In Ottawa and beyond, real or virtual, there’s lots of fun to be had this Halloween week. You can get an online jump on your Christmas shopping, take a ghost tour in Smiths Falls, tune into interviews with Afro-Canadian authors, or enjoy pancakes with maple syrup in Pakenham. As always, if you’re venturing into the “real world,” mask up and stay safe. And Happy Halloween!
Walk with ghosts in Smiths Falls
The Smiths Falls Heritage House Museum is running candlelit ghost tours of the house on various dates between now and November 6. Thrill to chilling tales of local haunted houses, international intrigue and more. Advance ticket purchase required.
Meet authors online at a virtual book fair
The third annual Salon du Livre Afro-Canadien (Afro-Canadian Book Fair) is happening online this year. Roughly 40 authors will be participating in online interviews, book launches, round tables, youth events and more. Featured authors include Didier Leclair, Blais Ndala and Yolanda T. Marshall. Most sessions are in French. The book fair runs from October 29 to November 1.
Peek behind the scenes at the Canadian Museum of Nature
Ever wondered how scientists, conservators and curators collect, preserve and organize the 14.6 million artifacts of the Canadian Museum of Nature? The museum recently released a virtual tour of its huge research and collections facility.
Celebrate Halloween
Yes, I’ve mentioned all of these in previous posts or newsletters! But just in case you missed them and are looking for some Halloween fun this weekend, here are six things to try.
- Cedar Hill Christmas Tree Farm: This is the last weekend for this Pakenham-area farm’s fall celebrations. As well as pancakes and maple syrup on the porch, you can enjoy hikes, wagon rides and socially distanced shopping.
- Pumpkin Fest: This is also your last weekend to enjoy Pumpkin Fest at Proulx Farm in Cumberland. Giant tricycles, wagon rides, a petting farm, corn mazes and a haunted house are among the family-friendly activities. There’s also a farm boutique.
- Acres of Terror: A few tickets are still available for daytime or after-dark scares at Cannamore Orchard in Crysler.
- Saunders Farm: This farm in Munster is offering mazes, a drive-through FrightFest and lots more.
- Deadwood Haunted Drive: You can try this scary drive-through experience at Wesley Clover Parks in Nepean.
- Virtual Haunted Campfires: Listen to storytellers from the Haunted Walk of Ottawa and other ghostly tour companies spin scary tales online.
Check out an online market
Ottawa’s Square Lemon Artistic Association has some online shopping fun in store this week when it will host its Wicked Virtual Market from October 29 through 31. The local crafters in the group make tote bags, face masks, soap, jewellery, stationery, beauty products and more. If you prefer to shop in person, the association also runs a pop-up store from 1pm to 4pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and alternate Saturdays (including this Saturday, October 31) at 877A Boyd Avenue.
And although Halloween isn’t even over yet, I know there are some die-hard Christmas fans out there who just can’t wait to get a jump on their favourite holiday. If that’s you, I have good news: Watson’s Mill is taking its popular Christmas market online this year. Featuring items from local artisans and crafters, it will run from November 1 to December 6.
See thought-provoking art at the National Gallery
The National Gallery of Canada is presenting Moyra Davey: The Faithful until January 3, 2021. The exhibition showcases photographs and films by the Canadian conceptual artist, who draws her inspiration from sources as divergent as philosophers and piles of old vinyl records. The show includes screenings of her new film, i confess, which reflects her life in Quebec in the 1970s and 1980s.
Bake Halloween cookies inspired by the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
The Canada Agriculture and Food Museum is open, with exhibitions focusing on everything from rural women in Latin America to the ways space exploration benefits farmers. If you’d rather experience the museum from home, though, check out its collection of Halloween baking and craft projects. (Just wait until your kids find out they can make a candy rainbow, pumpkin cookies, caramel apples or pumpkin spice playdough!)
Looking for more ideas for things to see and do—in the real world or online—in and around Ottawa? Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter.