Thanksgiving 2020 will likely go down as one of the most unusual Thanksgivings any of us will ever experience. That being said, the trees are still turning lovely colours, there’s still a bracing fall snap in the air, and there are still places we can go in the Ottawa area to relax, unwind and celebrate autumn.
As always, wear your mask, use your sanitizer, limit your contact with others, keep your distance and stay home if you feel at all sick.
With those caveats in mind, happy road tripping—of the real world or virtual variety—and happy Thanksgiving!
Eat locally on Wellington West
There’s still time to enjoy a few of the events organized by this year’s Taste of Wellington West food festival (running until October 10). Absinthe and the Hintonburg Public House (HPH) are offering $39 prix-fixe menus, featuring treats such as duck confit (Absinthe) and a chickpea-and-potato roti (HPH). Or you can watch a free online cooking demonstration with Ottawa at Home food editor Paula Roy—she’ll be making Thai soup on Thursday, October 8, and pickles on Friday, October 9. The festival helps support the Parkdale Food Centre.
Instagram your way around Lanark County
Yes, I did just use “Instagram” as a verb. What can I say? It’s an unprecedented year, right? And if you love the ‘Gram, grab your smartphone and snap some shots of Lanark County Tourism’s recommendations for the county’s 10 most Insta-worthy sites—including murals in Carleton Place, the Mammoth Cheese in Perth, a set of colourful Muskoka chairs in Rideau Ferry and the Dr. James Naismith statue in Almonte.
Visit a market in Kemptville, Chelsea and elsewhere
Kemptville’s outdoor night market is back this week on Thursday, October 8, from 5pm to 8pm. Browse local vendors’ stalls, enjoy live music and sip hot apple cider at the fall-themed event. COVID-19 protocols will be in place, and donations of cash and non-perishable food for the Knights of Columbus Food Bank are invited.
Several farmers’ markets in our region—including markets in Orleans, Chelsea and Eganville—are holding their last events of the 2020 season this weekend. So drop in now, or you’ll need to wait until next spring! Check my farmers’ markets list for details on which markets are currently open.
Discover the Group of Seven in Ottawa and the Ottawa Valley
Sure, you’ve probably seen the Group of Seven’s monumental landscape paintings at the National Gallery of Canada. But did you know that you can drive along a route that lets you follow the artists’ footsteps through Ottawa and the Ottawa Valley? It’s particularly timely right now, because the National Gallery of Canada currently has a show called Group of Seven: Graphic Design (running until January 3, 2021). Other suggested destinations include Manotick, Lake Clear and Bon Echo Provincial Park, among other places. If you want to include Bon Echo, do it soon, as the park closes for the season on October 18. (P.S.: A bit further afield, you can also see Group of Seven sites in Algonquin Park.)
Learn about ice ages in Ottawa
Did you know that the Earth has experienced more than one ice age? Or that there was once a creature called the American lion? Or that we’re still technically in an ice age—but perhaps not for long? If not, those are three of the many things you’ll discover in the Canadian Museum of Nature’s new exhibition, Planet Ice: Mysteries of the Ice Ages. The world-premiere show, which the museum created, takes you across 80,000 years of history via more than 120 artifacts, specimens and models. You’ll learn about woolly mammoths, cave bears, Neanderthals and more. The exhibition opened on October 2 and is scheduled to run until January 3, 2021. (If you’re wondering what the museum is like these days, check out this post about my recent visit.)
Kick back with munchies and beer in Foresters Falls
Each year, the Riverside Brew Pub in Foresters Falls—run by the Whitewater Brewing Company—is a warm-weather favourite for craft beer and local food. When the weather turns cool, it closes its doors until the next year. This weekend is your last chance in 2020 to nosh on the pub’s burgers, sandwiches, pizza and more. During the Riverside Send Off (October 10 and 11), you’ll get 10% off the pub’s entire food menu. They’ll be showing a movie on the patio on Sunday night, and the patio has heaters! Reservations recommended.
Enjoy the Ottawa International Writers Festival online
The Ottawa International Writers Festival has been running great online interviews with authors for the last few weeks. This week, highlighted authors include acclaimed novelist Barbara Kingsolver, speaking about her new book of poetry, How to Fly (in Ten Thousand Easy Lessons) at noon on Thursday, October 8; Pulitzer Prize-winning author Marilynne Robinson talking about Jack, the final novel in her Gilead series, on Sunday, October 11, at 2pm; and esteemed travel writer Pico Iyer, discussing his two recent books about Japan, also on Sunday (4pm).
Scare yourself silly in Kingston
There are still a few tickets left for this weekend’s evenings of Fort Fright, the annual haunted house attraction at Fort Henry in Kingston. I haven’t been this year, but in past years, the sheer quantity of ghosts and skeletons lurking in the historic fort’s dark stone tunnels scared the bejeepers out of me. (Granted, I do scare easily, but still.)
Create an Ontario cheese board
Want to celebrate the tastes of Ontario at home this weekend? You could order some cheese for delivery or contactless pickup—maybe from one of the stores in my big cheese shop roundup post—then create a beautiful cheese board by following the instructions in the one-minute video above by Ontario cheese ambassador Afrim Pristine (who knew there was such a cool job?).
Explore Parc Oméga by night
This is the last weekend for Oméga by Night, the 1.5-kilometre illuminated nature trail at the Parc Oméga wildlife park in Montebello, Quebec. As well as immersing yourself in nature along the route, you’ll also encounter some multimedia magic, such as a movie of a larger-than-life elk battle. The trail is open Friday and Saturday nights, and you must buy tickets online in advance. Even though this is the last weekend for the illuminated trail, don’t worry—there’s lots to do in the rest of Parc Oméga year round.
Shop for local art online
Beginning this weekend, you can buy works by local artists during the West Carleton Art Society’s Expressions of Art annual show. The online sales period runs from October 9 to October 31. You can learn more about this event, and all sorts of other galleries and studio tours, in Katharine Fletcher’s recent post.
Go stargazing, fishing or birdwatching
Observing the stars, casting a fishing line or keeping your eyes open for migrating birds are just three of the suggestions in the South Eastern Ontario tourism organization’s list of 18 ideas for family fun on the Thanksgiving weekend. The organization promotes travel along a wide swath of Eastern Ontario, from Cornwall to Prince Edward County.
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