Welcome to 2020, everyone! I hope you had a wonderful holiday break. And now that you’re all relaxed and refreshed, here are some fun things to see and do this week—everything from learning about chalk painting in Almonte or shopping for wedding finery in Kingston to snowshoeing at night through Upper Canada Village or catching a dark comedy at Ottawa Little Theatre. Have fun on your road trips near or far.
Go snowshoeing in Gatineau Park
This weekend, you could head for the hills—the Gatineau Hills, that is. On Friday evenings from January 10 until March 13, you can take a 3km evening snowshoeing hike with a naturalist in Friends of Gatineau Park’s popular Snowshoe Under the Stars program. Bring your own snowshoes or rent a pair for $5. Prices per person vary from $7 to $20, depending on your age and whether you are a Gatineau Park member. Families can register for $34 (members) to $42 (non-members). Suitable for people aged 8 or up. Reservations required.
And this Saturday marks the beginning of free daytime weekend snowshoeing hikes in Gatineau Park. On Saturdays and Sundays from January 11 to March 15 (except February 22 and 23), nature interpreters will lead free walks in French and English, weather permitting. The park will even provide snowshoes! Suitable for participants aged 8 or up. Reservations recommended.
Take a walk on the theatrical wild side in Montreal
In Montreal, the Wildside Theatre Festival (January 7 to 18) features cutting-edge shows from companies across North America—sort of like a cold-weather fringe festival. Productions this year include Confabulation, “Montreal’s premiere showcase for autobiographical storytelling”; Don’t Read the Comments, a show about sexual consent set at a live TV talk show; and Tomorrow, an audience-participation riff on Macbeth that interprets Shakespeare’s Scottish tragedy as a parable for climate change.
Get crafty in Almonte or Brockville
If you have some pieces of furniture that you’d like to refinish, you might be interested in the Chalk Paint 101 workshop on Saturday, January 11, at the Tin Barn Market in Almonte. No experience is necessary for this three-hour class, which includes tips on multiple chalk-painting and waxing techniques. You’ll also get a discount on paint.
Also on Saturday, you can make a dried flower and crystal lunar wreath (I’m not sure exactly what that is, but I’m intrigued) at a workshop at the Wild Little Roses shop in Brockville.
Enter a ski relay race in Kanata
Fundrace 2020 is, as the name says, a fundraising cross-country ski race. It’s taking place this Sunday, January 12, at the Kanata Nordic ski club, and it’s a two-person, sprint, skate-style race. Money raised goes to help local elite junior skiers get to the 2020 World Junior and U23 Championships, in Oberwiesenthal, Germany, later this winter.
Raise a glass in Niagara
It’s a bit of a hike at this time of year, but the Niagara Icewine Festival (January 10 to 26) offers three jam-packed weekends celebrating Canada’s famous dessert wine, in and around Niagara-on-the-Lake.
See a funny play in Ottawa or Wakefield
A 50-something Midwestern woman who’s lived a quiet life acquires a much-wilder roommate, newly arrived from New York City. That’s the premise of The Roommate, a dark comedy by Jen Silverman on stage at Ottawa Little Theatre from January 8 to 25 (see the theatre’s website for show times).
Also this weekend, Théâtre Wakefield is staging The Savannah Sipping Society at the Centre Wakefield La Pêche. The comedy centres on four strangers who meet on a verandah in Savannah and trade tales of their lives. You can catch an evening show on Friday, January 10, or at a matinée or evening performance on Saturday, January 11.
Get wedding ideas in Kingston
Engaged couples might want to check out the Timeless Memories Bridal Show at the Kingston campus of St. Lawrence College on Sunday, January 12, where complimentary goodies will include swag bags and admission.
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 11, 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 $35 until January 9 and $45 on race day.
Dance the night away in Almonte
So your New Year’s resolution is to exercise more often, but you can’t face the gym? Why not dance? It seems like a lot more fun. Grab your dancing shoes and head to the Almonte Fair’s annual dance at the Almonte Civitan Hall on Saturday, January 11. You get live music by the Glen Silverson Band, a silent auction and a light lunch, all for $15 in advance or $18 at the door.
Admire watercolours in Chelsea
Watercolours for All, a new show of works by members of the Ottawa Watercolour Society, is opening on Friday, January 10, at the Old Chelsea Gallery in Chelsea. It runs until Wednesday, January 29.
Get gnarly with ’80s tunes in Ottawa
OK, I was actually a teenager in the ’80s, and I never once heard anyone say “gnarly” outside of a Hollywood movie. I did, however, listen to my fair share of Wham! and Huey Lewis. Now, I’m officially old, as the NAC Orchestra will be playing these and other tunes of my youth this week at three ’80s Mix Tape concerts (January 9 to 11). Fans are invited to dress up in all their best vintage gear. Dig out those leg warmers and shoulder pads, my friends. And once again, thank your lucky stars that cell phone cameras hadn’t been invented yet when we wore this stuff without irony.
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 2020 Hobbies and Miniatures Festival at the Galeries Aylmer on January 11 and 12, where you’ll find model trains, a flea market and more.
Want more tips on road trips from Ottawa—including info on hotel discounts, contests, festivals and other cool news? Subscribe to my free weekly e-newsletter! I will never spam you—promise.