This week’s calendar of events is a bit shorter than usual, as many organizations seem to be taking a breather over the Thanksgiving weekend. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do—far from it. You can stroll through a magical forest in Montebello, cheer at two pro soccer matches at TD Place, enjoy a fall festival in Manotick, join a three-day walking festival in downtown Ottawa or shop for discount fashions in Gatineau. You can even ride a mechanical bull or see a unique art installation made of bells!
Table of contents
- Dance for a good cause in Arnprior
- Celebrate cycling on Parliament Hill
- Find fashion deals in Gatineau or Winchester
- Enjoy a play
- Celebrate fall in Manotick, Merrickville or Rigaud
- Take a magical walk in Montebello
- Make a basket in Almonte
- Go for a long walk or run downtown, in Cumberland or in Wakefield
- Hear bells bring statistics to life in Ottawa
- Enjoy a concert
- Browse for art in Lanark County or Haliburton
- Catch a soccer match at TD Place
- Check out a film festival in Montreal
- Get a taste of the arts Ontario
- Go to a market in Navan, Russell, Cornwall or Middleville
Dance for a good cause in Arnprior
On Saturday, October 11, the Bright Futures Benefit Dance in Arnprior will be raising money for three children fighting cancer. Attendees will have the chance to win a round of golf for four at Loch March (with carts), season tickets for two to the Arnprior Packers, or two tickets to an Ottawa Senators game (with parking). Other fundraisers will include an auction a mini-putt challenge. Sandee’s Country Kitchen Taco Bar will be serving up food, there will be a cash bar, and live music by Cohen Lauzon (starting at 6pm) and Silas (9pm to midnight) should keep things lively. It’s all happening at the St. John Chrysostom Parish Hall at 295 Albert Street, and the doors open at 5pm.
Celebrate cycling on Parliament Hill
Wednesday, October 8, is Bike Day on the Hill, a celebration of everyday cycling taking place on Parliament Hill. The focus this year will be on cycling’s contribution to Canadian prosperity. There will be events outside and inside, so you’ll need to register in advance and bring photo ID. The festivities start at 5pm.
Find fashion deals in Gatineau or Winchester
La Grande Braderie de Mode Québécoise, a fashion sale featuring more than 70 Quebec designers, will be drawing fashionistas to the Hilton Lac-Leamy in Gatineau (October 11 and 12). Designers are offering discounts of up to 70%.
Earlier in the week, the Main Street Clothing Company in Winchester will be marking its 11th anniversary with three days of promotions and in-store surprises (October 7 to 9).
Enjoy a play
There’s a theatrical performance for just about everyone this week, including a comedy set in a seniors’ residence (Jonas and Barry in the Home, Ottawa Little Theatre), a multidisciplinary show about an Indigenous South African woman brought to England against her will (The Hottentot Venus—Untold), a totally improvised performance about a bachelorette weekend (Wedding Party) and a drama about a classical musician who can’t play after a family tragedy (The Piano Teacher). See my theatre listing for details on these and many other upcoming plays.
Celebrate fall in Manotick, Merrickville or Rigaud
On Saturday, October 11, you can head to Heritage Stables on the outskirts of Merrickville for Fall for Merrickville, a celebration of the season that runs from 10am to 4pm. The attractions will include a vendors’ market, food trucks, live music, a petting zoo, hay rides and more—even a mechanical bull!
There’s lots happening at the Fall Finale at Watson’s Mill in Manotick on Sunday, October 12, including wagon rides, kids’ craft activities, a scavenger hunt and lawn games. It’s also your last chance this season to see the mill in wheat-grinding action.
From October 11 to 13, the Festival des Couleurs in Rigaud features a wide range of amusements, including live shows, a kids’ zone, a farmers’ market, food trucks, crafts and much more.
Take a magical walk in Montebello
Would you like to spend an hour strolling past 17 forest tableaus telling the story of a wolf cub? That’s what you’ll do if you buy tickets for Oniro, billed as “an immersive journey combining spectacular projections, enchanting scenery, spellbinding music and human voices.” The one-kilometre forest trail at Parc Oméga in Montebello is open on Friday and Saturday nights until November 1. Note that the wood-chip forest trail is not suitable for visitors with mobility restrictions. You can buy a ticket just for Oniro or a combo ticket that also gives you daytime access to Parc Oméga’s drive-through wilderness park.
Make a basket in Almonte
On Saturday, October 11, you can learn to weave a small rib basket with basket maker Michael Peterson of Beaux Arbres Basketry. The five-hour afternoon workshop is taking place at the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum in Almonte.
Go for a long walk or run downtown, in Cumberland or in Wakefield
If you want to offset your Thanksgiving feast with a bit of exercise, you have a walking festival and two runs to choose from this weekend.
