September is a lovely month for taking a day trip or a weekend getaway from Ottawa. The leaves are starting to turn, the weather isn’t quite so sultry, and there are so many festivals and events that it’s truly hard to keep track of them all. From CityFolk in Ottawa and the hot air balloon festival in Gatineau to Gardens of Light in Montreal, concerts and plays galore, two fibre festivals, and all sorts of studio tours and fall fairs, there’s more than enough to amuse just about anyone.
I’ll keep adding to this post as the month goes on, so check back often for the latest news. And happy travels!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Week of August 29 to September 4
- Week of September 5 to 11
- Week of September 12 to 18
- Week of September 19 to 25
- Week of September 26 to October 2
WEEK OF AUGUST 29 TO SEPTEMBER 4
Have a horsey weekend in Morrisburg
Horse Lovers’ Weekend at Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg (September 3 to 5, 9:30am to 5pm) showcases horses and riding techniques of all descriptions. You can see driving horses, riding horses, and work horses doing their thing, enjoy a wagon ride, check out a stagecoach presentation, shop from local vendors, and more. And on Sunday, September 4, there will be a performance by the RCMP Musical Ride. This is one of Upper Canada Village’s most popular events of the year, so you’ll probably want to buy your tickets in advance. The event is included with your museum admission, which is $15 for kids aged 5 to 12, $18 for students aged 13 to 18, and $24 for adults; HST will be added to all prices. Children 4 and under are admitted free. You’ll find Upper Canada Village at 13740 County Road 2 in Morrisburg.
Go mountain biking in the Adirondacks
The Wilmington Mountain Bike Festival will take keen mountain bikers along forest trails in the Adirondacks this weekend (September 2 to 4). As well as hurtling down more than 40 kilometres of trails in group rides and races for all levels (including a kids’ race), you can camp, and enjoy live music, local food and beer.
Fly high at the Festival de montgolfières de Gatineau
To me, the Labour Day weekend is a bit magical: It’s the one weekend of the year I can look up and be almost guaranteed to see something like a giant ice cream cone or a large pink elephant drifting overhead. That’s thanks to the Festival de montgolfières de Gatineau (AKA the Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival) (September 1 to 5) at Parc de la Baie on rue Saint-Antoine. If you want to enjoy a balloon ride, book ahead and be prepared to arrive at the crack of dawn (afternoon flights are available, too, but the weather can be trickier at that time of day). Throughout the weekend, you can enjoy everything from fireworks and a big midway to live music (including Wyclef Jean on Sunday), an artisans’ fair, a silent disco and wrestling matches. Tickets and passes are available at a wide range of prices, and some activities—such as the midway and balloon rides—cost extra.
Get your blues fix in Alexandria Bay
Blues in the Bay (September 2 to 5) brings bluesy grooves to Upper James Street in Alexandria Bay, New York. As well as four days of free concerts, there will be a craft fair on Saturday and Sunday. The music starts Friday at 6pm and there are shows at various times until the festival wraps up on Monday at 4pm.
Eat, drink and be merry at an Eastern Townships festival
The Fête des Vendanges at Pointe Merry Park in Magog (September 3 to 5, and September 10 and 11) showcases some 80 food and beverage exhibitors from across the Eastern Townships area of Quebec and beyond. There will be tastings, a craft fair, food trucks and more, all on the shore of Lake Memphrémagog. The event runs from 11am to 6pm each day, and tickets (which are good for all five days of the festival) start at $25 per person.
Catch a concert at Tremblant
The hills of Mont Tremblant will be alive with the sound of music this weekend during La Fête de la Musique de Tremblant (September 2 to 5). Concerts will range across Canadian and international musical genres, from classical music and flamenco to world music for children and African hip-hop. Choose from more than 30 performances on stages across Tremblant, all for free.
Have fun at a fair in Shawville, Perth or Newington
Feel like a fair?
Kim Mitchell, Aaron Goodvin and Kelli Trottier are among the musical entertainers at the Shawville Fair (September 1 to 5). There’s lots here for kids, as the event bills itself as the Valley’s most family-friendly fair.
Fun at the Perth Fair (September 2 to 5) includes lawn mower races, zucchini car races (!) and shows by the Woofjocks Canine All-Stars, as well as concerts by Ambush, the Ramblers and more.
At the Stormont County Fair in Newington (September 2 to 5), highlights include live music, a parade, a dog show, tractor pulls and a lipsynch show.
All three fairs offer a midway, a demolition derby, livestock competitions and lots more. (Looking for more fairs in September and October? Check out my extensive list of fairs.)
Eat burgers everywhere
If hamburgers are your thing, you’ll love Le Burger Week (September 1 to 14)—which, you may notice, actually lasts two weeks! Restaurants across Canada will be serving up unique versions of the popular barbecue staple, with a special focus on plant-based options.
Get some garlic in Verona
The Verona Lions Club is holding its annual Garlic Festival at 4504 Verona Sand Road in Verona (about 20 minutes north of Kingston) on Saturday, September 3, from 9am to 2pm. Shop for all things garlic, and see who wins the prize for best bulb and best braid.
See award-winning photography in Montreal
Judges sifted through thousands of photos submitted by photographers around the world to select prize-winning images, which will be on display at the World Press Photo exhibition at Montreal’s Bonsecours Market (August 31 to October 2). The show will be open daily until 10pm and until midnight on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets are $12 for students and seniors and $15 for everyone else, plus tax (children 12 and under are admitted free). Tickets are available at the door only, and only by credit or debit (no cash payments accepted).
Eat barbecue in Lake Placid
The name pretty much says it all: The I Love BBQ and Music Festival in Lake Placid (September 2 to 4) serves up lots of live music and lots of grilled goodies. There will be beer and wrestling, too. The event at the North Elba Showgrounds (5514 Cascade Road, Lake Placid) is a fundraiser for the Shipman Youth Center. General admission is US$6 (it goes up to US$15 from 5pm to 9pm on Friday night, because there’s a concert) and children under 10 get in for free. Hours vary.
Admire Gardens of Light in Montreal
The annual Gardens of Light extravaganza opens at the Montreal Botanical Garden (4101 Sherbrooke Street East, Montreal) on Friday, September 2, and runs nightly from 7pm to 10pm until Monday, October 31. If you’ve never checked it out before—and even if you have—you are in for a treat. See displays of huge, elaborate lanterns in the Chinese Garden; ethereal, atmospheric lighting in the Japanese Garden; and an exploration of the seasons of life in the First Nations Garden.
This event is very popular, so I’d recommend buying your timed tickets in advance online. Regular general-admission tickets for adults are $22; prices for other ages and for family groups vary. The tickets include admission to the rest of the garden during the day.
Find art and/or antiques in Merrickville, Maberly and Prince Edward County
The Sundance Artisan Show (September 3 to 5) is taking place in a wooded setting along a riverbank about 15 minutes southwest of Perth (126 Maberly-Elphin Road at Highway 7, Maberly). Browse for pottery, soap, jewellery, stained glass, paintings and more from 40 local artists, . The show runs from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, and from 10am to 2pm on Monday. Admission and parking are free.
On Saturday, September 3, the Merrickville Antique and Artisan Show (Merrickville Fairgrounds, 106 Read Street) features dealers from across Ontario and Quebec, and also includes a classic car display. It runs from 10am to 5pm, and tickets are $7 (children under 12 admitted free).
More than two dozen artists and artisans are participating in the Rednersville Road Art Tour (September 3 to 5). Drive from studio to studio to browse for watercolours, sculptures, hooked rugs, jewellery and many other types of pieces. So where the heck is Rednersville Road? It hugs the shore of the Bay of Quinte in Prince Edward County. The studios will be open from 10am to 5pm each day.
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 5 TO SEPTEMBER 11
Savour fine food in Carleton Place or Kingston
On Sunday, September 11, the Lanark County Harvest Festival comes to Beckwith Park (1319 9th Line, Carleton Place). The fun will include cooking demonstrations, live music, a petting zoo, community displays and bouncy castles. The festival runs from 11am to 4pm, and admission is free.
See celebrities at Ottawa ComicCon
If you’re a superfan of comics and SF, you probably already know that Ottawa ComicCon is coming back to the EY Centre (4899 Uplands Drive) from September 9 to 11. But did you know that some pretty big names will be there signing autographs, posing for photos, or otherwise seeing and being seen? They include actors Carey Elwes (The Princess Bride), Christina Chong (Star Trek: Strange New Worlds), James Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel), Lou Ferrigno (The Incredible Hulk) and Denise Crosby (Star Trek: The Next Generation), and comic creators Janet Hetherington, Mark Shainblum and Geof Isherwood. And, of course, you can shop for comics, collectibles and lots of other merch, too. Tickets start at $13.58 for youth and $25 for adults. Hours vary, depending on whether you have a regular, deluxe or VIP pass.
Nosh on barbecue in Barrhaven or Kingston
The Ottawa Kosher BBQ Cook-Off and Festival is the only kosher barbecue competition in Canada, and it’s coming to the Ottawa Torah Centre Chabad (111 Lamplighters Drive, Barrhaven) on Sunday, September 11, from noon to 7pm. As well as a food court serving up lots of grilled goodies, there will be live music, cooking demonstrations, a kids’ zone with bouncy castles and carnival games, and more. Free admission.
At the Kingston Ribfest and Craft Beer Show (September 9 to 11), you can buy chicken and ribs barbecued by five top ribbers, along with other treats like ice cream, corn on the cob and craft beer. This event at Memorial Centre Park (303 York Street, Kingston) includes a kids’ fun zone and lots of live music, too. Admission is free, but the kids’ zone requires tickets or an all-day wristband. The event is open on Friday from 4pm to 9pm, Saturday from noon to 9pm, and Sunday from noon to 6pm.
See a play in Morrisburg, Gananoque or Kingston
The Upper Canada Playhouse (12320 County Road 2, Morrisburg) is staging Come Down From Up River, a Norm Foster comedy about a loner New Brunswick logger who moves in with his estranged niece and her wife. It runs from September 8 to October 2, and tickets range from $25 to $36.
Honour Beat tells the story of two Indigenous sisters who try to heal the rift between them—and the lingering impacts of colonialism—when they meet at their mother’s bedside. It’s on stage at the Firehall Theatre (185 South Street, Gananoque) of the 1000 Islands Playhouse from September 8 to 25. Tickets range from $19 to $33.
Domino Theatre is presenting The Savannah Sipping Society from Thursday through Saturday, from September 8 to 24. The comedy focuses on four Southern women who bond over happy hour and decide to take their lives in new directions. Domino Theatre is at 52 Church Street in Kingston, and tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students/children. Shows run at 7:30pm each evening except September 24, when there will be a 2pm matinée instead.
Tour a tall ship in Ogdensburg
This is the inaugural year of Old River Fest, a celebration of the St. Lawrence River in Ogdensburg, New York, on Saturday, September 10, from 10am to 6:30pm. A highlight of the festival will be the chance to tour the Nao Trinidad, a replica of the flagship of Ferdinand Magellan’s famous around-the-world voyage in the early 1500s. Visitors to the tall ship will learn about the historical and modern lives of the sailors on board. The Saturday festival at Morrisette Park (2 Caroline Street, Ogdensburg) will also feature food trucks, live music, a vendors’ fair and kids’ activities, and admission is free. Tours of the ship do require tickets, which are $15 for adults and $5 for kids aged 5 to 12 (children under 5 are admitted free).
There will also be all sorts of other activities happening in Ogdensburg throughout the weekend, including a block party on Friday, a 5K run on Saturday and a plein-air painting event on Sunday. Tours of the Nao Trinidad will be available daily between 10am and 6:3pm from September 7 to September 11.
Visit a farm in Quebec or Frontenac
Farms across Quebec will be participating in a “doors open” event on September 10 and 11. Depending on the site, you might see cows being milked, learn about orchard management, sample wine, ride a tractor or discover all sorts of other things about farm life. (Website is in French.)
On September 10 and 11, farms in Verona, Harrowsmith, Mississippi Station, Arden and Kingston, and on Wolfe Island, will be participating in a similar event, Open Farms in Frontenac. Note that you must buy tickets in advance by September 6; no tickets will be sold onsite.
Thrill to a powwow on Cornwall Island
The Akwesasne International Powwow (September 10 and 11) brings Indigenous dancers, drummers, crafters and food vendors to Cornwall Island for a busy weekend. Visitors can see watch competitions, shop the vendors’ market and more. The gates open at 10am each day, parking is free and there’s a free shuttle bus from nearby Cornwall. Admission is $8 for visitors aged 13 to 64, $5 for those aged 6 to 12, and free for everyone else. An all-weekend pass is $12.
Meet authors in the Pontiac region of the Outaouais
The Get the Word Out Literacy Festival on Saturday, September 10, will feature six local authors discussing their work. It’s happening at Mill Dam Park (74 Clarendon, Shawville) from 10am to 4pm, and admission is free.
Enjoy music in Ashton, Mallorytown or Burnstown
Lynn Miles and Dean Batstone are playing the newish location of Batstone’s Northern Ramble (616 Kidd Road, Ashton) on Friday, September 9. The former schoolhouse on Ottawa’s western edge has a seating capacity of just 30, ensuring this will be an intimate concert with the local singer-songwriters. The doors open at 7:30pm, the show starts at 8pm and tickets are $30.
Happy Acres Campground near Brockville (2 Green Acres Road, Mallorytown) is hosting the Big River Classic Country Festival from September 8 to 10. Single-day passes start at $33.77, and all-weekend passes and camping packages are also available.
Steve Marriner of MonkeyJunk will be playing a live outdoor show at the Neat Cafe (1715 Calabogie Road, Burnstown) on Friday, September 9. Tickets (show only) are $30 and the show starts at 7pm. A limited number of dinner-plus-show reservations are also available.
See classic cars and motorcycles in Alexandria Bay
The Rollin’ Street Thunder Hogs and Rods Show (Sunday, September 11) gives you the chance to see lots of vintage cars and motorbikes in Alexandria Bay. The whole event has a ’50s theme, so there will be lots of classic tunes, too.
Take a historical walk in Beechwood Cemetery
I may be odd, but I’ve always loved walking through cemeteries (OK, maybe not at night on Halloween, but generally). I find them both fascinating and tranquil. If you do, too, then here’s an event for you: the annual historical tour at Ottawa’s Beechwood Cemetery (280 Beechwood Avenue) on Sunday, September 11. Actors in period costume will tell the stories of four notable Ottawa women buried at Beechwood. Unlike past years, this isn’t a “tour,” per se; it will be a show on a stage behind the Mausoleum. The English show starts at 2pm, and the French one at 3:30. A singer will be performing for half an hour before each show. Admission is free and no registration is required. BYOC (bring your own chair).
Experience a pioneer-style harvest festival in Dunvegan
The Harvest Fall Festival at the Glengarry Pioneer Museum (1645 County Road 30, Dunvegan) on Sunday, September 11 (10am to 4pm) usually draws big crowds. This year, you can enjoy pioneer harvest and craft demonstrations, live music, children’s activities, and other fun. You can also shop for baking, preserves and plants, and bring a picnic or buy fresh food on site. The festival is a great chance to visit the museum’s heritage buildings, too.
And this year, you can try your luck at a cow pie raffle. Don’t worry—you won’t have to bring a smelly souvenir home; you’ll just have to bet on where a wandering cow will leave a, um, pie, and you could win a cash prize.
The museum is encouraging people to buy tickets in advance online to reduce congestion at the gate. Ticket prices range from $5 to $10 for individuals to $15 to $25 per family and include museum admission. (Looking for more things to do in the area? Check out my route through Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry in my post about great fall drives.)
