70+ December events in Ottawa and beyond

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As we head into December, visions of sugarplums will be dancing in many heads. But, believe it or not, December in Ottawa, Eastern Ontario, the Outaouais and points beyond means much more than Christmas! So whether your idea of early winter fun is humming along to The Nutcracker and visiting Santa or counting birds and learning new Latin dance steps, I have ideas for you!

Before you dive into this list, please note that I have separate posts on four different types of very popular holiday events:

• the giant directory of Christmas craft sales (trust me, it truly is giant)
• Santa Claus parades around our region
• drive-through and walk-through holiday light displays
• New Year’s Eve events

Also, note that I’ll be continuing to expand this post (especially the sections focusing on the second half of December) as time goes on and events are confirmed.

OK, with those caveats out of the way, onward to the ideas! Whatever celebrations you are marking this month, I hope they’re filled with peace, love and laughter. And wherever your road trips take you this month, near or far, enjoy!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Week of November 28 to December 4
• Week of December 5 to December 11
• Week of December 12 to December 18
• Week of December 19 to December 25
• Week of December 26 to January 1

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 28 TO DECEMBER 4

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 (December 2 and 3): Enjoy a light parade, a crafters’ market, carollers and more.
• 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 2 to 4): Activities include a tree lighting and a holiday lunch.
• Christmas in the Village (December 2 to 4): This Osgoode celebration features a parade of lights, two craft/vendor markets, an ugly Christmas sweater party, Christmas music and lots of other fun.
• Come Home for Christmas (Friday, December 2): From 3pm to 8pm, downtown Brockville will be celebrating the season with a reindeer petting farm, sleigh rides, a Santa’s village, an escape room, deals at local businesses and more.
• Light Up the Night (Friday, December 2): Fireworks are the highlight of this Almonte event, which starts at 7pm. Live entertainment includes everyone from the Light Up the Night puppets and country music artist Brea Lawrenson to the Cedarhill Sunday School Choir and Wayne Rostad. There will be food and craft vendors, too!
• Festival of Lights (Friday, December 2): The whole festival actually runs at the Crystal Palace from November 17 to January 5. But on December 2, there will be fireworks! In addition, you can enjoy a singalong and admire decorated Christmas trees. The fun on December starts at 5:30pm. Donations to the local food bank are welcomed; cash donations are preferred, but non-perishable food items are great, too.

Banish the darkness in Montreal

Luminothérapie, a one-of-a-kind outdoor interactive light show, has returned to Montreal’s Quartier des Spectacles this year for an extended, three-month run (December 1 to March 5). The free event riffs on the theme of biodiversity with a new light installation on the Esplanade Tranquille, installations along Ste. Catherine Street and video projections. It’s all rather hard to explain; check out the link above for photos that will, well, illuminate the event.

Check out a holiday market in Carp, Cobden or Dunvegan

If you like to shop for great food in a festive setting, you can check out the Carp Christmas Farmers Market on December 2 and 3, or the finale weekend of the Cobden Christmas Farmers’ Market on December 2 and 3.

Over at the Glengarry Pioneer Museum in Dunvegan, the Dunvegan Christmas Market (Saturday, December 3) will be offering a day of fun from 10am to 3pm. The outdoor market—sheltered by a heated pavilion—will showcase vendors selling chocolate, jewellery, wine, ironware, wreaths and more. You can sip cider or hot chocolate, roast marshmallows around a bonfire, pose for selfies in a vintage sleigh, set the kids loose at a craft table, and enjoy a children’s choir’s carols. Many of the heritage buildings onsite will be festively decorated, too.

See a Northern-set play at the National Arts Centre

From November 30 to December 10, the National Arts Centre (NAC) in Ottawa will be presenting The Breathing Hole, a play that views five centuries of North American history through the eyes of a polar bear cub. Presented in English and Inuktut by a cast of 16 actors and large-scale puppets, it’s a co-production of the NAC’s English and Indigenous theatre companies.

P.S.: I learned something today. “Inuktut,” above, is not a typo. I thought it was a misspelling of “Inuktitut” when I saw it on the NAC’s website, but some research revealed it is a collective word that refers to multiple languages used in the Arctic…including Inuktitut.

