Events in Ottawa, the Outaouais, Eastern Ontario and beyond (Apr. 8 to May 5)

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Spring is here, and the calendar is filling up with all sorts of fun events, including book sales, gardening events, and plays and concerts of all descriptions. Don’t forget to read to the end, as some events a few weeks in the future require advance registration, so you don’t want to miss out.

In addition to the ideas below, don’t forget to check out my guide to local maple sugarbushes and my suggested road trips for gardeners. Happy travels!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

WEEK OF APRIL 8 TO APRIL 14

Get summer inspiration in Ottawa or Petawawa

Dreaming of afternoons sitting in the sunshine in a Muskoka chair, sipping something cold? Aren’t we all? If so, you could check out the Ottawa Cottage Life & Backyard Show at the EY Centre (April 12 to 14). Vendors will be on hand selling everything from water toys to barbecues.

In Petawawa, the Ottawa Valley Outdoor Adventure and Sportsmen’s Show (April 13 and 14) brings together vendors of tents, canoes, kayaks, ATVs, fishing gear, rafting trips and much more, so you can peruse them all in one place.

Shop for unique items in New Edinburgh, Stittsville and Merrickville

The Beechwood Spring Market@Mackay on Saturday, April 13, will feature the usual Beechwood Market vendors, but you can also enjoy live music, sip mocktails and take a free mini-art workshop. It’s happening at Mackay Memorial Hall in New Edinburgh from 2pm to 6pm.

In Stittsville, the Shopapalooza Craft Fair at Sacred Heart High School will feature some 60 vendors on Saturday, April 13.

The Merrickville Spring Makers’ Market (April 13 and 14) will feature a wide range of local artisans. Shop for jewellery, art and many other unique pieces at the Merrickville Community Centre. Admission is free.

Enjoy Irish movies in Ottawa

The Irish Film Festival Ottawa (April 12 to 14) at the Arts Court Theatre in downtown Ottawa celebrates independent Irish movies. It’s a great chance to catch Joyride, a comedy featuring Olivia Coleman (see video above) and a slate of other Irish films.

See a family-friendly musical in Kemptville

The Kemptville Youth Musical Theatre Company is presenting The Little Mermaid, based on the Disney version of the classic fairy tale, from April 13 to 28. Featuring a cast and crew of youth from Grade 7 to age 19, the musical runs at the North Grenville Municipal Centre in Kemptville.

Browse for bargains in the Glebe and Alta Vista

613Flea is holding its huge bi-weekly flea market in the Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park on Saturday, April 13. You’ll find 150 vendors, selling handmade and vintage items. And don’t hesitate to bike, as Lansdowne Park has some 600 bike-parking spaces.

On Sunday, April 14, the Canterbury Community Association is holding its Gigantic Garage Sale at the Canterbury Community Centre in Alta Vista, from 10am to 1pm.

Enjoy a concert in Ottawa, Almonte or Cornwall

Rockers Queens of the Stone Age are bringing their The End Is Nero tour to the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa on Friday, April 12.

On Saturday, April 13, you can enjoy a concert by the Campbell, Fagan and Park Trio in Almonte. The performance by clarinettist James Campbell, soprano Leslie Fagan and pianist Angela Park is part of the Almonte in Concert series.

Pianist Riko Higuma, clarinettist Kliment Krylovskiy and violinist Vanessa Mollard are the Zodiac Trio, a chamber music ensemble that has toured the world since its foundation at the Manhattan School of Music in 2006. The trio is bringing “Tales From the Americas“—a program of music by George Gershwin, Astor Piazzolla, Arturo Márquez, William Bolcom, and Benny Goodman—to the Aultsville Theatre in Cornwall on Sunday, April 14. The performance is part of the Cornwall Concert Series.

Sip wines in the Finger Lakes

If you’re up for a somewhat long-distance road trip, you can sample wines in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York during the Spring Wine and Cheese Weekend event on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail (April 12 to 14). On this self-driving route, you’ll try wine and food pairings at a variety of wineries. Designated driver tickets are available for a reduced price.

