Whether your taste runs to concerts, family fun or outdoor adventures, there’s no shortage of fun to be had in and around Ottawa in January. From a snowshoe race and art classes to a wedding show, wrestling, a home show and the chance to skate through a forest by torchlight, there’s something here for just about everyone.
I’ll be updating this post as the month goes on and more events are confirmed.
And in addition to all of these ideas, don’t forget to check out my big list of winter festivals, featuring everything from small community gatherings to huge carnivals.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Week of January 2 to January 8
- Week of January 9 to January 15
- Week of January 16 to January 22
- Week of January 23 to January 29
WEEK OF JANUARY 2 TO JANUARY 8
Learn to make a terrarium in Brockville
At a workshop at Wild Little Roses florist shop in Brockville on Thursday, January 5, you can learn to make a cacti terrarium. All materials are supplied, including the plants; you just need to bring your creativity.
Have some laughs in Manotick or Centretown
Need a few chuckles after looking at your credit card statement for December? How about some standup comedy? The Mill Tavern in Manotick is holding its monthly comedy night on Wednesday, January 4. That same night, the Montgomery Scotch Lounge on Gladstone Avenue in Centretown is hosting its monthly Barrel of Laughs comedy night. Also in Centretown, Pour Boy has its free weekly comedy night on Thursday, January 5.
Discover emerging musicians in Morrisburg
On Saturday, January 7, you can catch six local acts at Intimate Acoustics, a concert at the Upper Canada Playhouse in Morrisburg. Emma Lamontagne, Joey Vinegar and Oddeline are based in Ottawa, while Keegan Larose is from Cornwall and Conor Veinotte hails from Chesterville. Rounding out the group is popular blues act Plum’s Too Young to Die Band.
See outdoorsy movies in Kingston
The Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival showcases award-winning movies from the Alberta festival, which focuses on mountain sports, adventure and the environment. You can catch it at Trailhead in Kingston from January 7 to 9. (Note: It will also be coming to the Trailhead Paddle Shack in Ottawa from January 29 to 31, and it rolls into Gatineau on February 5.)
Amuse the kids in Kanata or Cornwall
It can be hard to amuse the little ones during the holiday break. No worries; Art Haven in Kanata is offering a midday art class for kids aged six to 12 on Wednesday, January 4. They’ll learn to paint a picture of a snowman and decorate some cupcakes to bring home.
And Ottawa magician Kevin Smith is giving two family-friendly magic shows at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 297 in Cornwall on Saturday, January 7: one at 10am and another at 2pm. See the video above for a sample of his work.
See Come From Away at the NAC
The touring production of Come From Away—the heartwarming musical about hospitable Newfoundlanders on 9/11—wraps up its run at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa with eight performances between January 3 and January 8.
WEEK OF JANUARY 9 TO JANUARY 15
Race through Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg
Grab your headlamps and bring your snowshoes! The Dion Ignite the Night Snowshoe Race takes place at Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg on Saturday, January 14, with 5K and 10K routes. Even though Alight at Night is officially over, the village’s million-light display will be switched on for the race. This is a fundraiser for adults with developmental disabilities. The registration fee is $45 and you must register by 10pm on January 12; no race-day registrations will be available.
Sip icewine in Niagara
It’s a bit of a hike, especially at this time of year, but the Niagara Icewine Festival (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, January 13 to 29) might be worth the trip if you’re a wine lover. It offers three jam-packed weekends of events celebrating Canada’s famous dessert wine, in and around Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.
Take a musical trip through Ottawa’s past at the GCTC
Ottawa Suite (January 10 to 12) will take the audience on a trip through some long-forgotten Ottawa theatres and nightclubs of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, via music, stories and dance. If you remember Le Hibou, the Trocadero or the Chaudière—or just wish you did—this GCTC production will bring back the vibes of mid-century Ottawa.
Skate by torchlight in Lac-des-Loups
The forest skate trail at Lac-des-Loups is worth a visit whenever the weather is good for skating, but it will probably be particularly beautiful on the night of Friday, January 13, when the trail will be illuminated by 350 torches. Only 300 tickets are available for this event. (Book tickets here.)
