Whether you’re in the mood for music, theatre, shopping, books, wine tasting or dog walking, this week’s calendar of events has something for you, in destinations from Aylmer to Alexandria and points beyond. Enjoy!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Enjoy events for book lovers in Old Ottawa South, Rockcliffe Park and Bells Corners
- Shop for art in Aylmer or Smiths Falls
- Tour festive homes in Vankleek Hill
- See a play in Ottawa or Merrickville
- See cool movies in Ottawa and Montreal
- Take your dog on a charity walk in Alexandria
- Go shopping in Navan or Little Italy
- Speaking of markets…
- Dine for a good cause at the Rogers Centre
- Head to a francophone music fest in Montreal
- Sample new-to-you wines in Little Italy or Orléans
- How about a concert?
- SAVE THE DATE
- NEED A PLACE TO STAY?
Enjoy events for book lovers in Old Ottawa South, Rockcliffe Park and Bells Corners
Ottawa author and artist Christian McPherson will be launching his latest book, Screaming Obscenities at the Sky, at House of Targ in Old Ottawa South on Thursday, November 6. Here’s a synopsis of the book from the event’s website: “What if Mad Magazine had an unholy lovechild with Salvador Dali and that child was raised on heaping doses of psychedelia and biting political satire. Well, you wouldn’t even be scratching the surface of Christian McPherson’s Screaming Obscenities at the Sky.” Colour me intrigued!
A highlight of the year for book lovers is the annual Rockcliffe Park Public School Book Fair, taking place from November 7 to 9. The event opens at 10am daily (closing times vary) and features a large, frequently changing selection of gently used books, CDs, DVDs, vinyl records, puzzles and games.
And on Saturday, November 8, Kichesippi Beer Co. in Bells Corners is hosting Books on Tap from 1pm to 4pm. Meet local authors in a variety of genres—including mystery, romance and fantasy—and buy their books while sipping craft beer.
Shop for art in Aylmer or Smiths Falls
Gatineau en Couleurs (November 7 to 9) is a multidisciplinary art show and sale where you can see artists at work and buy their creations. Painters and sculptors from across the Outaouais and beyond will be participating in the event, which is taking place at the Château Cartier in Aylmer.
Meanwhile, at the Heritage House Museum in Smiths Falls, you can drop into the opening day of the museum’s 43rd annual art show. The event showcases local artists and will run until December 20.
Tour festive homes in Vankleek Hill
Looking for decorating inspiration? The Vankleek Hill Christmas Home Tour on Saturday, November 8, will showcase six festively festooned homes in the community about an hour’s drive east of Ottawa.
See a play in Ottawa or Merrickville
Plays continuing in Ottawa include Abraham Lincoln Goes to the Theatre at the GCTC and The Turn of the Screw at Ottawa Little Theatre. New shows opening this week include The Spitfire Grill in Kanata and Babette’s Feast at the Gladstone Theatre.
Further afield, Theatre Night in Merrickville is hosting the Eastern Ontario Drama League’s One-Act Play Festival this year. From November 7 to 9, you can take in nine one-act plays produced by theatre companies across Eastern Ontario, including Ottawa Little Theatre, Kanata Theatre, Dundas County Players, North Grenville Community Theatre, Theatre Night in Merrickville and Studio Theatre Perth.
You’ll find details on these and many more plays in my theatre roundup post.
See cool movies in Ottawa and Montreal
OCan25 is a three-day celebration of Canadian movies at the Bytowne Cinema at 325 Rideau Street (November 6 to 8). Seventeen movies are on the program, including short narrative films and short documentaries, some by Ottawa directors. On Thursday night, the featured film is It Comes in Waves by Ottawa director Fitch Jean (see video above). In this drama, a family escapes the genocide in Rwanda and lands in Ottawa, but things don’t turn out as they’d hoped.
A francophone film festival called Cinemania is running at multiple theatres in Montreal from November 4 to 16. The movies come from a range of francophone countries, including France, Belgium, Morocco and Tunisia—and Canada, of course. There’s something for just about every taste, whether you like coming-of-age stories, documentaries, comedies, sports movies or animation. And if you’re not bilingual, don’t worry—all of the movies are subtitled in English.
