Whether you like fast boats, strawberries, yoga, art, birds or the RCMP Musical Ride, I’ve found something for you in this week’s roundup of 22 road trip ideas. Have a great Canada Day weekend! (P.S.: This week’s roundup is a little shorter than usual, but that’s partly because I have a whole separate roundup of 30+ places to celebrate Canada Day, which I updated earlier today.)
See hydroplanes in Brockville
If you listened to Canadian radio in the ’80s, you’ll remember Platinum Blonde. The band is headlining the evening entertainment on Friday night at the 1000 Islands Regatta in Brockville (June 28 to 30), while Jason Blaine takes to the stage on Saturday night and the Northern Pikes are the featured act on Sunday. During the day, the main attraction will be the high-speed hydroplane races on the St. Lawrence River, but there will also be a kids’ zone.
Enjoy wine and cheese in Mississippi Station
Back Forty Artisan Cheese in Mississippi Station (about 20 minutes north of Sharbot Lake) is hosting its annual Curds & Cooks summer festival on Saturday, June 29. You can sample deep-fried, beer-battered cheese curds (as well as less fattening cheese treats), along with local grilled meats, craft beer, vodka, chocolate, preserves, kombucha and more. Admission is free.
Celebrate summer in Rockland
In past years, the Ottawa River Festival (June 28 to July 1) has included events in a number of towns in Prescott-Russell, east of Ottawa. This year, Du Moulin Park in Rockland will be the festival’s base, while other communities may hold related activities later in the summer. This weekend’s fun in Rockland includes an outdoor movie, a kids’ fun zone, a beer garden, water sports stunt shows, a car show, comedy shows and concerts. Fireworks at dusk on Canada Day.
Eat ribs in Gananoque
As well as lots of ribs and pulled pork, the 1000 Islands Family Ribfest in Gananoque (June 28 to 30) will amuse visitors with a fishing derby, a craft show, a duck race, a huge yard sale, a strawberry social, bouncy castles, live music and a silent auction.
Browse for art in Kingston and the Rideau Lakes and Brockville
Artfest Kingston (June 29 to July 1) brings together 200 artists and artisans from across Quebec and Ontario. Enjoy live music and theatre, visit the First Nations Artists Pavilion, take in a live art workshop or poetry reading, check out the craft beer and wine tent, and fuel up with food truck treats in a pretty outdoor setting.
The 21st Annual Rideau Lakes Studio and Garden Tour is also on this weekend (June 29 and 30). Admire the creativity of artists and gardeners in Portland, Elgin, Newboro and Chaffey’s Lock, as well as the scenery along the rivers and lakes of the Rideau Canal system.
Nosh on strawberries in Perth or Clayton
Doesn’t eating strawberries while listening to Canada’s oldest town band sound nice? That’s exactly what you can do in Perth’s Stewart Park on Thursday, June 27, when the Perth Citizens’ Band will be giving a concert in the bandshell and the Perth Rotary Club will be hosting a strawberry social.
Guthrie United Church in Clayton (about 15 minutes west of Almonte) is holding its annual fundraising strawberry social on Saturday, June 29, rain or shine. As well as nibbling on strawberries with cake and ice cream, you can enjoy grilled sausages and buy homemade baked goods to take home.
See fireworks in Montreal
Montreal’s huge fireworks competition, L’International des Feux Loto-Québec, kicks off on Saturday, June 29, and runs until July 27. The first show, this Saturday, is produced by a team from Quebec. Other competitors throughout the next month include teams from Italy, Australia and the United States. While you can see the fireworks from many places in the city, the grandstand at La Ronde (for which you’ll need tickets) is a good place to appreciate the way the pyrotechnics are synchronized with a musical score.
Thrill to the RCMP’s Sunset Ceremonies in Ottawa
The ever-popular Sunset Ceremonies return to the RCMP Musical Ride Centre in Rockcliffe this weekend (June 27 to 30). The Mounties promise that the free event will have something for all ages, from a kids’ zone (open for two hours before the main show starts) to pipe and drum bands, a search-and-rescue dogs relay and, of course, 32 horses and their riders executing intricate patterns to music. This one generally draws huge crowds, so come early. The kids’ zone opens at 5pm, the pre-show starts at 6:20pm, and the main show runs from 7pm to 9pm. Admission and parking are free.
