50+ November events in and near Ottawa

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November is a great month for a road trip from Ottawa.

Don’t believe me? I’m not surprised; November can be grey and gloomy, with cold winds and lengthening nights. But hear me out!

As if to compensate for the chills and darkness, folks across our region seem to pull out the stops to keep things cheery. There are film festivals and theatre musicals, hikes and bike rides, a book sale and culinary events galore.

This post is packed with ideas and, if you live in Ottawa, you can get to many of them without a car. Happy travels!

Note: I have a separate post on Santa Claus parades and a HUGE list of Christmas craft sales.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Week of October 31 to November 6
• Week of November 7 to November 13
• Week of November 14 to November 20
• Week of November 21 to November 27
• Week of November 28 to December 4

WEEK OF OCTOBER 31 TO NOVEMBER 6

Shop for vintage goodies in Little Italy

Vintage Pop-Up 613 is holding a vintage pop-up market in the parking lot at 298 Preston Street in Ottawa’s Little Italy on Sunday, November 6. Browse for vintage and sustainable clothing, accessories and home decor from 20 vendors, from 10am to 4pm.

See a play in Ottawa or Smiths Falls

From November 3 through 6, Lakeside Players are presenting their production of a traditional British pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk, at the Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre in Britannia Park. “Pantos” are fun and family friendly, with audience participation definitely encouraged. (There are always good guys to cheer for and bad guys to boo, and lots of recognizable tunes.)

Meanwhile, at the Ottawa Little Theatre, a production of the mystery Holmes and Watson opened on October 26 and continues on select dates until November 12. The reviews promise a taut mystery laced with a little humour.

In Smiths Falls, the Station Theatre is presenting The Ghost Train, a creepy mystery about a phantom train said to run through Maine near the Canadian border, leaving death in its wake and, perhaps not coincidentally, providing cover for rum runners. The show runs on select dates from November 4 to 13.

Hear francophone music in Montreal

Looking to discover some cutting-edge francophone music? Then check out Coup de coeur francophone (November 3 to 13), which features emerging and avant-garde musicians working in French, from across Canada and around the world. Shows are scheduled in cities across Canada, but the main hub is Montreal.

Savour fine food and drink inMontreal

From November 3 to 13, you can enjoy special three- and four-course menus at roughly 100 restaurants participating in the MTLàTABLE promotion. The table d’hôte menus are available at fixed prices ranging from $35 to $75 per person. Advance reservations strongly recommended.

Go mountain biking for prizes in Beachburg

The BORCA Fall Poker Run Ride on Saturday, November 5, is a non-timed mountain biking event on trails in and around Beachburg. Compete for prizes and enjoy a chili lunch after the ride at the Whitewater Inn.

Enjoy brass music in Ottawa or Cornwall

The Hogtown Brass is a Canadian quintet that plays just about any type of music you can imagine—from Christmas carols, jazz standards and show tunes to classical pieces and contemporary compositions—on trumpet, horn, trombone and tuba. (Their version of “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square” may just bring a tear to your eye.) They’ll be at St. Martin de Porres Church in Bells Corners on Saturday, November 5, and at the Aultsville Theatre in Cornwall on Sunday, November 6. Scroll down on their website for links to tickets and more information on both shows.

See Canadian and international movies in Montreal

A francophone film festival called Cinemania is running at multiple theatres in Montreal from November 2 to 13. The 112 movies come from a range of francophone countries, including France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Switzerland, Andorra—and Canada, of course. There’s something for just about every taste, whether you like historical costume dramas (Corsage), comedic road movies (En Roue Libre) or war dramas (Les Harkis). And if you’re not bilingual, don’t worry—most of the movies are subtitled in English.

Rock on to classic tunes in Brockville

Two tribute concerts will be lighting up the Brockville Arts Centre this week. On Saturday, November 5, Jersey Nights is a love letter to the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. On Sunday, November 6, Rumours brings back to life the early days of Fleetwood Mac in the late 1970s.