Knit, spin or weave up a storm in Almonte
The ever-popular Fibrefest is returning to Almonte on September 10 and 11. It’s such a draw that it is spread across two locations: the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum (3 Rosamond Street East) and the Almonte Community Centre (182 Bridge Street). Come learn about knitting, rug hooking, spinning, weaving, quilting and other fibre arts. The festival runs from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday, and admission is $7 per person per day. There are also workshops from Wednesday through Sunday, which you’ll need to sign up for in advance.
Cycle through Prince Edward County
Feeling energetic? You can sign up for a 50K, 100K or 150K bike ride through scenic Prince Edward County on Saturday, September 10, as part of the County Gran Fondo event. Registration prices range from $140 to $180 if you register by August 31 and go up by $20 per participant after that date.
Celebrate fall in Cumberland
Travel back in time to the 1920s and 1930s at Fall into Harvest, a special event at the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum on Saturday, September 10 from 10am to 5pm. You’re invited to dress in period costume and bring your dancing shoes to do a little square dancing to live music. There will also be special activities and demonstrations that bring the past to life. The event is included with museum admission, which is $6 for youth, students and seniors; $8.50 for all other adults; and $21.50 per family (two adults plus kids under 18). Children 5 and under are admitted free.
Enjoy a street festival in New Edinburgh
The New Edinburgh StreetFest (Saturday, September 10, from 10 am to 4 pm) is a brand-new event in the downtown Ottawa neighbourhood. The fun kicks off with an opening ceremony featuring pipers and singers. During the day, you can browse for works by local artists, see dance performances, enjoy music by harpists and a 19-piece jazz band, learn about New Edinburgh’s past through talks by historians, or take a self-guided walking tour of the ‘hood. You can also nosh on barbecue goodies (free with your ticket), ice cream and lemonade, or hit a beer and wine garden. The event, organized by IODE Laurentian, will raise funds for the Inuuqatigiit Centre for Inuit Children, Youth and Families in Vanier. Tickets are $30 and are available on the IODE’s website, at Books on Beechwood and from other outlets.
Enjoy folk music in Ottawa or classical music in PEC
This year, the CityFolk Festival at Lansdowne Park (1015 Bank Street, Ottawa) stretches across two weekends: September 8 to 10, and September 15 to 17. The lineup on the first weekend includes Kathleen Edwards, The Glorious Sons and T-Pain. Day passes, multi-show passes and full festival passes are available at a range of prices.
This is also the first full weekend of the Prince Edward County Chamber Music Festival (September 9 to 11, and September 15 to 18); ticket prices vary.
See the RCMP Musical Ride and more in Russell
The RCMP Musical Ride is giving a performance at the Russell Fairgrounds (1076 Concession Street, Russell) on Saturday, September 10, starting at 5pm. Tickets are $10 for those aged 14 and up, $5 for kids aged 5 to 13, and free for children under 5, and are available at various stores in Russell and Embrun. That same night at the fairgrounds, you can also enjoy Russell Art at Night, which includes an artisans’ night market (4pm to 8pm), and live music and a bar tent (7:30pm to 10:30pm).
Have fun at a fair in Spencerville, Renfrew or Picton
Fall fair season is in full swing, giving farmers the chance to showcase the best of their livestock and produce.
The Spencerville Fair (September 8 to 11) has a parade, a midway, live music, chainsaw-carving demonstrations, livestock shows and more. Hours and ticket prices vary by the day; opening day admission is by donation.
Entertainment at the Renfrew Fair (September 8 to 11) includes concerts by Little Bones and Leahy Next Generation, a midway, a demolition derby, and livestock shows. It’s all happening at the Renfrew Fairgrounds, 115 Veterans Memorial Boulevard. Admission is $5 for visitors 10 and under, and $10 for everyone else, with an early-bird deal if you buy by September 2. Parking is $5. Gates open daily at 9am; closing times vary.
Down in Prince Edward County, the Picton Fair (September 9 to 11) features both a dog show and a mini horse show, as well as a midway, live music, a bake-off, a baby show and more. The fairgrounds are at 375 Main Street East in Picton. Gates open daily at 8:30am; buildings close at 10pm on Friday and Saturday, and 5pm on Sunday. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students aged 13 to 17, and free for kids 12 and under. Parking is free with fair admission.
Looking for more fairs this month? Check out my comprehensive list of summer and fall fairs!
Channel your inner Celt in Syracuse
The Syracuse Irish Festival will be lighting up Clinton Square with lots and lots of Celtic music on September 9 and 10, including a show by Toronto-based Celtic rockers Enter the Haggis.
Sip soup in suburban Montreal
Do you like soup? I mean, really like soup? Then the Festival de la S.O.U.P.E. de Vaudreuil-Soulanges (on the west side of Montreal) on Saturday, September 10, will be your cup of chowder. You can taste all kinds of soups by local chefs and vote for your favourite, while enjoying entertainment in Parc historique Pointe-du-Moulin (2500, boulevard Don-Quichotte, Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot) on the shore of the St. Lawrence. The soup fest runs from noon until 4pm, and here’s a tip: Later that evening, there will be a comedy show with François Massicotte and Martin Petit at 7pm, followed by fireworks at 9pm, as part of the Notre-Dame-en-Fête celebration.
