This week’s Heads Up post has something for both seat-of-the-pants road trippers and long-range planners. Looking for something to enjoy right away? Check out the details on two culinary events in Kingston next week, migratory birds currently arriving in our region and a new Brockville bookstore that’s open now. Looking ahead to summer? Find out when Gatineau’s balloon festival is announcing its entertainment lineup, when you can reserve 2026 campsites in the Parks of the St. Lawrence and where you can get tickets to the Downtown Smiths Falls Music Festival. I also have the scoop on the Cirque du Soleil show coming to Ottawa this fall and much more.
St. Lawrence Parks camping reservations open this week
Are you hoping to pitch your tent this summer in one of the many campsites managed by the St. Lawrence Parks Commission? Then mark your calendar for 9am on Thursday, March 19. That’s when reservations open for the season. Come prepared to book immediately; last year, the website logged 7,000 reservations on opening day! Here’s where you can make your reservation. The Parks of the St. Lawrence dot the shore of the St. Lawrence River from the 1000 Islands to the Quebec border.
Canadian Geographic highlights Ottawa’s founding
It’s Ottawa’s 200th birthday this year and, in honour of the occasion, Sarah Brown of Canadian Geographic takes a fascinating look back at the capital’s early days. (They “made the Wild West look tame,” says one expert.)
Cirque du Soleil tickets are available
News for those who like to plan far in advance: Cirque du Soleil is bringing its show Luzia to a big top in the parking lot of Ottawa’s St. Laurent Shopping Centre from September 10 to October 18 this year. The artistic acrobatic show promises to virtually transport the audience to a variety of locales in Mexico, from a sunny beach to a smoky dancehall. Tickets are available now.
Balloon fest entertainment lineup will be announced soon
Eager to find out what live entertainment the organizers of the Festival de montgolfières de Gatineau have booked this year? The festival will be announcing the lineup on Monday, March 23, at 7am.
Downtown Smiths Falls Music Festival tickets are available
Tickets to the Downtown Smiths Falls Music Festival (Saturday, September 12) went on sale last week. Along with headliners The Trews, performers include Ambre McLean, Spencer Scharf, Vicki Brittle, and The One Eyed Dawgs.
Brockville has a new bookstore
I’m a bit late off the mark with this news, but literature fans will likely be interested anyway! A new independent bookstore, Cover to Cover, opened at 88 King Street West in Brockville at the end of January. This week, it’s hosting mermaid readings for March Break on Thursday, March 19 (1:30pm to 3pm) and Friday, March 29 (10am to 11:30am). Come summer, the owners plan to offer a book club, local author readings and more. The shop is definitely on my list to check out, next time I’m in Brockville.
Kingstonlicious events still have space
This week’s Kingstonlicious event (a festive dinner at Le Jardin) is sold out. However, tickets are still available for the two Kingstonlicious events next week: a family-style Italian meal at Heist Restaurant on Tuesday, March 24, and a dinner/cooking class at Juniper Café on Wednesday, March 25.
Get out your binoculars, birdwatchers
Spring is prime time for birdwatching. Not only are many birds migrating between their winter and summer habitats, but the leafless state of deciduous trees makes them easier to see. Wondering what birds you are most likely to see when? The Eastern Ontario Birding website has a handy guide to spring arrivals, broken down week by week. (According to the guide, birds of prey, a variety of gulls and song sparrows are all likely to be appearing in our region right around now.)
Register now for a May fundraising walk in Ottawa
Hike for Hospice Care Ottawa is a major fundraising event for local hospice facilities, which provide compassionate care for people facing end-of-life illnesses. You can sign up now to participate in a 5km fundraising walk on Sunday, May 31. It will be a loop from the Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre near Britannia Beach.
Eight Ottawa festivals get a cash infusion
Ottawa Tourism, on behalf of Ottawa City Hall, has awarded eight $125,000 grants to local festivals to help them with marketing, programming and other financial requirements. This Ottawa Citizen story has details on which festivals received the cash and how they intend to spend it.
Now’s the time to get Montreal Grand Prix tickets
Tickets to the Montreal Grand Prix usually sell out far in advance of the event. If you’d like to see pro drivers racing around Montreal really, really quickly on May 22, 23 and 24, you should probably nab your tickets soon.
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.
