From car, boat, garden and vintage clothing shows to maple festivals, genealogy workshops, film festivals and all sorts of live music, this week is packed with great excuses for a road trip. Happy travels!
Revel in all things maple in Ottawa or Prince Edward County
Pea soup, maple taffy and a lumberjack competition? Sure sounds like a sugar shack to me. But it’s not out in the country–it’s at Lansdowne Park on Saturday, March 24, when the second annual Sugar Lumberfest sets up shop in the Horticulture Building. Buy your tickets in advance for one of four sittings, which include posh twists on traditional sugarbush favourites (think maple and duck fat salmon rillettes, and glazed pork loin with caramelized carrots with fennel seeds).
Flickr/Creative Commons photo by Heather Katsoulis.
During Maple in the County (March 24 and 25), a weekend-long maple syrup festival in Prince Edward County, you can make s’mores, visit a winery, pet a miniature donkey, take in a lumberjack show and, of course, taste and buy maple syrup, sugar, candy, tarts and lots of other sweet goodies.
Learn about Loyalists in Smiths Falls
Attention, history lovers: Author Jennifer DeBruin is giving a talk called Traitors, Spies and Heroes: Loyalist Espionage During the American Revolution at the Heritage House Museum in Smiths Falls on Thursday, March 22.
Explore your family tree in Appleton
Photo by Roman Kraft on Unsplash.
The North Lanark Regional Museum in Appleton is running four genealogy workshops this week. You can learn how to use both printed and online family history resources, such as Ancestry.ca, and how to build a family tree. The workshops take place on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and you can sign up for them individually or take all four.
Get home and garden ideas (or, maybe, a boat) in Ottawa or Kingston
The Ottawa Home and Garden Show is the big draw this weekend (March 22 to 25) at the EY Centre. Highlights include Living Landscapes, featuring four new gardens; presentations by outdoor design columnist Carson Arthur and lots of other experts; and exhibitors galore.
Meanwhile, the Kingston Home and Garden Show (March 23 to 25) is being held at the same location—the Kingston 1000 Islands Sportsplex—as the Kingston Boat and Recreation Show (same dates), and you get two-for-one admission to both events. Together, the two shows feature 175 exhibitors selling everything from roofing to kayaks; you can also enjoy a series of gardening presentations.
See a play in Greely
The Greely Players are presenting the stage version of Disney’s adaptation of The Little Mermaid from March 21 to 25.
Eat soup for a good cause in Almonte
Photo by Nathalie Jolie on Unsplash.
The Mississippi Valley Textile Museum is holding its annual Soup for Thought fundraiser on Saturday, March 24. For $25, you can enjoy a bowl of soup made by one of several local chefs, and you get to keep the stoneware bowl (made by members of the Almonte Potters’ Guild). Tickets are available from several Almonte businesses.
Catch some live music in Westport, Wakefield, Almonte or Perth
The Cove Country Inn in Westport is hosting a Celtic Kitchen Party on Saturday, March 24, with Belleville’s Irish/East Coast band The Fiddleheads.
There’s a full slate at the Blacksheep Inn in Wakefield, with Saskatchewan singer-songwriter Megan Nash and Graven on Friday, March 23; Juno-nominated roots-pop artist Amanda Rheaume on Saturday, March 24; and Toronto bluegrass group the Barrel Boys with special guest Sheesham Crowe on Sunday, March 25.
In Almonte, the Folkus concert series is presenting two shows on Saturday, March 24, with the Juno-winning duo Big Little Lions: a family matinée at 3pm and an evening show with special guests Outside I’m a Giant at 8pm. (See video above for a taste of Big Little Lions.)
And at the Perth Tea Room on Sunday, March 25, singer-songwriter David Leask will be entertaining listeners with his Celtic/folk stories. A portion of the proceeds will go to a day program for local seniors.
See the latest cars in Ottawa
Car lovers, start your engines: the Ottawa Gatineau International Auto Show roars into the Shaw Centre this weekend (March 22 to 25).
Catch a film festival in the Outaouais or Toronto
Photo by Jake Hills on Unsplash.
More than 70 movies are on the schedule at this year’s Outaouais Film Festival (March 22 to 30), including Hollywood flicks, less widely distributed films, animation, documentaries and a wide range of Quebec productions. There are galas, an awards ceremony and a series of workshops in French.
The Canadian Film Fest (March 20 to 24) screens feature films and short movies by Canadian directors at the Scotiabank Theatre in Toronto. If you’re tired of seeing movies set in New York, London or L.A., this is a great bet.
Test your music trivia knowledge in Arnprior
Can you name that tune? Any tune? Then get yourself to Arnprior for a music trivia night at the Nick Smith Centre on Friday, March 23. Mike Cloutier will be on hand to provide live music, and there will also be a silent auction.
Get a bargain on a bite in Brockville
During the Spring Into Flavour promotion in Brockville this week (March 21 to 26), 15 restaurants will be offering specials, discounts and deals. Dishes will include baked goods, waffles, blackened chicken and Cornish pasties.
Discover new digital works in Montreal
The three-month Montreal Digital Spring festival kicks off on March 21 and runs until June 21. This celebration of digital arts features installations and events all over the city. (Website is in French.)
Shop for vintage clothes in Ottawa
The Ottawa Vintage Clothing Show—returning to the Carleton University Fieldhouse on Sunday, March 25—showcases stylish fashions from the 1920s through the 1980s. As usual, vendors will be selling some serious glam, including Louis Vuitton and Chanel handbags, Valentino and Dior dresses, items from the Fashion History Museum and much more.
Enjoy classic tunes in Gananoque and Brockville
Blues star Georgette Fry will be singing a mix of blues, swing and pop with Ken Hall, Zack Colbert and “Bunny” Stewart at the 1000 Islands Playhouse in Gananoque on March 24 and 25.
The Springer Theatre at the 1000 Islands Playhouse in Gananoque. Photo by Laura Byrne Paquet.
If “Heatwave,” “Be My Baby” and “You Can’t Hurry Love” are the sorts of tunes that get you humming, then you’re in the prime demographic for Motown Soul, a live production at the Brockville Arts Centre on Friday, March 23. Music by Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross and the Supremes, and many other Motown stars will be on the set list.
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2 comments
Other years you haven’t made any mention of Maple fest in Cumberland. This is such a short drive, inside the boundaries of Ottawa, and yet such a rural experience.
Good suggestion, Christine! I’ll add it to a post next week, as it is continuing until April 15. In the meantime, everyone, here is the link: http://proulxberryfarm.com/maple-fest/