Admire gingerbread houses in Syracuse

It started as a one-day auction in 1986. Since then, the Gingerbread Gallery at the Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse has morphed into a seven-week celebration (November 18 to January 8) of architectural baking, with contributions by dozens of local creators. It’s amazing what you can build out of cookies!

Catch a concert in Ottawa, Shawville, Maberly or Athens

See Wendy MacIsaac and Mac Morin—known for their work with Cape Breton folk group Beòlach—in concert at the Althorpe Bolingbroke Community Hall in Maberly on Friday December 2, or at the Joshua Bates Centre in Athens on Saturday, December 3. Those two concerts are part of the Festival of Small Halls’ holiday series of shows in small venues across Eastern Ontario.

Over in the Pontiac, Wakefield-based singer-songwriter Kate Weekes is giving a show at the Little Red Wagon Winery in Shawville on Saturday, December 3. You can reserve for the concert only or buy a dinner-show combo.

And at the NAC, the busy concert schedule this week includes shows by Raine Maida and Chantal Kreviazuk (December 1 and 2), Ada Lea with Paper Beat Scissors (December 2), Lennie Gallant (December 3) and Black Umfolozi (December 4).

See a Christmas tale in Ottawa and beyond

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? (If you’d rather learn the answer to that question in Kingston, Domino Theatre is also staging a version of Miracle on 34th Street on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from December 1 to 17.)

In Cornwall, the Seaway Valley Theatre Company is performing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Jr. at the Aultsville Theatre on December 3 and 4. Consider this, if you will: The musical is based on the 1964 animated Rudolph Christmas TV special…which was based on a song written in 1949…which was based on a story written in 1939 as a promotional giveaway for a department store. Basically, it’s a Christmas story that just keeps on giving! (If you want to fall down a complete Rudolph rabbit hole, check out the red-nosed reindeer’s extensive Wikipedia page.)

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

Would you rather see the tale of Scrooge’s redemption told through dance? Then catch Caithream Celtic Dance Fusion’s performance of A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas at the Shenkman Arts Centre in Orleans on December 3 and 4.

Speaking of dance, Les Petits Ballets is bringing its production of The Nutcracker to the Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe in Nepean on December 2 and 3. Across town, the National Arts Centre has Les Grands Ballets Canadiens’ version of The Nutcracker from December 1 to 4.

And the Smiths Falls Community Theatre is presenting a fun family show, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, at the Station Theatre in Smiths Falls (December 2 to 4, and December 8 to 11). Adapted from a bestselling young adult book, the comedy tells of the mayhem that ensues when the troublesome Herdman kids join the cast of a church Christmas pageant.

Thrill to an illuminated waterfall in Fort Coulonge

The Festival of Lights opens on Friday, December 2, at Chutes Coulonge in the Pontiac and runs every Friday and Saturday until December 17. Wander along a lighted trail, sip hot chocolate around a bonfire, see Santa and thrill to the thunder of the water. (Ignore the big “closed for the season” notice at the top of the Chutes website; keep scrolling down and you’ll find information on the lights.)

Explore a Christmas village in Edwards

Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm in Edwards has been transformed into a Christmas village. On Saturdays and Sundays until December 18, families can take a tractor-drawn sleigh ride, sing songs, play games, visit Santa, buy a Christmas tree, nosh on food-truck fare and more. Timed tickets are for sale online.

Take the kids to Santa’s Workshop in the Adirondacks

As a proud Canuck, I’ve always believed that Santa and his elves made their home right here in the true north strong and free—we have his mailing address, after all. However, some folks in North Pole, New York, beg to differ. In that tiny community near Whiteface Mountain, you can visit Santa’s Workshop on weekends until Sunday, December 18 (you can also see a Village of Lights on certain dates between December 4 and 30). I suppose Santa could have multiple bases of operations. Hey, if it works for Amazon…

WEEK OF DECEMBER 5 TO 11

Catch the Barra MacNeils in Nepean or Cornwall

From O Holy Night to Christmas in Killarney, holiday favourites of all sorts—both traditional and new—will be in the air during The Barra MacNeils: An East Coast Christmas. The popular Atlantic Canadian group is coming to the Aultsville Theatre in Cornwall on Monday, December 5, and the Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe in Nepean on Tuesday, December 6. (P.S.: They’ll also be at the Kingston Grand Theatre on Monday, December 12.)