Catch the film festival in Toronto
It’s like an all-you-can-eat-and-then-some buffet for movie lovers: the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) pretty much takes over Toronto from September 8 to 18. My husband and I went a few years ago, and it was a blast. You really have to experience it to believe it: hundreds of movies in more than a dozen theatres across the core, with enthusiastic fans lining up for hours and discussing their favourite flicks. As usual, you can choose from films from around the world (this year, source countries include Poland, Tunisia and Japan) or catch an Oscar-bait Hollywood flick (stars in this year’s entries include Viola Davis, Russell Crowe, Anna Kendrick and Anthony Hopkins). Some films are available to stream at home. Prices of passes and tickets vary.
Put on your dancing shoes in Ottawa-Gatineau
The Latin Sparks Festival on Saturday, September 10, is a one-day celebration of cultures from the Rio Grande to the tip of South America. Dance to salsa, reggaeton and more courtesy of DJs and live bands, and if you’re not sure of the steps, don’t worry—there will be dance lessons! Food and drink vendors will be dishing up Central and South American cuisine and cocktails, too. General admission tickets are $49.99, but there are significant discounts if you buy your tickets in blocks of four or 10. The festival is happening at LeBreton Flats from 3pm to 11pm.
Meanwhile, across the Ottawa River in Gatineau, the Riverside Festival is coming to the grounds of the Canadian Museum of History (100 Laurier Street, Gatineau) from September 9 to 11. This three-day festival of electronic music features a big list of DJs, lots of food trucks and multiple bars. One-day passes start at $75, and all-day festival passes are available, too.
Sample wine in Alexandria Bay, New York
At the Wine Festival and Farmers’ Market in Alexandria Bay, New York, on Saturday, September 10, you can sample a variety of wines and enjoy live entertainment in the well-named Scenic View Park (8 Fuller Street), which overlooks the St. Lawrence River. The market runs from 11am to 4pm and tickets are US$10. Admission is limited to visitors aged 21 and over.
Catch a film festival in Quebec City
The Quebec City Film Festival (September 8 to 11) will be screening dozens of features and short films from Canada and abroad, with a special focus on Quebec movies. Individual tickets range from $15 to $25 per movie.
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 12 TO SEPTEMBER 18
Catch a concert at Watson’s Mill
Cuban-Canadian jazz pianist Miguel de Armas is giving a concert at Watson’s Mill (5525 Dickinson Street, Manotick) on Thursday, September 15. Start time is 7:30pm and tickets are $40 per person.
Visit farms across Renfrew County
If you like learning more about farmers and the food they produce, you won’t want to miss the first-ever Farms Open Renfrew County event on Sunday, September 18. Farms from Deep River and Combermere to Calabogie and Renfrew will be opening their doors to visitors, for free. You’ll have the chance to chat with farmers, enjoy tastings, meet the animals and take tours. The farms will be open from 10am to 4pm.
Enjoy live music in Ottawa or Prince Edward County
The September 15 to 17 lineup at the CityFolk Festival at Lansdowne Park (1015 Bank Street, Ottawa) includes Sarah Harmer, Matt Mays and John Fogerty. Day passes, multi-show passes and full festival passes are available at a range of prices.
Over the same weekend, there are also four music festivals in Prince Edward County. The Sandbanks Music Festival at Sandbanks Provincial Park on Saturday, September 17, features a wide range of performers (including headliners Born Ruffians) and runs from 2pm to 8pm; tickets start at $30. If classical music is more your style, it’s also the second full weekend of the Prince Edward County Chamber Music Festival (September 15 to 18); ticket prices vary. And in Cherry Valley, the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s Rock ‘n’ Roll Festival (September 15 to 17) is presenting three days of classic rock. Day passes start at $25 and a variety of other tickets are available (some include camping). And finally, the Consecon Porchfest (Saturday, September 17) offers a wide range of free performances on the western tip of the County.
Enjoy a food festival at Ottawa City Hall or in Orleans
Harvest: A Feast of Fall is a fundraiser for Ottawa Community Food Partnerships that’s coming to the plaza outside Ottawa City Hall (110 Laurier Avenue West) on Wednesday, September 14. You can sample farm-to-table-inspired dishes by 15 high-profile local chefs and sip on craft beverages. There will be live music, too. Tickets start at $95 + HST, and the event runs from 6:30pm until 11pm (with an extra hour for VIP ticket holders starting at 5:30pm).
If you love barbecue and/or gravy-covered fries, head east this weekend for the Orleans RibFest and PoutineFest (September 16 to 18) to enjoy ribs, pulled pork, barbecued chicken, live music, mini donuts, a beverage garden, a market village and more. It’s happening at Centrum Plaza, 255 Centrum Boulevard in Orleans.
Choose from three fall fairs
Looking for a fall fair this weekend? You’re spoiled for choice!
The Lyndhurst Turkey Fair (Saturday, September 17) serves up music on four stages, kids’ activities and more.
Dating back to 1844, the Richmond Fair (September 15 to 18) offers a parade, a demolition derby, a silent disco, concerts, a midway and more. It runs from 4pm to 10:30pm on Thursday, 9am to midnight on Friday, 9am to 11pm on Saturday, and 9am to 5pm on Sunday. Day tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for kids aged 7 to 12; kids 6 and under are admitted free.