La Marche Maple Leaf March (October 10 to 12) is a three-day, non-competitive walking festival that attracts participants from all over North America and beyond. You can choose from walks of various lengths: 5K, 10K, 20K and 42K (that last one is a marathon-length walk, in case you were wondering). Some are city walks, while others meander through parks and countryside. All walks start and end at the Royal Canadian Legion Montgomery Branch downtown (330 Kent Street).
Is running more your thing? In Cumberland, the Ottawa Fall Colours Run (Sunday, October 12) offers 3K, 5K, 10K, half-marathon and marathon runs, as well as a 1K Turkey Trot for kids and a 1K Wedding Dress Dash. The longer runs are qualifiers for the New York and Boston marathons. Runners set off from the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum. The online registration deadline is October 7 at 6pm, but you may still be able to sign up on site on race day, if spaces are still available.
And the Wakefield Covered Bridge Run (Sunday, October 12) features 3K, 5K, 10K and half-marathon runs across the namesake bridge and into Gatineau Park. There’s also a Thanksgiving brunch.
Hear bells bring statistics to life in Ottawa
OK, this is one of the most unusual events I’ve come across this year—it sounds truly fascinating! Databells is an art installation in the Salon des Bananes Gallery (2207 Carling Avenue) consisting of many bells. Artist Rich Loen has programmed each illuminated bell so that it rings in response to a particular statistic—something as mundane as each time an Amazon package is delivered or as profound as each time a new star is born in our galaxy. Databells is open from October 9 to 12, and again on October 16 and 17. Admission is free, but register on the website to make sure there’s space for you to visit.
Enjoy a concert
This week is packed with concerts, including James Keelaghan in Chelsea, Ashley MacIsaac in Carleton Place and Moose Creek, Chantal Kreviazuk in Prescott, The Arrogant Worms in McDonald’s Corners, and Big Sugar in Burnstown. See my concert list for links to these and many other shows.
Browse for art in Lanark County or Haliburton
Thanksgiving weekend (October 11 and 12) is a fun one for art lovers. In Lanark County, the Crown and Pumpkin Studio Tour winds through Almonte, Clayton, and Pakenham. More than 50 artists and artisans will be offering an extensive range of art, craft, design, food and beverages at 14 stops. Also in Lanark County, the Perth Studio Tour will showcase almost 30 artists in five studios between Perth and Maberly. And if you’re heading west, you can catch the final weekend of the Haliburton Highlands Studio Tour.
Catch a soccer match at TD Place
Soccer fans, you’re in luck this week, as both of Ottawa’s pro teams have home games. First up is Ottawa Rapid FC of the women’s Northern Super League, who are taking on Vancouver Rise FC on Wednesday, October 8. Later in the week, the Atlético Ottawa men’s team of the Canadian Premier League will play Vancouver FC on Sunday, October 12.
Check out a film festival in Montreal
I doubt many of the films showcased at Montreal’s Festival du nouveau cinéma (October 8 to 19) will be showing up on Netflix anytime soon, so catch them while you can. From Burkina Faso, Japan, Greece, Brazil and many other places, filmmakers have submitted everything from experimental animated films to documentaries. Over its 54-year history, the festival has presented films by all sorts of innovative directors, including Guy Maddin, Jane Campion, Atom Egoyan and Wim Wenders.
Get a taste of the arts Ontario
Ontario Culture Days (September 19 to October 12) sees theatres, galleries, arts organizations, museums and many other organizations offering all sorts of intriguing arts and cultural activities. It’s a great way to get a taste of what these places do, and one of these events might just inspire you to take a road trip to a new-to-you community. This week, for instance, you could help decorate a seven-foot canvas at Cline Gallery in Cornwall, check out an art show at Mariposa Farm in Plantagenet or go to an open studio event in Bells Corners.
Go to a market in Navan, Russell, Cornwall or Middleville
Robert Plante Greenhouses in Navan is hosting its second annual Thanksgiving Market on October 11 and 12. Browse for unique products from more than 130 vendors—crafts, gifts, food and more—and check out the tropical plants in the greenhouses. It runs from 9am to 4pm on both days.
In nearby Russell, the last Community Market of the season is taking place at the Russell Fairgrounds on Sunday, October 12, from 10am to 2pm.
In Cornwall, a Halloween Crafters Fair on Saturday, October 11, will see more than 30 local makers selling their wares at the Royal Canadian Legion from 10am to 4pm. Fun for the kids will include a trick-or-treat trail and a costume contest.
And in Middleville, a Fall Market on Saturday, October 11, is a fundraiser for the Middleville Ag Society and the 4H Craft Club. Foods, crafts and more will be available, starting at 9am.
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.