Go to an exhibition opening in Ottawa
The SPAO Photographic Arts Centre in Ottawa’s Little Italy is holding a vernissage for its latest exhibition on Friday, January 13. At the free reception, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm, you can meet featured artist Ella Morton and see her exhibition, Cold Comfort. The show includes works from her ongoing series, The Dissolving Landscape, which examines the effects of climate change in northern Canada and Europe. The show will run at SPAO from January 6 until February 19.
Learn about weather online
Environment Canada climatologist David Phillips will be speaking about our seemingly (and truly) increasingly crazy weather and the impacts of climate change in an online talk. It’s hosted by the Pembroke Campus of Algonquin College, and you can join the livestream on Thursday, January 12, starting at 7pm. Tickets are free for those 60 and over, and $22.23 for others.
Take an art workshop in Chelsea or Arnprior
Curious about encaustic—the art of creating paintings with wax? Available during the day? Then a three-hour encaustic workshop on Thursday, January 12, at LA FAB sur Mill Arts Centre in Chelsea might be of interest.
La FAB is also offering two painting workshops for adults later that week. The first is a four-hour session led by Andie Haltrich, focused on painting house portraits with watercolours, on Saturday, January 14 (in English). The next day, Erin Thibault is teaching an all-day class on painting majestic skies with oils (in English, with some basic instruction in French).
On that same weekend, you could also head to Arnprior to find out how to make a barn quilt. What’s a barn quilt? I hear you ask. Also known as a “cottage quilt,” it’s a large painting that looks like a quilt block. It’s designed to hang on the outside of a barn, house or garage, and to be large and clear enough to see from a distance. Learn the basics with Janet Lawrence at a cottage quilt workshop at the Murray Yantha Community Centre on Saturday, January 14. You’ll need to bring your own materials (there’s a list on the event’s web page).
Catch a concert in Ottawa, Almonte or Kingston
If you’re a fan of 007, you may just be interested in the National Arts Centre Orchestra’s latest pops concert. In Bond and Beyond (January 12 to 14), guest conductor Michelle Merrill will be leading the orchestra through tunes like “Live and Let Die” and “Skyfall.” Will you be shaken, or stirred? Why not find out? You only live twice. (OK, I’m done with the Bond puns now.)
On Saturday, January 14, Few and Fewer (AKA Guy Few on trumpet and piano, and Mark Fewer on violin, with Stephanie Mara on piano) are in concert at Almonte Old Town Hall. The show, part of the Almonte in Concert series, will include a little of everything from classical (Giacomo Puccini) to jazz (George Gershwin).
That same evening, Ottawa blues singer-songwriter Mikhail Laxton will be performing at Irene’s Pub in the Glebe. The video above is a behind-the-scenes look at the recording session for his song “Wasting Our Time.”
Also on January 14, the Capital Ukrainian Festival is presenting a concert of traditional Ukrainian carols and folk songs at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral on Byron Avenue. Don’t be shy—the audience will be invited to sing along at some points. If that singing makes you thirsty, no worries; light refreshments will be served.
And on Sunday, January 15, the Kingston Symphony is presenting its Tribute to John Williams. The prolific composer has written the scores for some of Hollywood’s biggest hits, including Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T., Schindler’s List and Jurassic Park. The venue for this show is the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts in Kingston.
Learn about hobbies in Aylmer
If one of your New Year’s resolutions was to spend less time working, why not take up a new hobby—or reacquaint yourself with an old one? For ideas, you could head to the Hobbies and Miniatures Festival at the Galeries Aylmer on January 14 and 15, where you’ll find model trains, collectible cards and much more.
WEEK OF JANUARY 16 TO JANUARY 22
Celebrate Robbie Burns in Ottawa
The Scottish Society of Ottawa will be celebrating one of Scotland’s most famous poets with a Robbie Burns Supper and Ceilidh on Saturday, January 21. The event, at the National Defence Headquarters Warrant Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess downtown, will include pipers, drummers, whisky and, of course, haggis. (The traditional Scottish sausage is an acquired taste.)
Take a walk on the theatrical wild side in Montreal
In Montreal, Wildfire (January 16 to 28) is the first of four productions in Centaur Theatre Company’s 2023 Wildside Festival. The festival features cutting-edge shows from companies across North America—sort of like a cold-weather fringe festival. This tragicomic play by David Paquet, based on his French-language original Le brasier, is a multigenerational story featuring six characters trying to escape their troubled family’s past. Oh, and there’s also a murderous tarantula, a strange baby and an expired cat. Presented in English with French surtitles.