Upper Canada Village’s Fall Fair Weekend (September 17 and 18) gives you the chance to experience an 1860s-style fair, complete with music and magic shows, craft and culinary competitions (using 19th-century rules), Victorian games, and more. The event runs from 9:30am to 5pm on both days. It’s included with your museum admission, which is $15 for kids aged 5 to 12, $18 for students aged 13 to 18, and $24 for adults; HST will be added to all prices. Children 4 and under are admitted free. You’ll find Upper Canada Village at 13740 County Road 2 in Morrisburg.
The Middleville Fair (Saturday, September 17) also features many livestock competitions; the fair theme this year is “Tractors, Tools and Trucks.”
And at the Milford Fair in Prince Edward County (Saturday, September 17), along with a parade, bingo, pumpkin painting and a dog show, you can enjoy an event called Country Folk Chucking Stuff. (Where else are you going to see non-angry people throwing cast-iron frying pans?) Plus, tickets are a steal, at just $5 for adults and $1 for high school students. (Elementary school students and younger kids get in for free.
Looking for more ideas? Check out my big list of local fairs.
Discover lost villages in Long Sault
On Sunday, September 17, the Lost Villages Museum in Long Sault is running a guided bus tour focusing on the history of the communities that were intentionally flooded during the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway. The tour will be led by author Maggie Wheeler, whose Farran Mackenzie mysteries are set in the area. The four-hour trip starts at noon and concludes with a church tea reception, and tickets are $72.
Check out the Fifty-Five Plus Lifestyle Show in Ottawa
Looking for ideas for your next long-distance vacation? Travel agencies and tourist boards are among the many exhibitors at the Fifty-Five Plus Lifestyle Show at the EY Centre (4899 Uplands Drive, Ottawa) on September 16 and 17. You can also enjoy step dancing and fiddling by the Fitzgeralds, and standup comedy by Brian Hatt. The show runs from 10am to 4pm both days, and tickets are available on the website.
Celebrate apples in Iroquois and Appleton
The Iroquois Apple Festival on Saturday, September 17, promises something for the whole family, including an apple breakfast, two barbecues, craft and colouring contests, and an evening parade. Some events are free; prices for others vary. Events are taking place in several locations in the small community; check the link above for details.
On Sunday, September 18, the North Lanark Regional Museum (647 River Road, Mississippi Mills) in the village of Appleton is holding an Apple Pie Fest and Classic Car Show from 2pm to 4pm. For a $10 ticket, you can stroll around the museum, enjoy a slice of apple pie with vanilla ice cream and admire vintage cars.
Buy a glass pumpkin at Lansdowne Park
On Saturday, September 17, from 10am to 4pm, 613flea returns to Lansdowne Park (1015 Bank Street, Ottawa). Along with browsing for everything from antiques to baked goods at more than 130 stalls, you can check out a special sale of more than 300 unique, hand-blown glass pumpkins made by members of Ottawa Glassblowing Co-op. Prices start at $25 and go to $300, and proceeds will help finance the Co-op’s move to a new studio space. Admission to 613flea is free.
Get artsy with studio tours
If you love paintings, pottery, jewellery, sculptures and all sorts of other creative works, you have three artists’ studio tours to choose from this week:
- West End Studio Tour in Ottawa’s Westboro and Wellington West (September 17, 18, 24 and 25);
- the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour, southwest of Bancroft (September 17 and 18); and
- the Bancroft Studio Tour (September 17, 18, 24 and 25).
Enjoy a dinner-dance in Lombardy
Put on your dancing shoes and bring your appetite! The Barn Dance and BBQ at the Lombardy Agricultural Barn in Lombardy (Saturday, September 17) includes a hip of beef dinner, an auction and live music by Doubleback. There’s a shuttle service between Smiths Falls and Lombardy. Tickets are $20 for just the dance, and $30 for the dance and dinner.
See new movies in Sudbury
Cinéfest Sudbury (September 17 to 25) will be showing a diverse range of features, documentaries, shorts and animated films, including gala presentations. Single tickets start at $17.50; a variety of passes and packages are also available.
Shop for gemstones, fossils and jewellery in Nepean
The Ottawa Lapsmith and Mineral Club is hosting its annual Gem and Mineral Show at the Nepean Sportsplex (1701 Woodroffe Avenue) on September 17 and 18. Shop for gems, fossils, beads, jewellery, equipment and more, and check out the demonstrations and hands-on activities. The show runs from 10am to 6pm on Saturday, and 10am to 5pm on Friday, and admission is $8 (free for those 12 and under).
Discover new tastes in Pembroke, Saint-Eustache or Lowville
On Saturday, September 17, bring your appetite to the Laurentian Valley’s Fall Flavours Festival at the Alice & Fraser Recreation Centre (1 Henan Road, Pembroke). This fundraiser for recreational programs will feature food trucks, culinary contests, craft beer and spirits, and live entertainment.
Meanwhile, Saint-Eustache in suburban Montreal is holding a whole festival dedicated to the buckwheat pancakes called galettes, as well as to regional cuisine in general. And La Festival de la Galette et des Saveurs du Terroir (September 17 and 18) is free!