Browse for books in Rockcliffe Park

Good news for readers: The Rockcliffe Park Book Fair is back as an in-person event! You can browse for used books to your heart’s content, fuelled up with comfort food from the onsite cafe and sweets from the bake sale table. The fair runs from November 4 to 6 at Rockcliffe Park Public School.

Check out a music festival in Johnstown

King’s Lock Distillery in Johnstown is hosting a Harvest Music Festival on Saturday, November 5, with music by Saphire Demitro, Gabi Epstein, Louise Camilleri, Justan Myers, Glynis Ranney, Mike Nadajewski and Jamie McRoberts. If you get thirsty while you’re listening, the distillery makes a wide range of spirits, including gin, rye, vodka and even moonshine. Johnstown is just east of Prescott, at the Ontario end of the bridge to Ogdensburg, New York.

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 7 TO NOVEMBER 13

Pause to remember in Ottawa

At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, we pause to remember the sacrifices of those who have fought and died in wars. There are many Remembrance Day commemorations happening in Ottawa, including events at the National Arts Centre, the Canadian War Museum, Beechwood Cemetery and elsewhere. And the stirring National Remembrance Day Ceremony will be held on the morning of Friday, November 11, at the National War Memorial on Confederation Square.

See a play in Rockliffe Park, Kanata, Russell, Perth or Brockville

Kanata Theatre is presenting its production of Doubt, A Parable at the Ron Maslin Theatre on select dates from November 8 to 19. The Pulitzer-winning play by John Patrick Shanley, which tells of a nun’s suspicions about a priest and a young student, was made into an Oscar-winning movie in 2005.

Shanley is having a big week in Ottawa. Across town, Linden House Theatre is staging the Irish-American playwright’s Outside Mullingar at Elmwood School in Rockcliffe Park. It’s the whimsical, humorous love story of two middle-aged lovers who face all the usual—and some unusual —roadblocks on the way to happiness. There are evening shows at 7:30pm on November 11, 12, 18 and 19, and a matinée at 2pm on Sunday, November 13. The company will be hosting an Irish “ceiligh” (kitchen party with music) at the theatre after the Friday performances.

The latest production from the Russell Association of the Performing Arts, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, is a comedy about the ups and downs of romantic relationships. It’s on stage at Russell High School from November 12 to 19 (all shows at 7:30pm except for Sunday, November 13, when it’s a 2pm matinée; no show on Monday, November 14). 

The musical version of Anne of Green Gables is coming to the stage of Perth and District Collegiate Institute from November 10 to 13, courtesy of the Perth Community Choir. A company of 60 local performers aged six to 80, along with a 10-piece orchestra, will bring to life the beloved story of PEI’s favourite red-haired orphan.

And the Brockville Theatre Guild is presenting Love & Avarice, a drama about a couple whose idyllic life slowly unravels when a mysterious illness threatens their community. It’s on at the Brockville Arts Centre on November 11 and 12, with 7:30pm shows each evening and a 2pm matinée on Saturday, November 12.

Hike a scenic trail near Lyndhurst

Time is running out if you want to explore the scenic Rock Dunder wilderness area near Lyndhurst (about halfway between Smiths Falls and Kingston) before it closes for the season on Tuesday, November 15. You can check out one of three scenic trails, including the 3.9-kilometre Summit Loop, which offers panoramic views of the Rideau Lakes. You’ll need a $5 day pass, which you can buy online.

See movies in Toronto or Cooperstown

In Toronto, the Reel Asian International Film Festival (November 9 to 20) showcases movies made by filmmakers across Asia, as well as Asians working in other countries around the world. Movies include Riceboy Sleeps, the story of a South Korean mother and son who emigrate to British Columbia in the 1990s, and If From Every Tongue It Drips, a documentary about a queer Sri Lankan poet and her lover, a camera operator. If you can’t make it to Toronto, you can stream some of the movies at home.

South of the border, Glimmerglass Film Days in Cooperstown, New York (November 10 to 14) shows movies focusing on the connection between humans and the natural world. Films include River, a big-budget Australian ode to mighty waterways around the world, and Alcarràs, the tale of a Spanish family evicted from their peach farm so the new owners can chop down the trees and install solar panels. Festival attendees can also take part in discussions, guided hikes and more.