Catch a free live music festival in Kemptville
On Saturday, June 29, Riverside Park in Kemptville will be alive with the sound of live music during the free Rockin’ at Riverside festival (noon to 8pm). As well as enjoying the tunes, you can kick back in a beer tent, feast on barbecue, do yoga and more. Bring a refillable water bottle—there will be water stations.
Eat, drink and be merry in Lake George
Lake George, New York, is about 4.5 hours southeast of Ottawa, but it might be worth the drive if you’d like to sample food, wine and craft beverages from more than 120 vendors at the Adirondack Wine and Food Festival (June 29 and 30) on the shore of the lake.
Take the kids to Bon Echo Provincial Park
Do you have a reptile fan in the family? Then Sciensational Sssnakes at Bon Echo Provincial Park (Saturday, June 29) will be right up their alley. Reptile experts will hold information sessions at 11am and 1pm, talking about the science of snakes and giving visitors the chance to hold one of the scaly critters.
See horses compete in Lake Placid
Equestrian fans, you’re in for a treat: back-to-back horse shows in Lake Placid, New York. First comes the Lake Placid Horse Show (June 25 to 30), followed immediately by the I Love New York Horse Show (July 1 to 7). In total, steeds and riders will be competing for US$560,000 in prize money and awards.
Get some laughs in Pembroke
The first-ever Pembroke Comedy Jam comes to the Pembroke Memorial Centre on Thursday, June 27, hosted by Gerry Dee, star of CBC-TV’s Mr. D. As well as three standup comics, two local bands will take to the stage. And you can save by buying tickets ahead, as they’re $20 in advance but $30 at the door.
Fish for free across Ontario
Ever wanted to try fishing but balked at paying the licence fee? This is your week! From June 29 to July 7, you can fish in Ontario lakes and rivers without a licence (but you still have to follow the regulations, of course).
Do yoga in a vineyard in Richmond
Jabulani Vineyard and Winery in Richmond is hosting Yoga and Wine at the Vineyard on Thursday, June 27. Participants will work out their aches with a yoga class and then enjoy three wine samples.
Enjoy a fundraising concert in McDonald’s Corners
The MERA Schoolhouse in McDonald’s Corners is a busy arts venue that offers all sorts of classes and events. To keep costs down, the centre runs a few fundraising events every year, and ticket sales for an upcoming concert have been so brisk that it has been moved to a bigger venue—nearby Knox Presbyterian Church. Drawing the crowds will be musicians James Keelaghan, Tripod (consisting of Terry Tufts, Kathryn Briggs and their daughter Beth) and the Long Sault Trio. It’s happening on Friday, June 28, and tickets are $25. (McDonald’s Corners is about 100 kilometres southwest of Ottawa, in Lanark County.)
Look for birds in the Adirondacks
The Paul Smith’s College Visitor Information Center (VIC) in Paul Smith’s, New York, is hosting guided birding walks every Saturday morning until July 13. You need to register at least three days in advance, and the walks start at 7am.
Catch some jazz in Ottawa or Montreal
This is your last week to see some of the great talent in town for the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival, including the Shuffle Demons on Friday and DJ QuestLove on Saturday. (Procrastinators, take note: Norah Jones’s show on Tuesday is sold out.) Alternatively, you can head down Highway 417 to Montreal, where the TD Festival International de Jazz de Montréal (June 26 to July 6) features the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Chick Corea, Sue Foley, Bebel Gilberto, Colin Linden and many, many others.
Sip tea in a garden in Vankleek Hill
Garden Path Homemade Soap in Vankleek Hill will be hosting a garden tea party every Sunday until August 25 (including Sunday, June 30), from 3pm to 4pm. Nibbling on baked goodies and sipping tea in a garden sounds like a very civilized way to round out the week!
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