Have some holiday fun in Almonte

The Mill of Kintail Conservation Area in Almonte is hosting its annual Kintail Country Christmas event on Saturday, December 10, from 11am to 3pm. Activities include crafts, refreshments and fireside stories, all at a heritage stone mill. Admission is $15 per vehicle, but if you can throw in a few extra bucks toward the mill’s rehabilitation project (it badly needs a new roof), you’d be a bit of a holiday angel.

Take the kids to an indoor carnival in Ottawa

Is your issue with winter carnivals the, you know, winter aspect of them? If, like me, your hands and feet go cold at the mere mention of winter, then the Glebe Community Centre has the event for you: an indoor Winter Carnival on Sunday, December 11, from 1:30pm to 3:30pm. Aimed at kids aged 3 to 14, it will feature bouncy castles, crafts, carnival games and other fun, with nary a windchill in sight. Buy tickets in advance online.

Do some Christmas shopping in Carleton Place

Attention, nighthawks: Too busy to get out to the shops during the day? Carleton Place has your back, wth its Santa Shops Here event on Thursday, December 8. Participating shops will be open until 10pm, and many will be offering special deals and discounts. You can also enjoy live music, a pop-up coffee bar and other fun.

Solve a mystery in Smiths Falls

Behind Glass: An Immersive Historic Experience is a one-day-only event at the Smiths Falls Public Library (81 Beckwith Street North) on Sunday, December 11. There will be four shows (at 10am, noon, 2pm and 4pm) that will encourage the audience to work together to parse clues and figure out which historical figure has been wreaking havoc at the library.

Go for a run (or walk) in Ottawa, Kemptville or Kingston

Grab your winter running shoes (or boots) and your Santa hat—The Santa Shuffle is coming to Ottawa, Kemptville and Kingston (and many other cities across Canada) on Saturday, December 10. The fundraiser for the Salvation Army is a 5K race open to teams of up to 10 members.

Nosh on cheese in Mississippi Station

Back Forty Artisan Cheese In Mississippi Station is holding a customer appreciation day on Saturday, December 10, from 10am to 4pm. It’s a great chance to buy the farm’s meats and cheeses (some at a 15% discount) and to browse for preserves, textiles and gifts by local makers. The bistro will be open, too, serving up smokey mac and cheese. Mississippi Station is about an hour and 15 minutes southwest of Ottawa.

Celebrate the arrival of winter at Mādahòkì Farm

The Pibòn (Winter) Festival at Mādahòkì Farm (4420 West Hunt Club Road, Ottawa) marks the approaching solstice with all sorts of family-friendly events and activities from December 8 to 11. On Thursday and Friday night, there’s an Indigenous night market and a painting workshop. On Saturday and Sunday, you can enjoy markets, traditional foods, storytelling, pow wow dancing, Inuit throat singing and more. Visit the farm’s small animals, walk the Legacy Trail, see the rare Ojibwe Spirit Horses and create a message of reconciliation at Reconciliation Rock Station. The video above will give you more of a taste of what the farm is all about.

See The Nutcracker in Kingston or Nepean

The State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine brings its version of the beloved holiday ballet The Nutcracker to the Kingston Grand Theatre on December 7 and 8. (It’s also on stage at the Brockville Arts Centre on December 9, but that show is sold out.)

Meanwhile, at the Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe in Nepean, Ballet Jörgen offers The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition on Saturday, December 10.

Enjoy music in Ottawa and elsewhere

The annual Christmas with the Ennis Sisters show is a pretty much guaranteed hit for the Newfoundland-based, Celtic-tinged family singers. (See the video below for a taste.) This year, they’re playing two dates in our area: Wednesday, December 7, at the Festival Hall Centre for the Performing Arts in Pembroke, and Thursday, December 8, at the Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe in Nepean.

The Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum is presenting carollers outdoors in the museum’s gardens on Friday, December 9, from 6pm to 7:30pm. Sing along with the St. James Church Choir and the music of organist Ian Guenette while enjoying cookies and hot cocoa. Donations to the local food bank are welcome.

Also on December 9, the Centennial Choir of Cornwall will be singing tunes old and new in Rejoice: A Christmas Concert at the Aultsville Theatre in Cornwall.