Browse for local products in Russell
Some 100 vendors—including farmers and other food producers, artisans, and representatives of community groups—are expected to be on hand for the Living Locally Fair at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School in Russell (Saturday, January 21, 9am to 3pm). Don’t forget to bring a food bank donation!
Enjoy Blues on the Rideau in Westport
The Cove Inn in Westport is offering a dinner/show package for two shows by Juno-winning bluesman Jack de Keyser on January 20 and 21. The organizers are warning fans to book early, as these shows often sell out.
Delve into art in Ottawa or Chelsea
Interested in exploring the connection between creativity and healing? Art therapist Linnea will be hosting an art-making evening called In Light of Meaning at Irene’s Pub in the Glebe on Wednesday, January 18.
On Sunday, January 22, Gatineau artist Dominique C. Habib will lead an all-day introduction to acrylic painting workshop at La FAB sur Mill Arts Centre in Chelsea. At the end of the day, you’ll have a completed 8 X 8 painting to take home. This workshop will be given in French.
La FAB will also be the site of a two-day workshop on encaustic and embedding techniques by artist Amanda Pierce (January 21 and 22). Learn how to use heat, wax and multimedia materials to create art. This one’s in English.
Cheer on wrestlers in Little Italy
Long-time readers will know that my knowledge of wrestling is extremely limited. But if wrestling is your jam, GO (Friday, January 20) is the first event of 2023 for C*4 Wrestling. Long-time faves and rising stars will be battling it out at the Preston Event Centre in Ottawa’s Little Italy.
Dance the night away in Montreal
Thursday, January 19, see the launch of Igloofest, a four-weekend electronic music festival on Jacques Cartier Pier in the Old Port of Montreal (January 19 to February 11). With DJs and musicians from multiple countries, you’ll be able to dance yourself warm no matter how far the mercury falls.
Get wedding or home reno ideas in Ottawa
Did you find an engagement ring under the Christmas tree? At the Capital Bridal Show at the Ottawa Conference and Event Centre (January 21 and 22), you can gather ideas for dresses, catering, honeymoons and more.
If you’re planning to do some renovations in 2023, perhaps the Ottawa Home and Remodelling Show (January 19 to 22) at the EY Centre will be more up your alley.
WEEK OF JANUARY 23 TO JANUARY 29
Learn about rare nature or new traditional architecture online
The Canadian Museum of Nature is hosting Ignite—an evening of rapid-fire presentations by researchers about rare species, one-of-a-kind collections, unique discoveries and fossils—on Thursday, January 26, starting at 5pm. The free online event is also the museum’s annual public meeting. The museum’s president and CEO, Dr. Danika Goosney, will kick things off with an overview of museum activities and the year to come. Presentations will be in English or French, according to the preference of the speaker, and translation will be available.
That same evening, the National Capital Commission is hosting a discussion of new traditional architecture, starting at 6:30pm. Featured speakers are Swedish architectural scholar Michael Diamant and Ottawa urban design and heritage consultant Barry Padolsky. They’ll discuss the enduring popularity of classical-style architecture, as well as critiques of new buiThe event is taking place live at the NCC offices and in-person tickets are sold out, but you can register to watch for free online.
Enjoy a concert in Ottawa, Almonte, Chelsea, Cornwall or Kingston
Ottawa-based singer-songwriter Jim Bryson is the featured performer in the first of Folkus’s 2023 lineup of folk concerts in Almonte. He’ll be taking to the stage at the Almonte Old Town Hall on Saturday, January 28. Single tickets and season passes are available.
In Chelsea, the Moss Trio—three musicians from the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra—will be giving an afternoon concert at La FAB sur Mill Arts Centre on Saturday, January 28. They’ll be performing some of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, along with other pieces.
Also on January 28, the Kingston Symphony will be presenting an evening of Celtic music at the Grand Theatre in Kingston. The featured performer will be local fiddler, singer and step dancer Kelli Trottier.
The Hi-Fins will be recreating the hits of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and other bands of the British Invasion during The Sixties Show, a tribute concert at the Port Theatre in Cornwall on Saturday, January 28.