Attend a wine-pairing dinner in Westport

The Cove Inn in Westport is hosting a five-course dinner featuring wines from Rosewood Estates Winery (a Niagara-area vineyard) on Thursday, November 10. The menu features tasty-sounding dishes such as rainbow trout tartare with avocado mousse (paired with sparkling chardonnay) and pumpkin bisque with smoked gouda (paired with riesling).

See Garnet Rogers in Shawville

Canadian folk icon Garnet Rogers will be on stage at the Little Red Wagon Winery in Shawville on Saturday, November 12. You can choose a dinner-and show package, or show tickets only. The concert starts at 7:30pm and masks may be required.

Enjoy a lantern parade in Oxford Mills

The Twilux Lantern Parade will be lighting up the village of Oxford Mills, south of Kemptville, on Saturday, November 12. The free, family-oriented event will start at Crozier Park at 5:45pm and weave its way to Maplewood Park. Musicians, stilt walkers and other entertainers will accompany residents carrying homemade lanterns. When everyone arrives at Maplewood Park, there will be live music, hot dogs and hot chocolate.

Check out a craft fair or art sale

Holiday fairs are in full swing this week. Among the many choices: the 260 Fingers clay art show in the Glebe (November 11 to 13), the St. Helen’s Anglican Church Christmas Bazaar in Orleans (November 12), the Merrickville Artists’ Guild Show and Sale (November 12), the Christkindlmarkt in Pembroke (November 11 to 13), and shows in Kemptville, Winchester and Carleton Place! See my big roundup of craft fairs for details on these and many other shows between now and Christmas.

Test your wits in Ottawa

Full disclosure here: For years (including 2022), my husband Paul has written the questions for World Trivia Night, which is taking place this year at the Shaw Centre (Friday, November 18, but you must register your team by 5pm on Friday, November 11). The annual event raises funds for Champions for Children, which helps foster children and other vulnerable young people attend college or take part in extra-curricular activities. It’s the largest live trivia event in North America, and top teams are eligible for some sweet cash prizes. Plus, the questions are super entertaining—and I’m not just saying that because I’m biased. 🙂

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 14 TO NOVEMBER 20

Delve into photojournalism history in Ottawa

The Historical Society of Ottawa is presenting a free talk called Through My Lens by photojournalist Rod MacIvor. It’s taking place at the Main Branch of the Ottawa Public Library on Wednesday, November 16, from 1pm to 3pm. Over the course of 42 years, many of them with The Ottawa Citizen, MacIvor captured countless historic moments on film—including an unusual shot of two Canadian prime ministers that is being used to promote the talk (you’ll see it when you follow the link above).

Enjoy movies in Ottawa and Montreal

How often do you get the chance to catch a movie from Estonia, Cyprus or Bulgaria on the big screen? They’re among the source countries of the movies in this year’s European Union Film Festival at the Ottawa Art Gallery. As well as being screened at the gallery from November 17 to December 3, many of the movies will also be available online across Canada from November 18 to December 10.

And in Montreal, the Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM), which runs from November 17 to 27, presents more than 100 movies from dozens of countries, including Morocco, Italy, Kurdistan, Ukraine and Brazil.

Take online tours of festive homes in Ottawa

The annual Homes for the Holidays tour, a major fundraiser for Hospice Care Ottawa, will be virtual again this year. In exchange for a donation, you’ll receive a link to the event’s website, where you can take a virtual tour of eight beautifully decorated Ottawa homes. No special software is required—just follow the link and enjoy! (The organizers respectfully ask that you not share the link with others, but instead invite them to donate as well.) The tours will be available from November 18 until December 10.

Enjoy a Santa Claus parade

Ho ho ho! Santa Claus comes to many towns this weekend. On Saturday, November 19, it’s the big Help Santa Toy Parade in Ottawa, along with parades in Kemptville, Cornwall and Kingston. On Sunday, November 20, Kris Kringle comes to Barrhaven. For details about these parades and others throughout Eastern Ontario and West Quebec this holiday season, check out my list of Santa Claus parades.