Ottawa folk-music favourite Lynn Miles is in concert at the Little Red Wagon Winery in Shawville on Saturday, December 10. Come for the show only or book a dinner-concert package.

Also on December 10, singer-songwriter Ian Tamblyn will be performing at the tiny Burritts Rapids Community Hall. Billed as an intimate evening of storytelling and song, it’s a fundraiser for the North Grenville Community Fund, which will be giving out two grants at the event as well.

Also on Saturday, the Kingston Chamber Choir will be presenting an evening of soul-stirring music in a concert called As Winter Unfolds. It’s at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts in Kingston.

Singer-songwriter Tom Jackson is also an actor, an activist and a storyteller who has raised money for countless causes over the years—perhaps most famously through his Huron Carole Christmas concerts. This year, he’ll be performing his show Stories, Songs and Santa Causes at Ottawa’s First Unitarian Church on Sunday, December 11, to raise money for Cornerstone Housing for Women.

The Connie Kaldor Christmas Extravaganza rolls into StoneCrop Acres Winery and Vineyard in Morrisburg on Thursday, December 8. The Prairie-born folk singer, whose music blends in elements of everything from rock to gospel, has a devoted fan following. Her opening act is Rachael Kilgour. (Note that Connie will also be playing the NAC in Ottawa on Wednesday, December 7.

Later in the week, the winery will host two performances of Anna Ludlow’s Christmas Kitchen Party on Saturday, December 10. Ludlow is an acclaimed fiddler, singer and songwriter from Antigonish, Nova Scotia, and the show promises to bring a Maritime-style Celtic party to Morrisburg. There’s an afternoon concert starting at 3:30pm and an evening show beginning at 7pm. (P.S.: She’ll be bringing the same show to Studio Theatre Perth on Saturday, December 17.)

Indulge your love of model trains in Kingston

Is there a little one in your family obsessed with all things railroad related? Then don’t miss All Aboard for the Holidays at the Pump House Steam Museum in Kingston (December 10 and 11), where you can see model trains, visit with Santa and more. You can either pay to attend or bring a new, unwrapped toy as admission. Note: Pre-registration is required.

See a new Alice or other types of magic in Nepean

If you think you know the story of Alice in Wonderland well, think again: Théâtre Tout à Track brings its version of the beloved Lewis Carroll story to the Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe on Wednesday, December 7.

Looking for something besides holiday fare? The Centrepointe venue is also presenting Sin City Illusions, an evening of mystery and sleight-of-hand with magicians Diego Lopez, Ian Quick and Ken Pham, on Saturday, December 10.

Catch a solo performance of A Christmas Carol at the GCTC

Ottawa actor, writer and standup comic Pierre Brault brings all the characters of A Christmas Carol to life—yep, everyone from Tiny Tim to Scrooge himself—in a one-man show at the GCTC in Ottawa from December 10 to 18.

Enjoy a free family skate in Alta Vista

On Saturday, December 10, the Canterbury Community Association has organized a free family skate at the Jim Tubman Chevrolet Rink in Canterbury Park (2185 Arch Street). From 10am until 1pm, there will be hot chocolate, gift bags, a visit from Santa and more. Donations of non-perishable items for the Ottawa Food Bank are appreciated.

Celebrate Christmas in the Adirondacks

The Holiday Village Stroll (December 9 to 11) is the big event of the month in Lake Placid, New York. Highlights include a skating party, an ugly Christmas sweater party, live music, a wine tasting, a fire truck parade, a craft fair and, of course, Santa.

Experience a “vintage” Christmas in Nepean

You know that moment when you truly realize your childhood was a LONG time ago? For me, that moment came when I read the description of A Very Vintage Christmas at the Nepean Museum. The drop-in event on Saturday, December 10, for kids aged 3 to 12, includes the chance to “play with throwback toys from the 1970s.” You mean kids don’t play Ker-plunk anymore? Who knew? Seriously, though, this looks like lots of fun, with storytelling, crafts and a scavenger hunt. Kids are encouraged to wear their PJs.

WEEK OF DECEMBER 12 TO 18

Count birds for science

In the Christmas Bird Count, a nationwide event coordinated by Bird Studies Canada, amateur ornithologists head out into nature to learn about birdwatching and do some citizen science. Counts are taking place across Canada between December 14 and January 5. Check the link above to find out about events in your area.