Never heard of Lowville, New York? I hadn’t, either, until—years ago—an alert friend made me aware of the Lowville Cream Cheese Festival (Saturday, September 17, 10am to 6pm). It’s a bit scaled down this year, due to social distancing, but I suspect there will still be lots and lots of cheesecake (the festival made it into the Guinness Book of World Records in 2013 for producing the world’s largest cheesecake). Lowville is about 2 hours and 45 minutes south of Ottawa; cross the St. Lawrence River at Ogdensburg.
Shop and stroll in Kingston
One of Kingston’s main shopping streets will become a big, pedestrians-only festival during the Fall Princess Street Promenade from 10am to 5pm on Saturday, September 17.
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 19 TO SEPTEMBER 25
Check out a HUGE rural event in Kemptville
The International Plowing Match and Rural Expo (September 20 to 24), the largest event of its type in North America, will be the biggest event ever held in North Grenville. How big is it? As well as the namesake plowing competitions—horse drawn and tractor drawn—the five-day event will include displays of antiques and historical machinery; a quilting tent and a quilt raffle; hundreds of vendors and exhibitors proffering everything from home decor and artisanal food to cars and tractors; a 120-acre RV park; and live entertainment. Organizers expect some 75,000 people to come check it out.
The site will be open from 8:30am to 5pm daily. Advance one-day tickets (on sale until September 6) will be $20 for visitors 16 and older and $5 for those aged 6 to 15; children 5 and under will be admitted free. At the gate, one-day tickets will be $25 for adults; other prices remain the same.
Catch a cat show in Nepean
The Ottawa Valley Cat Club’s annual Ottawa Cat Show is coming to the curling rink at the Nepean Sportsplex (1701 Woodroffe Avenue) on September 24 to 25. Watch cats compete for best in show, attend talks on everything from therapy cats and cat fostering to how to keep your cat calm on a vet visit. You can shop from vendors, too, and if you bring a food donation for local cat rescue organizations, you’ll be entered in a draw. The show runs from 9am to 4pm on both days, and admission is $5 for children (aged 5 to 12) and seniors (aged 60 and over), $10 for other adults, and $25 per family (two adults, two kids).
Channel Harry Potter in Smiths Falls
Ever wish you could go to Hogwarts? The Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario (90 William Street West, Smiths Falls) will be doing its best to make all your Harry Potter dreams come true during its Hogwarts Express event on Saturday, September 24. Raise a glass of Butterbeer, get your photos taken with costumed characters and ride in a Hogwarts-themed caboose. The fun goes from 2pm to 8pm. General admission is $12 for adults and $8 for youth; children 4 and younger are admitted free. Tickets that include a train ride are $18.
Celebrate butter tarts in Stittsville
Stittsville’s first-ever Butter Tart Festival is happening at Village Square Park (6154 Abbott Street East, Stittsville) on Saturday, September 24, from 10am to 3pm. Hosted by the Market at the Barn and partners, it will feature soups and sandwiches from Witches’ Cauldron, treats from Holmespun Ice Cream, butter tarts (of course), live music, vendors, an art show in the barn and a tart contest featuring guest judges.
Visit artists in their studios
September 24 and 25 is a busy weekend for studio tours. You can catch the second weekend of Ottawa’s West End Studio Tour or the first weekend of the Chelsea and Wakefield Studio Tour. To the southeast of Ottawa, the Apples and Art tour features studios in and around Cornwall, mainly between Morrisburg and Lancaster. The tour features lots of new artists this year, an all studios will be open from 10am to 4pm. And north of Belleville, there’s the Tweed and Area Studio Tour.
Get a good scare in Stittsville
Halloween isn’t until next month, but Stittsville is getting a jump on the spooky fun with the Stittsville Haunted Heritage Tour. The 90-minute interactive tour will take place on weekends (and some weeknights), starting September 23.
Eat well in Ottawa or the Adirondacks
Food lovers will be heading to Taste of Wellington West on Saturday, September 24. Along Wellington Street in Hintonburg and Wellington Village, you’ll find food samples, kids’ activities, sidewalk sales and more. It’s a fundraiser for the Parkdale Food Centre. More details to come closer to the date!
Want a longer road trip? Also on September 24, the Adirondack Harvest Festival is happening at the Essex County Fairground in Westport, New York. This afternoon festival of food and drink offers food trucks, pony rides, live music and more. It runs from 12pm to 5pm, and Westport is about 3.5 hours southeast of Ottawa.
Delve into literature in Montreal
This is the first weekend of the Festival International de la Littérature in Montreal (September 23 to October 2). Events include everything from readings to films and concerts. Ticket prices vary.
Hit a craft sale in Ottawa
Want to get a really early start on your Christmas shopping—or just pick up a treat for yourself? Then head to the Cheerfully Made Fall 2022 Market at the Bell Sensplex (1565 Maple Grove Road, Kanata), where more than 100 crafters will be on hand selling one-of-a-kind handmade products (September 24 and 25). The show runs from 10am to 5pm both days, and admission is $5 per day. Children under 14 are admitted free.
Enjoy music in Mallorytown or Belleville
Happy Acres Campground near Brockville (2 Green Acres Road, Mallorytown) is hosting the 401 Bluesfest from September 22 to 24. Single-day passes start at $44.07, and all-weekend passes and camping packages are also available.
Belleville Porchfest—a free music festival where musicians perform acoustic shows on people’s porches—is happening on Saturday, September 24.