Hear Craig Cardiff in Burnstown

Arnprior-based folk singer-songwriter Craig Cardiff is playing the Neat Coffee Shop in Burnstown on Saturday, November 19. Expect lots of heartfelt stories from both Cardiff and the audience (he passes around a Book of Truths during his shows so audience members can share their hopes, confessions and secrets). You can buy a ticket for the show only, or one of the limited number of dinner-plus-show tickets.

Sample chocolate in Ottawa

Attention, sweets lovers: The Ottawa Chocolate Show is coming to the Nepean Sportsplex on Saturday, November 19. Sample and buy chocolate goodies, meet chocolatiers, learn how chocolate is made, and find out ways to pair chocolate with other foods and beverages.

Enjoy decorated porches and church sales in Vankleek Hill

The Vankleek Hill Christmas Porch Tour (Saturday, November 19) was an idea born of the pandemic, as it allowed people to get holiday decorating ideas without going indoors. It proved so popular in 2021 that it’s coming back this year. For $20 per person, you’ll get a map to the five porches decked out by professional decorators, the chance to collect participate in a village-wide scavenger hunt and lunch at the Windsor Tavern. Three local churches will also be selling Christmas décor, baked goodies and more.

Contribute to a good cause in Ottawa

Here are two fundraisers in Ottawa to put on your radar.

On Thursday, November 17, The Night Shift is the Canadian Nurses Foundation’s major annual fundraiser. You can enjoy a Miami-inspired night of fancy food and drink, cool DJ tunes, interactive installations, a silent auction and more, while contributing to nursing scholarships and research. It’s happening at the National Arts Centre.

On Friday, November 18, at the Horticulture Building at Lansdowne Park, the Middle East Soirée will raise money to help LGBTQI+ refugees find safe homes in Ottawa and Eastern Ontario. The evening includes a buffet of Middle Eastern foods and live entertainment, and there’s also a home delivery option if you’d like to attend virtually. (You need to register by Wednesday, November 16, for the virtual option.)

See a play in Wakefield

Theatre Wakefield is presenting the very British comedy Jeeves at Sea, based on the stories of P.G. Wodehouse, at 7pm on November 18, 19, 25 and 26, with a matinée on Sunday, November 27 at 2pm. All shows take place at the Centre Wakefield La Pêche.

Hike in Gatineau Park

The Ottawa Rambling Club has organized a moderate-level 12-km hike around Lusk Lake in Gatineau Park on Sunday, November 20. Registration for the hike opens November 9 at 6pm. Guests are welcome if space is available; see details on the club’s website under “Join us as a guest.”

Hear Bach in Montreal

Artists from around the world come to Montreal each year to celebrate the music of Johann Sebastian Bach during the Montreal Bach Festival (November 17 to December 9). This year, the choices include a free concert at St. Joseph’s Oratory (Sunday, November 20) and a performance of The Goldberg Variations by Les Violons du Roy at the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul (Sunday, November 27). P.S.: If you can’t make it to Montreal, the festival also offers concerts through Canada Classique, a classical music platform where you can stream live and pre-recorded concerts for as little as $2.

Take the kids to Newsies in Nepean or Pembroke

An 1899 newsboys’ strike inspired the musical Newsies, which tells the tale of powerless newspaper vendors facing off against newspaper mogul Joseph Pulitzer. This story is so popular that two different companies are presenting it at the same time.

At the Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe in Nepean, Orpheus Musical Theatre’s version of Newsies runs from November 18 to November 27. Shows are nightly at 7:30pm except for Monday, November 21 (when there is no show) and Sunday, November 20, and Sunday, November 27, when there are 2pm matinées instead of evening performances.

Meanwhile, in Pembroke, the Streetlight Theatre Company is staging its production of Newsies at the Festival Hall Centre for the Performing Arts. There will be six shows in total over an eight-day span (November 18, 19, 20, 24, 25 and 26). All shows are in the evening at 7:30pm, except for Sunday, November 20, which will be a 2pm matinée.

