Things to do in Ottawa, the Outaouais, Eastern Ontario and beyond (September 2 to September 8)

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Wondering what to do in Ottawa this weekend? It is a great time for a road trip in Ottawa, Eastern Ontario, the Outaouais or northern New York state. In fact, there’s SO much going on that I keep adding new items, so please keep checking back here regularly. And you might also want to check out my lists of summer and fall fairs, artist studio tours, 45+ farmers’ markets, gardens and nurseries, and 9+ ribfests. Happy road tripping!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 2 TO SEPTEMBER 8

Thrill to planes in Gatineau

If you hear the roar of fighter jets overhead this weekend, you’ll know that the Aéro Gatineau-Ottawa airshow is back in town. From September 6 to 8, you can see vintage biplanes, parachutists and more doing their thing high above the Gatineau-Ottawa Executive Airport (1717 Arthur-Fecteau, Gatineau). For the first time ever in the National Capital Region, the aerobatics teams of Canada, the U.S. and the U.K.—the Snowbirds, the Thunderbirds and the Red Arrows, respectively—will be performing at the same event. You can also see wingwalkers, Second World War aircraft and an illuminated drones show.

Enjoy a dragon boat festival in Carleton Place

The Carleton Place Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday, September 7, will see paddlers racing on the Mississippi River near the Carleton Place Canoe Club (189 John Street). As well as cheering on the competitors, you can nosh on goodies from local food and drink vendors and check out an artisans’ market.

Take a studio tour in Ottawa’s east end

The Arteast Ottawa Fine Arts Studio Tour (September 7 and 8) is a self-driving tour that will bring you to the studios of some two dozen artists in Orleans, Blackburn Hamlet, Vanier and Overbrook. Meet the creators and browse for works in many media. The studios will be open from 10am to 4pm on both days.

See a powwow in Cornwall

The Akwesasne Powwow (September 7 and 8) will bring Indigenous dancers, drummers, crafters and food vendors to Cornwall for a busy weekend. Visitors can see competitions, shop the vendors’ market and more. The gates open at 10am each day, the festivities begin with a grand entry at noon daily and there’s a free shuttle bus from many points in Cornwall. The organizers have an excellent guide to powwow etiquette on the website (scroll down on the linked page). Note the location change: This year, the powwow will take place at Lamoureux Park.

Shop for handmade goods in Merrickville

Merrickville’s Makers Market returns to the village on Saturday, September 7, with an outdoor market at the Merrickville Fairgrounds at 106 Read Street from 10am to 4pm. The event showcases the high-quality work of more than 60 area artisans and their friends who create functional or decorative objects partly or entirely by hand.

Celebrate the Shenkman Arts Centre’s anniversary

The Shenkman Arts Centre in Orleans is turning 15. To celebrate, they’re hosting a free Open House on Sunday, September 8, from 11am to 3pm. Backstage tours, live music, face painting, and improv, dance and art workshops are just some of the fun activities on offer.

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 7, as part of the County Gran Fondo event.

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 6 to 8. 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 Lord of the Rings stars Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Elijah Wood and Sean Astin, as well as actors Giancarlo Esposito (The Mandalorian), Summer Glau (Firefly), Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell (both from Battlestar Galactica), and many others. Even Canadian political cartooning legend Aislin will be there! And, of course, you can shop for comics, collectibles and lots of other merch, too.

Knit, spin or weave up a storm in Almonte

The ever-popular Fibrefest is returning to Almonte on September 7 and 8. 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 $5 per person per day. There are also in-person and virtual workshops from Tuesday through Sunday, which you’ll need to sign up for in advance.

Cycle scenic routes near Bath and Kingston

The Limestone Century Bicycle Tour (Sunday, September 8) is a set of non-competitive rides in and around Kingston. You can choose from 50K, 100K and 100-mile routes. The event is a fundraiser for Cycle Kingston, Inc., a non-profit group that promotes cycling in general and cycling safety in particular. Registration closes on September 1.

Put on your dancing shoes in Ottawa-Gatineau

The Latin Sparks Festival on Saturday, September 7, 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, and you can cheer on competitors in a dance battle. The festival is happening at LeBreton Flats from 3pm to 11pm.

In Gatineau, the Riverside Festival is coming to the grounds of the Canadian Museum of History (100 Laurier Street, Gatineau) from September 6 to 8. The three-day event—considered the second-largest electronic music festival in Quebec—features a big list of DJs, lots of food trucks and multiple bars. Headliners include Sean Paul and Deadmau5.

Enjoy a harvest festival in Barrhaven, Dunvegan or Carleton Place

Sunday, September 8, is a big day for harvest festivals, with the following three all taking place that day.

At the Barrhaven Harvest Fest at the Nepean Woods Park and Ride, you can shop for produce, hot food, crafts and more from more than 60 vendors. Entertainment for kids will include face painting, a bouncy castle and balloon animals. Admission is free, but there will be fundraising activities to support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ottawa.

The Harvest Fall Festival at the Glengarry Pioneer Museum (1645 County Road 30, Dunvegan) 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 buy hot food, cold drinks and homemade pie on site. The festival is a great chance to visit the museum’s heritage buildings, too. You can also 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. Looking for more things to do in the area? Check out my route through Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry in my post about great fall drives.

And the Lanark County Harvest Festival will be coming to Beckwith Park (1319 9th Line, Carleton Place). The fun will include live music, a petting zoo, a local vendors’ produce market and bouncy castles. The festival starts at 11am and admission is free.