Catch Atlético Ottawa’s season opener at TD Place

Soccer fans, take note: Atlético Ottawa takes on York United in the opening game of the season on Saturday, April 13, at TD Place.

Paddle the Raisin River near St. Andrews

The arrival of spring means many canoeists are keen to get their paddles in the water. One of the first opportunities of the season is the Raisin River Canoe Race, happening in St. Andrews West (just north of Cornwall) on Saturday, April 13. You can register online in advance. You may also be able to register in person on the day of the race, if space is still available. The event includes a pre-race breakfast in St. Andrews Parish Hall and a post-race dinner at the Char-Lan Rec Centre.

Shop for retro records in Ottawa

If you like music you can hold in your hand, rather than just stream or download, the Ottawa Record Fair is the place to hunt for vinyl 45s, LPs and EPs, as well as CDs of all descriptions. It’s happening at the Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre in Centretown on Saturday, April 13.

Eat poutine in Petawawa

It must be spring, because poutine festival season has started! Petawawa Poutine Feast (April 11 to 14) is four days of gooey, squeaky-cheese fun at the Petawawa Civic Centre.

WEEK OF APRIL 15 TO APRIL 21

Plan your outdoor adventures at an Ottawa show

The Ottawa Outdoor and Adventure Travel Show at the Nepean Sportsplex (April 20 and 21) will offer inspiration galore for outdoorsy types. Shop for camping gear, kayaks, e-bikes, SUPs, ATVs and more from a wide range of vendors, and learn about outdoor travel destinations and family fun ideas at free presentations. Admission and parking are free, too!

Hit a book sale in the Glebe

All those people madly following Marie Kondo’s decluttering advice have to take their old books somewhere, right? That’s why you’ll probably find thousands of used volumes on sale at the Mutchmor Public School Book Sale in the Glebe from April 18 to 21.

Shop for art in Manotick and Alexandria

In Alexandria, the Glengarry Artists’ Collective is holding The Big Show on April 19 and 20. This two-day celebration of local art and writing runs from 6pm to 9pm on Friday, and from 10am to 2pm on Saturday. It takes place at Community Living, 332 MacDonald Boulevard.

Members of the Manotick Art Association will be showing and selling their works at the Inspirations art show and sale from April 19 to 21, at the Manotick Curling Centre. There will be live music on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, too. Admission is free, but the organizers will be collecting cash donations for the Manotick Outreach and Food Cupboard at the door.

Check out a show for people 55 and over in Ottawa

The Fifty-Five Plus Lifestyle Show (April 19 and 20) is coming to the EY Centre in Ottawa. As you meander around booths promoting products aimed at those of a certain age, you can enter draws for all sorts of prizes. Live musical entertainment will include Wayne Rostad and the Next Generation Leahy.

Enjoy maple treats in Delta

The Delta Maple Syrup Festival (April 20 and 21) is one of the highlights of the year in the village of Delta, about an hour and a half southwest of Ottawa. The fun this year will include wagon rides, a magic show, a book sale, a ball hockey tournament, a dance, a craft sale and, of course, all-you-can-eat pancakes.

Take the kids to a free puppet show in Carleton Place

Pluggin Into Nature is a family-friendly show by the Paddling Puppeteers coming to the All Nations Church in Carleton Place on Saturday, April 20. It tells the story of Edward, a boy who stops playing video games long enough to meet a butterfly, a chickadee and a frog, who help him discover the wonderful world of nature. The free show starts at 10:30am.

Celebrate Tartan Day in Ottawa

The Sons of Scotland Pipe Band isn’t just celebrating Tartan Day this year; they have a whole weekend of events planned. On Saturday, April 20, there’s a Tartan Expo at the Mosaic Convention Centre from noon to 3pm, where visitors can check out vendors, enter raffles and more. Admission and parking are both free. And on Sunday, April 21, there will be pipes, drums, singing and dancing on Parliament Hill (noon to 1:30pm), followed by an after-party at Deacon Brodie’s Pub.