Put on the dog in Ottawa
The Wiggle Waggle Walk and Run at Lansdowne Park (1015 Bank Street, Ottawa) on Sunday, September 25, is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Ottawa Humane Society. The pandemic really affected the OHS’s fundraising efforts, so the organization is aiming to raise $250,000 at the event this year. You can sign up for a variety of walks and runs, ranging from 1K to 10K, including a 1K kids’ fun run and a 2K furry fun run.
Enjoy some harvest fun in Delta
The village of Delta (between Smiths Falls and Gananoque) is hosting a Harvest Festival on Saturday, September 24. More details to come soon! Just wanted to give you a heads up if you wanted to put it in your calendar.
Get cultured across Canada
Culture Days is a nationwide festival of arts and culture, taking place this year from September 23 to October 16. The slate of activities throughout Eastern Ontario is amazingly diverse, from a family day at the Ottawa International Animation Festival and an open house at Tucker House in Prescott-Russell to a belly-dancing workshop in Cornwall and a community mural-painting event in Brockville.
Explore climate change at the Canadian Museum of Nature, the NAC and Club SAW
The Canadian Museum of Nature, the National Arts Centre and Club SAW in Ottawa are collaborating to produce the Sphere Festival (September 22 to 25), an exploration of climate change and what it means for the planet. At the museum, events include storytelling, trivia, conversations with scientists and a sound-based scavenger hunt. The NAC and Club SAW, meanwhile, will be offering concerts, multimedia installations, talks and more. Times and ticket prices vary.
Shop for local foods in Renfrew
The popular Taste of the Valley food festival comes to Low Square in front of the Renfrew Town Hall (127 Raglan Street South, Renfrew) on Saturday, September 24, from 8am to 3pm. It’s a great opportunity to buy local food products from Renfrew County vendors. If you can’t be there this weekend, you’ll have other chances to catch Taste of the Valley on October 1 (Deep River), October 2 (Arnprior) and October 15 (Cobden).
Shop for yarn and other fibres in Vankleek Hill
Weavers, spinners, felters, rug hookers, knitters and other crafters, take note: The Vankleek Hill Fibre Frolic is coming to two locations in the village—the Creating Centre (11 High Street) and Indigo Hill (26 Main Street East) from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, September 24. See demonstrations, register for a workshop, shop from vendors and connect with other local crafters.
Get your maple fix in Mirabel
The Mirabel Fête l’Erable du Québec (September 24 and 25) is a family-friendly event that celebrates all things maple flavoured, with tastings, food trucks, a mini maple museum and more. It’s happening at Parc régional éducatif bois de Belle-Rivière (9009 Arthur-Sauvé, Mirabel) from 10:30am to 4:30pm both days. Admission is $8 for adults, $3 for children aged 7 to 16, and free for children 6 and under.
See a hot air balloon festival in the Adirondacks
Along with up to 100 hot air balloons, the Adirondack Hot Air Balloon Festival in Glens Falls and Queensbury, New York, will offer live music, a craft show and more, from September 22 to 25. The adjacent communities are about 4.5 hours from Ottawa by car.
Take in a fair in Carp or McDonald’s Corners
The Carp Fair (September 22 to 25) bills itself as the “Best Little Fair in Canada.” And it usually does seem to have a lot going on, including a midway, agricultural shows, dog shows and a big slate of concerts. (The schedule and ticket prices are coming soon.)
The McDonald’s Corners Fall Fair on Saturday, September 24, features live music, kids’ games, a BBQ lunch booth, chainsaw-sculpting demonstrations and more. Admission is $5; children under 12 get in free.
Shop for art in Kingston
During Fall Art After Dark (Friday, September 23), 29 art galleries and other sites in downtown Kingston will be open until 10pm for late-night browsing.
Enjoy a film festival in Ottawa or Montreal
The Montreal International Black Film Festival (September 20 to 25) offers a chance to see documentaries, short films and features focusing on the Black experience around the world. More details to come closer to the event.
And at the Ottawa International Animation Festival (September 21 to 25), you’ll be able to see Oscar-calibre animation of all descriptions, from family-friendly fare to avant-garde flicks that are definitely not for kids. It’s North America’s oldest—and largest—animation festival.
Cycle scenic routes near Bath
The Discover L&A Ride on Saturday, September 24, is a 58K bike ride through Lennox and Addington County. The loop starts and finishes at the MacKinnon Brothers Brewing Company in Bath and winds along the shore of Lake Ontario, and through apple orchards and vineyards, and includes stops at parks and historic sites. En route snacks include apple cider donuts and cookies, and there will be lots of live music along the way. Tickets are $35, and the event will run rain or shine. Check-in starts at 9am.
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 26 TO OCTOBER 2
I’ve greatly expanded my recommendations for this last week of September/first week of October and moved them to my new October road trip roundup post—please check them out there!
September. Stay tuned!
Looking for more tips on things to see and do in Eastern Ontario, the Outaouais, northern New York state and beyond? Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter or order a copy of my book, Ottawa Road Trips: Your Weekend Getaway Guide.
As the owner of Ottawa Road Trips, I acknowledge that I live on, work in and travel through the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be present on this land. Ottawa Road Trips supports Water First, a non-profit organization that helps address water challenges in Indigenous communities in Canada through education, training and meaningful collaboration.