canton, New York, from May 6 to 8. Pre-registration is required for all events. Racers can choose from 1-, 3-, 5-, 8-, 12- and 14-mile routes; there’s also a 2-mile relay race for recreational paddlers. And bring the family—there’s a children’s playground, a Saturday night chicken barbecue and free camping.
See Latin American movies at Arts Court
The 25th annual Latin American Film Festival (May 5 to 13) will be screening movies from across Central and South America, as well as parts of the Caribbean, at Arts Court in downtown Ottawa. It’s one of Canada’s largest festivals dedicated solely to Latin American films. You can catch flicks from Uruguay, Cuba, Panama, Colombia, Brazil and more.
Shop for unique items in Ottawa, Almonte, Gananoque or Belleville
This weekend, you can drop into two artsy shows in Almonte. Art in the Attic (May 7 to 8) returns to the Almonte Old Town Hall after a two-year break. The event showcases local artists of all ages and ranges of experience, in a striking setting under the hall’s old hand-hewn beams of Douglas fir. This year, the participating artists were asked to submit pieces on the theme of “Close to Home.” The results range from one painter’s portrait of his wife to another creator’s felted art created with wool from her five alpacas.
Also back to in-person events after a long hiatus is the Cheerfully Made Market in Almonte (May 7 and 8). This year, the event is in a new venue, the Almonte Community Centre. Some 100 Canadian artisans will be selling their creations.
In Ottawa, the Signatures Originals Spring Craft Sale is happening at the EY Centre from May 5 to 8. I have a bit of a vested interest in mentioning this sale; pop by the Ottawa Press and Publishing booth and you can pick up a copy of my brand-new book, Ottawa Road Trips: Your Weekend Getaway Guide! Everyone who buys a copy of that book at the show will also be entered in a draw to win an overnight getaway to Westport.
Also in the capital, the Ottawa Guild of Potters will be holding its Spring Pottery Sale in the Horticulture Building at Lansdowne Park from May 6 to 8.
In Gananoque, the Before the Summer Fine Art Show is returning to the Firehall Theatre (May 7 and 8). This year, you’ll be able to browse for sculptures as well as paintings, and there will be a draw for a pair of tickets to a show at the 1000 Islands Playhouse.
It’s a bit of a hike, but the Mother of All Craft Shows on Saturday, May 7, in Belleville looks like fun, with more than 50 artisans offering everything from children’s clothes to preserves.
Look to the stars in Montreal
On Saturday, May 7, the Planetarium Rio Tinto Alcan in Montreal is hosting an all-day event called AstroFest. Focusing on many aspects of astronomy, it will include an astrophotography exhibit, craft activities, workshops, a talk by Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques on the future of lunar exploration, and the chance to do some stargazing with a telescope. The event is free, but registration is required if you want a seat at Saint-Jacques’s talk (it will also be streamed online).
Catch a concert in Ottawa or Pembroke
The Shenkman Arts Centre in Orleans is a busy place this week, with concerts by Quebec singer-songwriter Nicola Ciccone (Wednesday, May 4; see video above) and a double show by Sarah Slean and Hawksley Workman (Friday, May 6).
DREAMER: The Supertramp Experience is a tribute show on stage at the Festival Hall Centre for the Performing Arts in Pembroke on Saturday, May 7.
And indie Canadian rocker Avril Lavigne brings her new tour to TD Place in Ottawa on Monday, May 9.
Have some laughs in Ottawa or Montreal
Remember how I said the Shenkman Arts Centre was busy this week? On Sunday, May 8, it will be hosting a Mother’s Day Comedy Night (which is actually its traditional New Year’s Eve Comedy Night, rescheduled due to COVID-19 restrictions). Headliner Andrew Chapman will be joined by fellow Canadian comics Chris Locke and Jackie Pirico.
If you love The Kids in the Hall, SCTV and Saturday Night Live, you might just be interested in Montreal Sketchfest, an annual festival of sketch comedy (May 5 to 14). It features both rising stars and established comic talents, performing in French and/or English.
Go for a walk or run in Johnstown
Feeling achy? Want to get your kids off the couch? How about a walk or run? The Fort Town Night Run, usually held in Prescott, will be taking place in nearby Johnstown this year on Saturday, May 7. There are 5K, 10K and 15K routes, as well as a 1K fun run for kids, and the walk/run raises money for youth organizations.
Check out local talent in Kingston
The Homegrown Live Music Festival is a packed day of live performances by local acts in three Kingston venues (and one on Wolfe Island) on Saturday, May 7. Each venue will be showcasing multiple bands in a particular style, including blues, bossa nova, folk-rock and jazz. Tickets are available online.
Meanwhile, everyone involved in the diverse Juvenis Festival of the arts in Kingston (running until May 7) is aged 30 or younger, but shows are open to all ages.
Walk a labyrinth in Carleton Place
The Carleton Place Community Labyrinth is inviting everyone to come celebrate World Labyrinth Day with a free contemplative walk around the site on Saturday, May 7, starting at 1pm. It’s part of a global event for peace.
Immerse yourself in ideas in Montreal
Blue Metropolis (May 5 to 8) is a big multilingual festival in Montreal that bills itself as a celebration of books and ideas. It regularly draws big-name authors from across Canada and around the world. This year, several events will highlight Ukrainian and Ukrainian-Canadian writers.
Looking for more tips on things to see and do in Eastern Ontario, the Outaouais, northern New York state and beyond? Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter or order a copy of my book, Ottawa Road Trips: Your Weekend Getaway Guide.
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.
2 comments
Love receiving this each week. Thanks. Given the various art shows you’ve mentioned this week, I was wondering if you might be interested to include info about this art show in next weeks edition: https://www.stjohnsottawa.com/community-outreach/art-credo http://www.artcredo.ca/
Thanks, John–I’m glad you like the posts! And thanks so much for telling me about the Art Credo show. I didn’t know about it! I’ll add it to next week’s post.