Browse for fall harvest goodies at Taste of the Valley

This post is presented in partnership with the Ottawa Valley Tourist Association.

Photo by Natalie Surette.

Fall is such a great time to shop for farm-fresh produce, from apples and cranberries to beets, garlic and pumpkins. And if you point your car toward the Ottawa Valley, you can soak up some small-town charm while stocking your pantry. (Don’t forget your cooler.)

Photo by stevepb on Pixabay.

Take advantage of the last three Taste of the Valley events before the season ends. All three of these communities are northwest of the capital and easily accessible from Ottawa along Highway 417 and Highway 17. At each Taste of the Valley day, you’ll have the chance to meet local farmers and vendors, sample all sorts of small-batch goodies (cheese or fudge, anyone?), and add some new products to your home kitchen.

Here’s all you need to know to make a day of it—or a weekend.

Taste of the Valley: Deep River

Taste of the Valley: Deep River is taking place at the Deep River Town Hall, which you’ll find at 100 Deep River Road. You can check it out on Saturday, October 5, from 9am to 2pm.

While you’re in town, you could drop into the Canadian Clock Museum to survey the collection of timepieces, some dating back as far as the early 1800s. The museum also houses a collection of antique record players, and if you ask nicely, staff will put some tunes on the turntables for you. The museum is open from 10am to 4pm, from Tuesday through Saturday.

For those who want to get outside and see the colours, the Town of Deep River’s website has some suggestions for hiking trails and a self-guided town walking tour.

Also that weekend, you could catch Australian guitar phenom Lloyd Spiegel in concert at the Deep River Theatre on Friday, October 4. If you’re feeling energetic on Sunday, October 6, you could take part in the Peace of Minds Walk for schizophrenia research in Pembroke or the Kitchissippi Run in Chalk River, which raises money for the Deep River and District Hospital Foundation.

Staying overnight? Options include the Deep River Motel and a cabin at the Carlins’ Mountain River Lodge.

Driving time from downtown Ottawa: Approximately two hours.

Taste of the Valley: Arnprior

Apples just begging to be made into a tasty crisp. Photo by Laura Byrne Paquet.

On Sunday, October 6, you can check out Taste of the Valley: Arnprior on John Street South (between Elgin and Madawaska streets), from 9am to 2pm. This is the final week of the 2019 season for the Arnprior Market, and some 45 vendors will be on hand.

Photo by Natalie Surette.

While you’re in “the ‘Prior,” why not swing by the Arnprior and District Museum to learn about the timber industry, Arnprior’s role in the Second World War and other local topics? You could also see the Arnprior Packers Junior B hockey team face off against the Westport Rideaus at the Nick Smith Centre; the Sunday game starts at 1:30pm. Another choice: Take a stroll along the Gillies Trail through one of the last remaining old growth forests in the Ottawa Valley and Eastern Ontario—home to some of the biggest white pine trees around. And if you’re looking for something completely different, drop by Needham’s Market Garden to watch them fire pumpkins out of a cannon three times a day on Saturday and Sunday.

You can make a weekend of it with an overnight stay at the Quality Inn or the Country Squire Motel.

Driving time from downtown Ottawa: Approximately 45 minutes.

Taste of the Valley: Cobden

Small-town charm in Cobden, Ontario.

The last event in the 2019 Taste of the Valley series is Taste of the Valley: Cobden on Saturday, October 19. You can find it at the farmers’ market at the Cobden Fairgrounds (43 Astrolabe Road) from 8am to 3pm.

Photo by Natalie Surette.

After you’ve explored the market, leave some time to stroll the village’s main street. If the weather is warm enough, make a picnic with your Taste of the Valley purchases and enjoy it at a picnic table in Veterans’ Memorial Park, overlooking Muskrat Lake. About a 20-minute drive from Cobden, you could work off some of that picnic with a scenic hike at the Shaw Woods Outdoor Education Centre.

Cobden’s main street is a lovely place for a stroll.

Later that night, Eastern Ontario musical favourite Terry Tufts will be playing at the Whitewater Brewing Company. Along with its great selection of craft beers, Whitewater also serves a delicious seasonal menu, featuring goodies such as truffle fries, fish tacos, chipotle beef burgers and vegetarian korma curry.

Photo by Valley Cycle Tours.

You could stay overnight at the Noah’s Ark-themed Logos Land Resort, located on Highway 17 just outside of Cobden. Another option is the new Whitewater Inn in neighbouring Beachburg (approximately 15 minutes from Cobden), where you can continue your retail therapy at Simple Things (home to Whitewater Candles) and Joanne Gauci’s Gallery. Pack your bicycles for some scenic country riding on two wheels around Beachburg, Westmeath and LaPasse.

Driving time from downtown Ottawa: Approximately one hour and 15 minutes.

Looking for more things to see and do in the Ottawa Valley this fall? Why not do the Madawaska Valley Studio Tour on October 5 and 6, or enjoy one of the area’s fall beer celebrations? You can also check out the website of the Ottawa Valley Tourist Association, which has sponsored this post.