Enjoy a carnival in Smiths Falls

The Smiths Falls Heritage House Museum is hosting a Spring Carnival on Saturday, April 20, from 11am to 2pm. The fun will including axe throwing, live music and more.

Discover new-to-you wines in Kingston

Cheers Ontario is a new wine-tasting event at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa on Thursday, April 18. Run by Savvy Company, it will give you the chance to taste and buy more than 100 VQA wines from across Ontario.

See a play in Smiths Falls

The Smiths Falls Community Theatre is presenting Tim Kelly’s adaptation of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley at the Station Theatre in Smiths Falls on select dates from April 19 to 28. It’s the classic tale of a man and the monster he created—or is it a monster at all?

Get your live music fix in Shawville, McDonalds Corners or Kingston

In Shawville, Canadian genre-bending folk artists The Fretless are sharing the stage with acclaimed vocalist Madeleine Roger at the Little Red Wagon Winery on Saturday, April 20. You can buy a dinner/show package, or buy tickets for the show only. Advance reservations required.

On Sunday, April 21, Canadian folk icon Valdy (see video above) will be playing an afternoon show at the McDonalds Corners Agricultural Hall in McDonalds Corners.

Also on Sunday, April 21, the Grammy-nominated ARC Ensemble—comprising faculty members from the Royal Conseratory’s Glenn Gould School—are giving an afternoon concert at the Isabel Centre for the Performing Arts in Kingston. Fascinatingly, the group focuses on finding and performing works that repressive regies suppressed and marginalized in the 20th century.

Hit a comic convention in Cornwall

The Cornwall and Area Pop Event—better known as CAPE—comes to the Benson Centre in Cornwall on April 20 and 21. Focusing on comics, SF and fantasy, the event will feature guests such as Kaniehtiio Horn (Alice Darling, Reservation Dogs, Letterkenny), Matthew G. Taylor (Resident Evil: Apocalypse) and Crystal Marie Reed (Teen Wolf, Gotham).

Paddle a river in upstate New York

The Little River Ramble (Sunday, April 21) is one of the first kayak and canoe races of the season in Canton, New York. The first racers will take to the water at 1pm. The hub of activity is the Park Street Bridge in Canton, which is about 90 minutes southeast of Ottawa. The event includes two-mile (3.6 kilometre) recreational races and six-mile (9.6 kilometre) marathon-class races. Online pre-registration is encouraged but not mandatory.

Enjoy opera in Ottawa

You can catch the world premiere of Andrew Ager’s new opera, an interpretation of The Great Gatsby, at Southminster United Church in Old Ottawa South on April 19 and 20.

Compare electric vehicles in Montreal

Thinking about buying an electric vehicle but overwhelmed by choices? You can compare lots of EVs all in one place at the Electric and Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle Show at Olympic Stadium in Montreal (April 19 to 21).

Celebrate spring in Manotick

The Manotick Village Spring Fling (Saturday, April 20) promises to be a day of live music, demonstrations, shopping and family fun. Restaurants will be offering special menu items and stores will be doing giveaways.

Shop for vinyl in Kingston

If vintage music is your bag, check out the Kingston Symphony’s annual Vinyl Records Sale (April 18 to 21). Along with LPs of all descriptions, you’ll find CDs, DVDs, receivers, turntables and more.

Pick your own tulips in Edwards

Starting in mid-April (date to be confirmed; I’ll add it here when I have it), you can pick your own tulips from the 350,000 blooms at Green Corners Farm in Edwards, a rural area in Ottawa’s southeast (1259 Yorks Corners Road). Open 9am to 7pm daily (last entry at 6:30pm); you need to buy tickets in advance. Thanks to reader Connie Allen for the lovely photo above.