Have fun on a farm in Quebec or near Kingston

On various dates in August and September, farms in Kingston and the surrounding Frontenac County will be participating in Open Farm Days. Depending on the day and the site, you could see how microgreens are grown, watch beekeepers tend their hives, take a tapas tasting tour, go to a plowing match and more.

Farms across Quebec will be participating in a “doors open” event called Portes Ouvertes on Sunday, September 8. 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.)

See a “living library” at 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 “living library” historical tour at Ottawa’s Beechwood Cemetery (280 Beechwood Avenue) on Sunday, September 8. This year, actors in costume will tell the stories of notable environmentalists buried at Beechwood. The event runs from 2pm to 4pm, and Beechwood advises visitors to arrive by 3pm if they want to see all of the actors’ portrayals. Admission is free and no registration is required.

Savour fine food in Metcalfe, Killaloe or Vankleek Hill

On Thursday, September 5, the last Metcalfe Farmers’ Market Night Market of the season is happening at the Metcalfe Fairgrounds (2821 Eighth Line Road, Metcalfe) from 5pm to 8pm. Some 70 producers and food vendors will be on hand, and there will be live music, too. The rain-or-shine, indoor-outdoor event is dog friendly.

The popular Taste of the Valley food festival comes to the KHR Municipal Office (1 John Street) on Saturday, September 7. It’s a great opportunity to buy local food products from Renfrew County vendors. If you can’t be there, you’ll have other chances to catch Taste of the Valley on September 28 (Petawawa), October 19 (Cobden) and December 14 (Renfrew).

The Festival of Flavours is returning to Vankleek Hill on Sunday, September 8. Local food producers will be setting up tents along the town’s main street, and there will be free activities to enjoy.

Catch a music festival in Mallorytown or Belleville

Happy Acres Campground near Brockville (2 Green Acres Road, Mallorytown) is hosting the Big River Country Festival from September 5 to 7. Single-day passes, all-weekend passes and camping packages are available.

Further west, the Downtown Blues Festival (September 6 and 7) will be bringing about a dozen blues acts to outdoor streets and indoor stages across downtown Belleville. There will be music workshops, too.

Have fun at a fair in Almonte, Renfrew or Picton

Entertainment at the Renfrew Fair (September 5 to 8) includes concerts by The Trews and Carroll Baker, a midway, a demolition derby, and livestock shows. It’s all happening at the Renfrew Fairgrounds, 115 Veterans Memorial Boulevard.

At the Almonte Fair (September 6 to 8), the fun includes a midway, wagon rides, livestock competitions, magic shows, a chili cook-off, chainsaw carving, a demolition derby and concerts.

Down in Prince Edward County, the Picton Fair (September 6 to 8) features a dog show, a midway, live music, an arm-wrestling contest, a celebrity bake-off, a baby show and more. The fairgrounds are at 375 Main Street East in Picton.

Catch a 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 5 to 15. My husband and I went 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 downtown 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 Belgium, Vietnam, Benin and the Dominican Republic) or catch an Oscar-bait Hollywood flick. A-list celebrities will be there, too, including Cate Blanchett, Will Ferrell, Selena Gomez and Bruce Springsteen.

See classic cars and motorcycles in Alexandria Bay

The Rollin’ Street Thunder Hogs and Rods Show (Sunday, September 8) 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.

Nosh on barbecue in Kingston

At the Kingston Ribfest and Craft Beer Show (September 6 to 8), you can buy chicken and ribs barbecued by five top ribbers, along with other treats like ice cream, corn on the cob, funnel cakes 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.

Admire fancy flowers in Manotick

The Manotick Horticultural Society is holding its Fall Live Flower Show on the lawn of Dickinson House (1127 Mill Street, Manotick) from 10am to 3pm on Saturday, September 7.

Sip soup in suburban Montreal

Do you like soup? I mean, really like soup? Then the Festival de la Soupe de Vaudreuil-Soulanges (on the west side of Montreal) on Sunday, September 8, 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 admission is free.

Be a wee bit Irish in Syracuse

The Syracuse Irish Festival will be lighting up Clinton Square in Syracuse, NY, with lots and lots of Celtic music—including a show by Eastern Ontario’s own Glengarry Bhoys—on September 6 and 7.

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 9 TO SEPTEMBER 15

As I write this paragraph, I’m in a small inn in the Laurentians, researching some future posts. So, to be completely honest, I just ran out of time to do my usual full descriptions of the following upcoming events! I’ll expand this post when I’m back in the office, so stay tuned for more details after September 8. I just wanted to give you the dates of some of the events now, so you could plan ahead.

• CityFolk music festival, Ottawa (September 11 to 15)
• Quebec City Film Festival (September 11 to 15)
• Spencerville Fair (September 12 to 15)
• Arts Carleton Place Art Hub Opening Celebration (September 12)
• Orleans Ribfest and Poutine (September 13 to 15)
• Prince Edward County Chamber Music Festival (September 13 to 15, and September 20 to 22)
• Open NCC (September 14)
• Stittsville Butter Tart Festival Market (September 14)
• Perth Night Market (September 14)
• Heating Up the Capital (hot sauce expo), Ottawa (September 14)
• Epic ’80s Block Party, Smiths Falls (September 14)
• Folk in the Forest music festival, Appleton (September 14)
• Taste! Community Grown, Prince Edward County (September 14)
• La Grande Fripe (used clothing sale), Gatineau (September 14 and 15)
• Memories of Childhood, Cumberland Heritage Village Museum (September 14 and 15)
• Glebe Fine Art Show (September 14 and 15)

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.