Things to do in Ottawa, the Outaouais, Eastern Ontario and beyond (November 11 to November 17)

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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. Happy road tripping!

Cover photo by Thomas Park on Unsplash.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 11 TO NOVEMBER 17

Bring the family to a Santa Claus parade

Sure, it’s still over a month until Christmas, but the weather is usually warmer in November than December! Perhaps that’s why so many communities jump the gun and hold their Santa Claus parades early. This weekend, you can choose from Christmas parades in Prescott on Friday; downtown Ottawa, Kemptville, Cornwall and Brockville on Saturday; and Barrhaven on Sunday. See my big list of Santa parades for links to these events and many others.

Take an art class in Carleton Place or Chelsea

I’ve always loved birch trees—they’re so delicate looking, and yet their bark is strong enough to make a canoe. If you, too, like birch trees, you might be interested in an upcoming class that will show you how to paint a picture of a birch tree. The two-hour workshop by artist Kim Chase is taking place at the Carleton Place Gallery on Saturday, November 16.

Also on Saturday, November 16, artist Amanda Pierce is giving a workshop on creating a garden goddess textile sculpture using draped fabric and Powertex, a universal medium and fabric hardener. The class is taking place at La Fab sur Mill in Chelsea.

Tour gorgeous homes for a good cause in Ottawa

Yes, it’s time for Homes for the Holidays—that annual event where we get to stroll through beautiful homes that are festively decorated, all to raise money for hospice care. The event includes seven homes from Rockcliffe to Manotick and runs from November 15 to 17. For a sneak peek inside two of the homes on the tour, see my story from last Saturday’s Citizen (it was also in the Sun).

Shop ’til you drop in Ottawa, Brockville, Kingston and elsewhere

Festive Friday is a “holiday shopping crawl” in downtown Kingston on Friday, November 15. More than 30 downtown stores ill be offering workshops, free samples, special promotions and more (hours vary). Free gift wrapping and horse-drawn wagon rides will be available, too. And there will be a draw for a $500 Downtown Kingston gift card! Visitors are encouraged to donate food or cash to the Kingston Food Bank.

On November 16 and 17, the Ottawa Mystic Market is your chance to shop for crystals and tarot cards, meet with psychics, and explore all sorts of alternative ideas. It’s happening at Next Door Market and Event Space on Gladstone Avenue.

Miracle on King Street promises to transform downtown Brockville’s main shopping artery into a winter wonderland on Saturday, November 16, from 10am to 4pm. Visitors can check out Santa’s workshop, a petting zoo, free swing dancing lessons, a chili competition, axe throwing, and live music by the Amanda Keeley Trio, Soul to Squeeze, and Eddy and the Stingrays—and more! There will even be a screening of that holiday rom-com I mentioned a few weeks ago, Hot Frosty. (Note that there are also two Christmas craft fairs happening in Brockville on Saturday, and the Brockville Santa Claus Parade starts at 4:30pm.)

Speaking of holiday craft sales, there are LOTS of them happening this weekend! Name a place—Ottawa, Orleans, Nepean, Kanata, Stittsville, Carleton Place, Perth, McDonalds Corners, Williamstown, Kemptville, Prescott and more—and it has some sort of Christmas market this weekend. Check my big list of Christmas craft sales for links!

Taste whisky with paired food at the Diefenbunker

The Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum is holding its annual whisky tasting fundraiser on Saturday, November 16. Fine whiskies chosen by Savvy Company will paired with light, palate-cleansing dishes from The Swan at Carp, and there will be a silent auction, too.

Catch a concert in just about any genre

Music fans, don’t forget to check out my big concert list for links to all sorts of live shows this weekend, including Joyce N’Sana in Orleans, a fundraiser by Ali McCormick and Gentle Sparrow in Perth, Joe Grass at the National Arts Centre, the Canadian Showtime Chorus at Centrepointe, a Motown tribute in Brockville and Tragedy Ann in McDonalds Corners.

Sample fine food and wine in Ottawa

The Crave Food and Wine Festival on Saturday, November 16, gives you the chance to sample dishes and beverages from a range of local vendors, all in a festive atmosphere. There will be chef demonstrations, too. It’s taking place at the Rogers Centre (formerly the Shaw Centre) in downtown Ottawa.

Attend a gallery vernissage in Almonte

The Sivarulrasa Gallery in Almonte is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a show featuring works from 28 artists from Eastern Ontario and across Canada. On the exhibition’s opening day—Saturday, November 16—you can meet some of the artists at a vernissage from 2pm to 5pm. The show runs until December 22.

Have some laughs in Cornwall or Ottawa

The Best Damn Stand-Up Comedy Show at the Aultsville Theatre in Cornwall on Saturday, November 16, features three headliners who have played leading venues across Canada: Angela Maiorano-Thurston, Leny Corrado and Luke Lynndale.

The following night, Toronto comic Hassan Phills brings his funny takes on multicultural life in T.O. to the Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe. He’ll be giving two shows—at 6pm and 8:30pm—on Sunday, November 17.

Enjoy a play in Ottawa, Almonte or Brockville

This is the last weekend to catch a number of theatre productions in Ottawa and Eastern Ontario, including the thriller Guilty Conscience at Ottawa Little Theatre, the comedy Calendar Girls in Osgoode, the drama Dangerous Liaisons in Kanata and the musical The Wizard Is … Odd!? in Almonte. It’s also the first weekend to see lots of other shows, such as Beowulf in Afghanistan at the GCTC and The Lion in Winter at the Gladstone (both in Ottawa), as well as A Good Man Found in Brockville, A Christmas Carol: The Musical in Perth and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Centrepointe. For details on these and many other plays, see my theatre roundup post.

Eat well for less in the Outaouais and Montreal

Two separate restaurant promotions will give you the chance to enjoy multi-course menus at all sorts of restaurants for a special price in November. In Montreal, MTLàTABLE (October 31 to November 17) offers deals at more than 100 restaurants throughout the greater Montreal area. The newer Outaouais au menu event (October 31 to November 16) is modelled on the Montreal promotion and features 24 restaurants in various Outaouais communities, including Gatineau, Chelsea and Montebello. (P.S.: I was hosted at Le Cellier in Hull recently and I can report that their Outaouais au menu table d’hôte is delicious–try the beef cheeks! See my photo above.)

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.