Shop for vintage, bargains and more at Lansdowne Park

Nearly 150 artisans and vendors will be participating in the giant 613flea Market at Lansdowne Park on Saturday, November 19. You’ll find antiques, vintage clothing, handmade items, vinyl records, furniture, food and more. Keep an eye out for puzzles and greeting cards featuring Ottawa landmarks (The Paperhood), vintage cashmere sweaters (Vivi’s Treasures), dried flower art (My Flower Study), whimsical birdhouses (My Recycled Dreams), classic Barbie dolls (Let’s Be Frank) and yummy shortbread (Maggie’s Shortbread). Free admission.

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 21 TO NOVEMBER 27

Shop for gems in Ottawa

The Ottawa Rock N’ Gem Show will draw rockhounds, crystal mavens and crafters to the EY Centre from November 24 to 27. Browse for minerals, beads, jewellery and more. Admission is $2 per person or $5 per family.

Enjoy children’s stories in Ottawa

Ottawa Storytellers are holding their annual Children’s Storytelling Festival in person and online from November 21 to 26. If your kids love a good yarn, well told, check out the packed schedule of events in several languages (including, for several sessions, Quebec Sign Language). Tellers will draw on a wide range of experiences, weaving tales inspired by Jamaican, Abenaki and many other experiences. After most sessions, kids and families will be encouraged to head to the craft table to make a creative response to the stories they’ve heard. Sessions are aimed at different age groups, from age 2 to 12, and they’ll take place in venues across Ottawa, including many libraries and the Odawa Friendship Centre. There’s also a separate schedule of online sessions, and many of the in-person sessions will be streamed later.

Shop in Westport or Perth

Boutiques in the charming village of Westport will likely be thronged on November 25 and 26, during the Holiday Hop ‘N’ Shop event. The fun will include draws and giveaways, carollers, horse-drawn carriage rides, indoor and outdoor Christmas markets, and a gingerbread house competition. If you can’t make it that weekend, the event repeats on December 2 and 3.

Meanwhile, in Perth, the Downtown Heritage Perth Business Improvement Association is organizing a holiday shopping event called Once Upon a Christmas on Saturday, November 26. From 10am to 5pm, you can enjoy live music, hot chocolate, horse-drawn wagon rides, face painting, and fun with Santa and his elves.

Celebrate a tree lighting at Lansdowne Park

On Friday, November 25, the giant Christmas tree outside the Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park will be switched on for the season at 5:30pm. That evening, the adjacent Ottawa Christmas Market will also be launched for 2022, and there will be live music and other free entertainment to mark the occasion.

See a play in Osgoode, Carleton Place, Merrickville or Perth

In Osgoode, the ITR Theatre Company is presenting Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery on select dates from November 25 to December 4, at the Osgoode Community Centre. Times vary, with both evening shows and afternoon matinées, and there’s a dinner show on Saturday, November 26.

Over in Carleton Place, the Mississippi Mudds are staging Elf: The Musical on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between November 25 to December 3. There are evening shows at 7:30pm on November 25 and December 1, 2 and 3, and 2pm matinées on November 26 and 27. All shows take place at the Carleton Place Town Hall.

Theatre Night in Merrickville, meanwhile, has a production of the popular Ira Levin comedy-thriller Deathtrap, about a playwright with writer’s block, and the possibly nefarious means he considers to overcome it. It run at 7:30pm nightly from November 24 to 26, and at 2pm on November 27.

And in Perth, the Studio Theatre is offering Scrooge: The Musical from November 24 to 27, and December 1 to 4. There will be evening shows at 7:30pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and matinées at 2pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Explore the Canada Science and Technology Museum on a morning for kids with special needs

The Canada Science and Technology Museum recently launched a pilot program designed for young visitors with special needs. Mellow Mornings, held once a month on a Sunday, provide a low-sensory environment that allows those with sensory sensitivities to take full advantage of various museum experiences. There will be fewer people than usual in the museum, visual and sound-based stimuli in the exhibitions will be turned down or off, and activities and demonstrations will be adapted to avoid unexpected sensory triggers. In addition, you can borrow noise-cancelling headphones, wheelchairs, strollers and paper copies of sensory guides from the front deskl

Tickets are limited, so it would be wise to book in advance. This month’s session with be on Sunday, November 27.   