WEEK OF APRIL 22 TO APRIL 28

Shop for used books in Renfrew

In Renfrew, the Canadian Federation of University Women is holding a huge used book sale on Friday, April 26 (4pm to 9pm) and Saturday, April 27 (9am to noon).

Sip tea for a good cause in Ottawa

IODE Laurentian is hosting the So Chic Fashion Show and Luncheon at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club in Aylmer on Saturday, April 27. The show will feature items from 3 Wild Women’s spring/summer collection. Funds raised go toward the Inuuqatigiit Centre for Inuit Children, Youth and Families, an organization that provides cultural, educational, recreational and social support services to Inuit families in Ottawa.

Run a race in Kingston

Itching to get out for a good run after a long winter? You can choose from a selection of in-person races (from a 2K for kids to a half-marathon) during the Limestone Race Weekend in Kingston (April 27 and 28). To participate, you must register online by April 24 or in person by April 26; no same-day registrations will be available. Sign up by April 10 if you want an event t-shirt and medal.

Enjoy music in Ottawa or Almonte

The Ottawa Grassroots Festival (April 25 to 28) is a family-friendly event featuring folk, Indigenous and Franco-Ontarian music. Most concerts take place at the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa in McKellar Park, but there are also Thursday and Sunday events at Irene’s Pub in the Glebe. Artists appearing at the festival include Lynn Miles, Charlie A’Court and Connie Kaldor. Daytime shows and workshops are free; for other shows, you’ll need to buy a ticket.

The Moth Project is an original multimedia production about moths by Ottawa-born musician Peter Kiesewalter and violinist Whitney La Grange. It’s coming to the Almonte Old Town Hall on Saturday, April 27, as part of the Folkus Concert Series. In front of images on a large video screen, the musicians will play their own songs and covers, including works by Joni Mitchell, KISS, and J.S. Bach. The show will begin with a brief talk about moths by interpretive naturalist Tobi Kiesewalter of Murphy’s Point Provincial Park.

Go to a “prom” for a good cause in Ottawa

Helping With Furniture, a charity that provides gently used furniture and household items to families in need, is celebrating its 16th anniversary with a prom-style Sweet 16 Gala. The fundraising event at Ottawa’s St. Elias Centre on Saturday, April 27, will include dinner, a sweets bar, live and silent auctions, and a DJ spinning prom-like tunes. Guests are invited to dress in the style of their own prom—or not! (My Grade 12 prom dress from Dalmy’s bore an unsettling resemblance to a lace tablecloth, and I thought I was cooler than Molly Ringwald in it. Ah, the ’80s.)

Celebrate all things maple in Perth

The Festival of the Maples in Perth on Saturday, April 27, caps a month-long celebration of all things maple in Lanark County. The attractions include a vendors’ street fair, an antique and classic car display, and a cross-cut sawing challenge. Kids can enjoy a firefighter obstacle course, a rock-climbing wall, laser tag, bouncy castles and more.

See movies in Toronto

This year, the more than 160 featured documentaries at Toronto’s Hot Docs Festival (April 25 to May 5) focus on everyone from singer/songwriter Luther Vandross to Mexican weavers. The one that caught my eye, though, was the spectacularly titled American Cats: The Good, the Bad, and the Cuddly.

Nosh on poutine in Ottawa or Renfrew

Got the munchies? The Ottawa Poutine Fest at Ottawa City Hall (April 26 to 28) is a great chance to get your curds-and-gravy fix (along with craft beer and live music). There’s even an exotic poutine competition. Admission is free.

Alternatively, you could head to the Ottawa Valley for Renfrew Poutine Feast (April 25 to 28).

Enjoy a play in Kingston

In Kingston, Domino Theatre is presenting the Depression-era drama Ten Lost Years from April 25 to May 11 (Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays). It’s based on the 1973 non-fiction book of the same name by Barry Broadfoot.