Take your dog on a charity walk in Alexandria
You still have time to raise the $100 in pledges you’ll need to join the Dog Walk-a-Thon in Alexandria on Sunday, November 9! Enjoy a scenic walk with your four-legged friend, support a great cause and vie for prizes! The money will go to the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, which is constructing a new training facility in Oakville, Ontario.
Go shopping in Navan or Little Italy
The Robert Plante Greenhouses in Navan are hosting an evening open house on Friday, November 7, to launch the company’s Christmas lineup of indoor and outdoor holiday decorations, plants and planters, swags, wreaths, and more! There will be exclusive shopping deals, holiday drinks and a photo booth, too.
At the Original Navan Market (Sunday, November 9), you can browse for foods, crafts and more from a huge range of local vendors. It’s happening at the Navan Fairgrounds (1279 Colonial Road) from 10am to 3pm. This is the market’s last date of the regular season.
And on Gladstone Avenue in Little Italy, VPOP613 is holding a Sweater Weather Secondhand Market on November 8 and 9. Come shop for vintage and other secondhand items designed to keep you cozy as winter closes in.
Speaking of markets…
This weekend offers a whole new selection of Christmas craft fairs to visit, including events in Blackburn Hamlet, Orléans, Nepean, Kinburn, Gatineau, Wakefield, Arnprior, Carleton Place, Kemptville, Alexandria and many more.
Dine for a good cause at the Rogers Centre
The 14th annual Ottawa Police Gala is taking place on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at the Rogers Centre in Ottawa. Guests will enjoy a gourmet dinner, auctions, raffles and live music by The Derringers. Over the years, the gala has raised over $1 million for local charities. This year’s event will support the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre, the Capital Prosperity Foundation, and the Ottawa Police Service Memorial Cemetery at Beechwood.
Head to a francophone music fest in Montreal
Looking to discover some cutting-edge francophone music? Then check out Coup de coeur francophone (November 6 to 16), which features emerging and avant-garde musicians working in French, from across Canada and around the world. Shows are scheduled in cities across Canada, but the main hub is Montreal.
Sample new-to-you wines in Little Italy or Orléans
Savvy Company is throwing a wine-tasting event in Ottawa’s Little Italy on Thursday, November 6. Outstanding in Their Fields gives you the chance to taste more than 100 wines, meet the winemakers and order your favourite bottles.
Later in the week, the Orléans Cork and Fork Festival is coming to the Shenkman Arts Centre in Orléans on November 7 and 8. You can choose from three timeslots—Friday evening, Saturday afternoon or Saturday evening—and enjoy wine and local craft spirits tastings, fine food, live music, and cooking demonstrations.
How about a concert?
It’s a busy week for live music, with Georgia Harmer and Lara Klaus in separate shows at the NAC, the Cantata Singers of Ottawa at Christ Church Cathedral, Mikhail Laxton in Chelsea, Amanda Rheaume in McDonald’s Corners, Jane Bunnett and Maqueque in Kingston, and more. See my concert roundup for links to these and many other shows.
SAVE THE DATE
Here are a few upcoming events you might want to add to your calendar, if you’re planning ahead. (Look for details on these events and many others in upcoming posts.)
- November 13 and 14: Minoshkite Indigenous Music & Arts Festival, Ottawa
- November 14 to 16: Homes for the Holidays, Ottawa
- November 14 to 29: European Union Film Festival, Ottawa
- November 15: Miracle on King Street, Brockville
- November 16: Barrhaven Santa Claus Parade
- November 28: CPKC Holiday Train, Finch, Merrickville, Smiths Falls and Perth
- November 28 to 30: Local Christmas Shop and Hop, Lansdowne, Lyndhurst, Seeley’s Bay, Delta and Elgin
- December 4 to 7: Casselman Christmas Festival
NEED A PLACE TO STAY?
If you’re planning to head to any of these events and you need accommodation, why not use the map below to find a place to stay? If you book a place (anywhere in the world!) using the map, I’ll receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting this site!
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.