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 25 to 27. Decorated trees aren’t the only items on the silent auction block; in past years, the items up for bid have included works of art, dollhouses, wreaths and bottles of wine. There will also be a food sale, live entertainment, draws and appearances by Santa. Funds raised will go to the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital in Picton. Free admission.

See a Christmas market at Lansdowne Park

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), enjoy live entertainment, and admire the giant Christmas tree. The market runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from November 25 to December 18, then runs every day from December 20 to 23; see 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 Sunday, November 27. Learn about international cultures through live entertainment, workshops, food and more.

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 Saturday, November 26, 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 Sunday, November 27, and will be stopping in Finch, Merrickville, Smiths Falls and Perth on Monday, November 28. For the full schedule of stops in Quebec, upstate New York and Eastern Ontario, see my CP Holiday Train post.

Rock on at TD Place

It was postponed due to the pandemic, but Canadian rockers Arkells are finally bringing their Blink Once/Blink Twice tour to TD Place in Ottawa on Thursday, November 24, with opening act Joel Plaskett Emergency.

Enjoy more Santa Claus parades!

Couldn’t make it to a Santa parade last weekend—or can’t resist the urge to attend another? You’re in luck, with parades in Riverside South, Orleans, Aylmer, Arnprior, Carleton Place, Brockville and Pembroke on Saturday, November 26, and another in Russell on Sunday, November 27. For details about these parades and others throughout Eastern Ontario and West Quebec this holiday season, check out my list of Santa Claus parades.

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 18, the Log Farm in Nepean will be open every Saturday and Sunday. You can shop for trees and locally made gifts, see farm animals, sip warming beverages while listening to Christmas tunes, take a horse-drawn wagon ride, and visit Santa’s workshop (where you can drop off a letter for Kris Kringle).

Celebrate the holidays in upstate New York or Aylmer

In the U.S., the Christmas season really kicks off the day after American Thanksgiving, which falls this year on Thursday, November 24. As proof, see these celebrations south of the border.

• Dickens Christmas (Skaneateles, weekends, November 25 until December 18: See costumed actors portraying Dickens characters, enjoy live music and more.
• Country Christmas Tour (Indian Lake, November 25 and 26): A weekend festival of arts, crafts and family fun, about 3.5 hours southwest of Ottawa in the Adirondacks.
• Adirondack Christmas on Main Street (Inlet, November 25 to 27): Also about 3.5 hours from Ottawa, but a bit further west, this event features a scavenger hunt, a dog parade, an ugly sweater contest and more.

P.S.: If you’re looking for a charming celebration closer to Ottawa, check out Christmas in Old Aylmer (November 25 to December 4), with a Christmas market and a parade. Also, scroll down this post to the week of November 28 to December 4, which features lots more holiday community events.

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 28 TO DECEMBER 4

Be dazzled by festive lights in Morrisburg

The popular Alight at Night Festival will light 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. The fun begins on Thursday, December 1, and the event is open select evenings until Saturday, January 7.

Enjoy a village-style Christmas in multiple communities

Many nearby towns are hosting community Christmas events this weekend. You could head out to one of the following for some holiday cheer.

• Casselman Christmas Festival (December 1 to 4): Activities include a street party, a Montreal Canadiens alumni game and an acoustic concert by Roch Voisine.
• Manotick Village Christmas (Saturday, December 3, with carolling on Sunday)
• Christmas in Merrickville (Saturday, December 3): Highlights include breakfast with Santa, a craft and vendors’ market, gift draws, and children’s activities.
• Magical Christmas in Chelsea (December 3 and 4): Activities include a tree lighting and a holiday lunch.

See a classic Christmas play in Ottawa or Morrisburg

Ottawa Little Theatre is offering the stage version of the classic 1947 movie, Miracle on 34th Street, on select dates from November 30 through December 17. Can a little girl’s faith in Santa be proven—or shaken—in a courtroom?

In Morrisburg, the Upper Canada Playhouse is presenting a musical version of A Christmas Carol on select dates from December 1 to 18.

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.