Browse for orchids in Ottawa

The Ottawa Orchid Society is holding its annual show and sale at Algonquin College on April 27 and 28. You can pay extra to get in an hour early, if you’re super keen.

Immerse yourself in ideas in Montreal

Blue Metropolis (April 25 to 28) is a huge multilingual event in Montreal that bills itself as a celebration of books and ideas. This year, the theme is Dreams and Utopias. As the organizers frame it, “If human life is fragile, it is also rich in the imponderable, in mystery, in everything that escapes material things, it is rich in dreams, in short. So many questions arise from that theme, including this one: Can we have confidence in human beings?” Even though the “official” event lasts just four days in late April, there are virtual and in-person events happening throughout April, including readings, author interviews and children’s activities.

Learn about sustainable transportation in Ottawa

You can learn about eco-friendly ways of getting around at the fourth of a series of Coffee Houses on Sustainability at the Glebe Community Centre on Saturday, April 27. At this Sustainable Transportation Coffee House, speakers will be on hand to answer your questions about electric vehicles, cycling, idling-free driving and more. Admission is free but you need to register via the link above. There will be cookies and coffee (but you’ll need to bring your own renewable mug for the latter!). The series will continue once a month until June.

WEEK OF APRIL 29 TO MAY 5

Shop for pottery in Kingston

The Kingston Potters’ Guild is holding its annual spring show and sale at the Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning from May 2 to 5.

Learn about sustainability in Kemptville

The North Grenville Sustainability Fair and EV Show comes to the North Grenville Municipal Centre in Kemptville on Sunday, May 5. Learn about electric vehicles, ways to green your home, organic foods, and other local eco-friendly products and services. Admission is free.

Bike for a good cause in Ottawa

The CN Cycle for CHEO fundraiser takes to Ottawa’s streets on Sunday, May 5, with 15K, 35K and 70K cycling routes, as well as 2K and 5K walks. They all start at LeBreton Flats Park and go along the Ottawa River; the longer routes also take riders along the Rideau Canal and through the Experimental Farm. Proceeds will support the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.

Shop locally in Winchester

At the Local Business Expo at the Joel Steele Community Centre in Winchester on Saturday, May 4, you can check out products and services offered by more than 50 local vendors.

Find fab fabrics in Wellington West

Attention needleworkers: Dozens of vendors will be selling fabrics galore and other sewing-related materials at the Hintonburg Fabric Flea Market on Saturday, May 4. Admission is $3, the doors open at 9:30am and it takes place at the Fisher Park Community Centre (on Holland Avenue, just north of Highway 417).

Learn about urban design and history on a Jane’s Walk

Jane’s Walks are named after urbanist Jane Jacobs, who wrote numerous books about the way cities work. This year, from May 3 to 5, numerous cities are hosting free walks with local experts who will explain facets of each city’s history, development and design. You can join a walk in Ottawa-Gatineau, Kingston or Montreal, among many other places. Normally, you can check the Jane’s Walk website for walks in other communities across Canada, but the volunteers who run the site are in the midst of updating it, post-pandemic, so your favourite city’s info might not be there this year.

Paddle your canoe in Canton

The 62nd annual Canton Canoe Weekend is happening in Canton, New York, from May 3 through 5. Racers can choose from a wide range of courses, including 1, 4, 8, 12 and 14-mile routes; there’s also a 2-mile relay race for recreational paddlers. Bring the kids—there’s a children’s playground, a Saturday night chicken barbecue and free camping.

Shop for unique items in Ottawa, Almonte or Belleville

The Ottawa Guild of Potters will be holding its Spring Pottery Sale as part of the Ottawa Clay Festival in the Horticulture Building at Lansdowne Park from May 3 to 5. As well as shopping for pottery, you can see demonstrations and let the little ones loose in a kids’ clay area. Free admission.

To shop for unique works in fibre and mixed media, head to the Out of the Box Fibre Fling show and sale at Kitchissippi United Church in Ottawa on May 3 and 4.