Warm up with Latin dancing in Ottawa

Cold temperatures got you down? You could warm up at the Capital Bachata Festival’s Holiday PJ Party at Labo (60 Waller) on Sunday, December 18. So what is bachata, I hear you ask? It’s one of several Latin dancing styles you can learn, hone and/or enjoy at the party (the others being salsa and zouk). Sign up for a beginner or low-intermediate salsa class, or a high-intermediate to advanced bachata class, from 6pm to 7pm, then hit the dance floor until 10:30. There will also be prizes and treats, too. Just make sure to wear your holiday-themed jammies or sweats! The event is raising money for the festival, which will take place in Ottawa in February 2023.

Laugh at British comedy in Orleans, Nepean and beyond

I’ll candidly admit that I hadn’t heard of the comedy duo James & Jamesy, but if the rave reviews in the video above are any indication, their show O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy looks very charming indeed. If you like Monty Python, Mr. Bean and Dr. Seuss, it just might be your cup of Earl Grey. It’s on stage in theatres across our region this week, including Brockville (December 14), Orleans (December 15), Cornwall (December 16), Kingston (December 17) and Nepean (December 18).

Enjoy a concert in Ottawa, Shawville, Brockville, Perth or Morrisburg

Studio Theatre Perth has two holiday concerts on the roster this week. First up is a holiday concert by Juno-winning folk singer-songwriter Lynn Miles on Thursday, December 15. Next, you can enjoy Anna Ludlow’s Christmas Kitchen Party at Studio Theatre Perth on Saturday, December 17.

Ottawa Valley singer-songwriter Gail Gavan will be giving a holiday show at Little Red Wagon Winery in Shawville on Saturday, December 17. Show-only or dinner-and-show packages are available.

A Christmas Spectacular is the holiday offering of holiday classics from Paquette Productions. The video above gives you a taste of the playlist of beloved hits made famous by Elvis, Bing Crosby and others. It will be at the Shenkman Arts Centre in Orleans on Saturday, December 17, and the Brockville Arts Centre on Sunday, December 18.

Also on Sunday, December 18, StoneCrop Acres Winery and Vineyard is hosting Christmas with Marleen Fawcett and Mountain Breeze, with special guest Lori-Ann VanMorsel. These musicians, all based in Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry, will be giving two shows: one starting at 3:30pm and the other at 7pm.

On the afternoon of Sunday, December 18, you can also enjoy a performance of Benjamin Britten’s Saint Nicolas Cantata by the Ottawa Choral Society at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Hintonburg. The concert starts at 3pm.

And on Sunday evening, the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra is presenting a concert of holiday music featuring everything from nursery rhymes to klezmer music. Hockey fans, take note: The program features a performance of Abigail Richardson-Schulte’s The Hockey Sweater, with narration of the classic Roch Carrier story by three-time Paralympic medallist Todd Nicholson. It’s happening at the Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre in Centretown.

See a festive puppet show in Orleans

Do You Believe? is a family-friendly show about the true meaning of the holidays presented by Rock the Arts Puppets. They’ll be giving two performances at the Shenkman Arts Centre in Orleans on Saturday, December 17: one at 10:30am and another at 1:30pm.

Cheer Handel’s Messiah in Ottawa

For some people, it isn’t Christmas until they’ve enjoyed a thundering rendition of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus in the company of lots of people. If that’s you, then put the NAC’s 2022 renditions of Messiah (December 14 and 15) into your calendar. Performances will feature the NAC Orchestra, the Capital Chamber Choir and the Cantata Singers of Ottawa.

WEEK OF DECEMBER 19 TO 25

See a concert in Ottawa or Brockville

The week kicks off with a concert by Sultans of String, who will entertain with international twists on classic holiday carols and classical pieces. A star-studded list of singers, including Rebecca Campbell, Kellylee Evans and Lynne Hanson, will add their voices to the music. The show is happening at Ottawa’s First Unitarian Church on Monday, December 19.

On Tuesday, December 20, Canadian singer-songwriter Jim Witter—known for his tributes to Billy Joel and Elton John—brings a show of holiday tunes called Christmas Memories to the Brockville Arts Centre.