And on Sunday, January 29, Chamberfest presents an afternoon show billed as Chamber Pints at Irene’s Pub in the Glebe. Violinist/guitarist/singer-songwriter David Marks and bassist Max Cardilli promise a show influenced by everything from classical music and medieval dance to progressive bluegrass.
Savour fine wine and chocolate at home
As I update this on January 26, there are still a few boxes left for Savvy Company’s virtual Red Wine + Chocolate Extravaganza on Saturday, January 28. Pre-order your box of fancy chocolate and Ontario red wines, then enjoy them at home with live music streamed over Zoom.
Check out an LGBTQ film festival in Kingston
In Kingston, the Reelout Queer Film Festival (January 26 to February 5) usually screens dozens of movies in just about every genre, from comedy and drama to horror and documentary. I’ll update this paragraph when the festival releases its list of films, but I just wanted to give you a heads up on the dates.
See Scottish curlers take on Canadian rivals in Eastern Ontario
Every 10 years, teams of Scottish curlers come to Canada to play against their Canadian counterparts in an event called the Strathcona Cup. (It actually takes place every five years; in the intervening years, Canadians head to Scotland to play their competitors on their home turf.)
Take a starlit snowshoeing lesson in Gatineau Park
Have you always wanted to try snowshoeing but never quite gotten around to learning how? This could be your year. The Friends of Gatineau Park are offering Snowshoes Under the Stars on Friday nights, including Friday, January 27. The event includes a talk about the history of snowshoeing, an introduction to snowshoeing skills, a 1.5-hour guided walk and hot chocolate at the end. It even includes snowshoe rental! Tickets are $15 for seniors and students, $20 for adults, and $50 per family (two adults and two children).
See a play in Perth or Montreal
The Perth Community Choir has rescheduled its production of Anne of Green Gables: The Musical. It will now be staging its version of the classic tale of the imaginative red-haired PEI orphan from January 26 to 29 at Perth and District Collegiate Institute. This one’s a family-friendly show.
Not quite so family friendly: Centaur Theatre Company’s festival of avant-garde theatre, Wildside, continues with a production of Proje(c)t: Les Bonnes (January 26 to 29). Director Roxane Loumède has adapted Jean Genet’s play The Maids into this tale of two sisters who work for a rich Westmount woman and daydream about murdering her. Then, things take a real-life nasty turn. In French, English and Spanish, with English surtitles.
Learn to make a textile sculpture in Chelsea
Intrigued by the textile sculptures in the video above? Students created them in one of Amanda Pierce’s workshops. She’s giving an all-day textile sculpture workshop at La FAB sur Mill Arts Centre in Chelsea on Saturday, January 28.
Skate, run, drink and raise money for CF in Ottawa
The rowdy Carleton Cup Marathon (motto: Skate, Run, Drink) takes place on Saturday, January 28. This fundraiser for cystic fibrosis research includes a few kilometres of skating on the Rideau Canal (weather permitting), a 1K run through the ByWard Market, and post-race beers at the Aulde Dubliner and Pour House. The event often sells out in advance, so you might want to sign up early if you’re keen.
Discover the history of war online
Author, war historian and CBC Massey Lecturer Margaret MacMillan is giving an online talk about war and our world as part of Algonquin College’s Speaker Series. The virtual event is on Wednesday, January 25, at 7pm, and tickets are free for guests 60 and over. (There’s a small charge for others.)
Take an art workshop in Kingston
The Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning in Kingston is offering several art classes with teacher Alice Melo in late January. On Friday, January 27, there’s a class called 3 Mediums in 1 Full-Day Workshop, where you can explore working with watercolours, pastels and acrylics. On Saturday, January 28, you can take separate workshops on making a loose floral painting with acrylics, painting a poppy with watercolours, on creating a waterscape with soft pastels.
Enjoy food and wine in upstate New York
It’s a bit of a drive, but if you’re looking for a reason for a winter weekend road trip, the Albany Chefs’ Food and Wine Festival (January 26 to 28) features tastings, a “slider slam” (mmm, mini sandwiches), a grand gala dinner and more. Proceeds from the festival go to support not-for-profit arts organizations in the Albany region.
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.