The Cheerfully Made Market at the Almonte Community Centre (Saturday, May 4) features food, clothing, jewellery, home decor and other goodies from local makers.

It’s a bit of a hike, but the Mother of All Craft Shows on Saturday, May 4, in Belleville looks like fun, with more than 70 vendors offering everything from knitted items to hot sauces. The show helps support Fixed Fur Life, an animal-rescue group.

Go for a walk or run in Ottawa, Prescott or Renfrew

Feeling achy? Want to get your kids off the couch? How about a walk or run?

On Saturday, May 4, there’s the Star Wars-themed Fort Town Night Run in Prescott. (Slogan: “May the Fort be with you.”) The 5K, 10K and 15K routes take you past many local historical sites, and Prescotters (is that a word?) will be cheering on runners along the route. There’s also a 1K fun run for kids, and the run raises money for youth organizations. The event starts at the Leo Boivin Community Centre and all racers (except those in the kids’ run) will receive a headlamp.

Also on Saturday, May 4, Ottawa’s Hike for Hospice is a 5K walk from the Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre in Britannia Park to Andrew Haydon Park and back. It raises money for end-of-life care services.

On Sunday, May 5, Hike for Hospice Renfrew will also be raising money for palliative care facilities. The one-hour event starts at 2pm and is open to runners, walkers, and those using wheelchairs or strollers.

Check out local talent in Kingston

The Homegrown Live Music Festival is a packed day of more than 130 live performances by local acts on 16 stages across Kingston on Saturday, May 4. Each venue will be showcasing multiple bands in a particular style, including blues, psychedelic, country, hip-hop and jazz.

Everyone involved in Kingston’s Juvenis Festival of the arts (May 2 to 12) is aged 30 or younger, but shows are open to all ages. Events this year include two musical theatre productions, a battle of the bands, a youth film night, and a storefront art gallery.

Head to a farmers’ market

Craving some fresh spring veggies? You’re in luck. Two farmers’ markets—in Carp and Kanata—are opening for the season on Saturday, May 4. Lots more will fling open their gates over the next few weeks and some—including markets in Vankleek Hill and Ottawa—are open year-round.

Go fish in the Bay of Quinte

Attention, anglers: The Kiwanis Walleye World Fishing Derby (May 4 and 5) is a big catch-and-release contest for walleye and pike, and a major fundraiser for youth projects in the Bay of Quinte region. The event headquarters are in Trenton but there are also weigh stations in Belleville, Picton and Brighton. Prizes this year include boats, fishing charters and cottage stays; the top prize is a cool $10,000.

Head to a writers festival in Ottawa

The spring edition of the Ottawa International Writers Festival (May 2 to 5) features a wide range of authors, including Zoe Whittall, Anuja Varghese and Rick Mofina.

Visit Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg

Grab the kids and get ready to travel back in time: Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg opens for the season on Saturday, May 4. The living history museum brings the Ontario of the 1860s back to life with costumed interpreters, old-time activities and more.

Enjoy a play in Osgoode

In Osgoode, the ITR Theatre Company is presenting The Cemetery Club (May 3 to 5, and May 10 to 12), a gentle comedy about three widows who meet for tea once a month. As well as evening shows and matinées, there will be a dinner show on Saturday, May 4, and a Mother’s Day brunch show on Sunday, May 12.

Nosh on poutine in Orleans

Everyone’s favourite cheese-curd treat will be the star of this weekend’s Orleans PoutineFest and Street Food Frenzy (May 3 to 5). There will be craft beer, live music and more to amuse you, too. It’s all happening on Centrum Boulevard (just east of Place d’Orleans). (P.S.: Check out my big list of poutine festivals happening across our region this year.)

See sketch comedy in Montreal

If you love The Kids in the Hall, SCTV and Saturday Night Live, you might just be interested in Montréal Sketchfest, an annual festival of sketch comedy (May 2 to 11). It features both rising stars and established comic talents, performing in French and/or English.

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.