At the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Natalie MacMaster, Donnell Leahy and their children will be celebrating the holidays with some Cape Breton fiddling and the NAC Orchestra in their Celtic Family Christmas concerts on December 21 and 22.

Enjoy ballet in Nepean

Le Jazz Hot Dance Company and Vanessa Plattell Dance are joining forces on a production of the humorous ballet Coppélia at the Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe on Tuesday, December 20. Will an elderly toymaker bring a doll to life…or will a wily maiden use the toymaker’s magic to revive her drugged fiancé? You’ll have to see the show to find out.

WEEK OF DECEMBER 26 TO JANUARY 1

See a family musical in Kanata

Just So: The Musical is a family-friendly holiday show based on the tales of Rudyard Kipling. It’s on stage at Kanata Theatre’s Ron Maslin Playhouse from December 27 to 30.

Dance the night away in Ottawa or Gatineau

Attention, boomers: CCR Reborn is a tribute the the music of Creedence Clearwater Revival. It’s on stage at the Casino Lac-Leamy in Gatineau on Wednesday, December 28.

The next evening in the same venue, it’s a night for fans of Johnny Cash, Johnny Hallyday and Elvis, as Rémy Langlois and the Tennessee Blues Band will be performing.

Shake off the winter chill with a Latin fiesta at Queen Street Fare in downtown Ottawa on Friday, December 30. Polish your salsa moves to live music by Miguel de Armas and Fiesta Cubana.

Are ’80s tunes more your speed? Also on Friday, December 30, House of Targ in Old Ottawa South is hosting an ’80s dance party. The night starts with back-to-back sets by Rapture, a Blondie tribute band, then segues into ’80s dance tunes spun by DJ Remi Royale.

Check out a museum exhibition in Ottawa-Gatineau

Need a break from all things Christmas? This might be a great time to check out From Pepinot to Paw Patrol: Television of Our Childhoods, an exhibition about the history of Canadian kids’ TV. It’s running at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau until September 1, 2023. Or perhaps Munnings: War Artist, 1918 at the Canadian War Museum—showcasing the works of a First World War artist who specialized in painting horses—is more your speed? It runs until March 19, 2023. Over at the National Gallery of Canada, you have until January 29 to see the special installations created to highlight works by the latest recipients of the Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts.

And time is running out to catch Planet Ice: Mysteries of the Ice Ages at the Canadian Museum of Nature; it closes on January 8.

Bounce the day away in Gatineau

So the presents are unwrapped, the new toys have been played with, you’ve watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas approximately 47 times and the kids are getting restless. The Gatineau Playground Festival (December 27 to 30) at the Complexe Branchaud-Brière—with its 67,000 square feet of bouncy castles, trampolines and other active, indoor fun—might just be the answer to your family’s cabin fever.

Cheer for hockey players in Ottawa or Kingston

The Bell Capital Cup is one of the world’s largest hockey tournaments, drawing hundreds of youth hockey teams from around the world to Ottawa. This year, you can enjoy the action from December 28 to 31 at arenas across the city, including the Richcraft Sensplex, the Bell Sensplex and the Canadian Tire Centre. You might just spot a future NHL star or two.

Meanwhile, at the Leon’s Centre in Kingston, the Kingston Frontenacs will be facing off against their regional rivals the Ottawa 67s in an afternoon game on Sunday, January 1.

See Come From Away at the National Arts Centre

If you’ve never seen Come From Away, I highly recommend catching this heartwarming musical about, of all things, 9/11. It tells the story of kind-hearted folks in Gander, Newfoundland, and the stranded passengers they helped on that awful day. I’ve seen the show twice and I’d happily go again. True, I’m a sucker for a mushy story and East Coast tunes. If you are, too, a touring production of the show is on stage at the National Arts Centre from December 27 to January 8.

Take the (frosty) plunge in Perth

Not cold enough for ya yet? Then strip down to your bathing suit and take the Perth Polar Bear Plunge on January 1. The annual glacial dip into the Tay River, sponsored by the local Royal Canadian Legion, raises money for community causes; this year, the chosen charity is Cornerstone Landing Youth Services. Register ASAP so you can start fundraising. Side note: Yikes, this looks COLD!!!!

Celebrate New Year’s Eve

Looking for a fun way to celebrate the turning of the year? Look no further than my where to celebrate New Year’s Eve post!

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.