Early-bird tickets to the International Film Festival of Ottawa, the 411 on some local sand dunes, a tip on a concert that’s selling out quickly and the scoop on Chateau Montebello’s soon-to-be-ex owners—I have lots of news, deals and links to share with you this week.
Fairmont le Château Montebello for sale
If you have a lot of money in your piggy bank, you might be able to buy the world’s largest log building. Yep, the Fairmont le Château Montebello is up for sale. In 2014, the China Evergrande Group bought the landmark hotel, keeping Fairmont on as the property’s manager. However, the Chinese property developer is deep in debt, and a Hong Kong judge has ordered it to start liquidating its assets. There’s no word yet on the Château Montebello’s asking price, but it won’t be cheap. (Just because the Château is for sale doesn’t mean it will close or even change names. When hotel buildings are sold, the new owners often keep the existing property managers and branding.)
Early-bird pricing for Ottawa film festival
Interested in attending the International Film Festival of Ottawa (March 13 to 24)? You can save $50 on a festival pass if you order before Wednesday, February 14.
Ancient sand dunes…in Nepean
Did you know that there are ancient sand dunes—remnants of a long-gone sea—in the NCC Greenbelt just south of the Nepean Sportsplex? I sure didn’t, until I read a Canadian Geographic article about the Pinhey Sand Dunes recently. They were almost obliterated by an ill-conceived tree planting program in the 1950s, but now concerned people are working to save them and the unusual critters—such as beetle and ladybug species—that call the dunes home. When they’re not covered by snow, a hiking trail allows you to view them. This NCC blog post has more details.
Tickets selling quickly for Ladysmith Black Mambazo concert
The Ottawa Jazz Festival is raising funds for its operations with Jazz Night Out 2024, a concert featuring South African superstars Ladysmith Black Mambazo (Wednesday, April 3). The show at the Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre is already 60 percent sold out. Tickets start at $75 and include light refreshments and a tax receipt, as well as the show.
Early-bird prices for fancy spring dinner in Beckwith
Stonefields Estate in Beckwith, just outside Carleton Place, is holding a four-course Spring in Bloom dinner on Thursday, March 21. Tickets are $125 per person, but early-bird tickets are available now for $100. (No word on how long the discount will last.)
More eclipse news
In late 2023, I wrote a post about places to view the April 8 total solar eclipse. I’m adding to it all the time, as more and more places publish their plans for celebrating the big event. For instance, I’ve just added details about eclipse events in Gananoque, as well as a link to eclipse events and hotel packages in Alexandria Bay, New York. (By the way, kudos to Gananoque for the best punny eclipse name I’ve seen so far. Its events are being held in Joel Stone Park, so they’re called “Total Eclipse of the Park.”)
Looking for more tips on things to see and do in and around Ottawa? Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter or order a copy of my book, Ottawa Road Trips: Your 100-km 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.