Planning ahead? Check this week’s Heads Up post to find out how you can sign up for a ski marathon, a film screening, a night of culinary discovery and much more.
Learn to weave in Carleton Place
Registrations are open now for a beginners’ weaving workshop at the Carleton Place Gallery on the evening of Wednesday, December 3. Participants will leave with a finished Christmas wall hanging and the skills they need to start weaving at home.
Sign up for the Canadian Ski Marathon
Do you love cross-country skiing? Then don’t miss your chance to sign up for the Canadian Ski Marathon (February 6 to 8, 2026). Sure, it seems early to think this far ahead, but register now and you’ll have months to get in shape! The marathon—the longest and oldest cross-country ski event in North America—isn’t a race. Rather, you can choose routes ranging from 15km in one day to a total of 160km over two days. The routes take skiers through the Outaouais and the Laurentians; Montebello is the event’s hub.
Watch a documentary and meet the co-director in Ottawa
Free tickets are running low for a special afternoon screening of The Nest at Carleton University on Wednesday, November 19. Voted a Top 20 Audience film at the 2025 Hot Docs International Film Festival, the documentary was written and co-directed by Julietta Singh. It delves into the history of Singh’s childhood house in Winnipeg, where she uncovers 140 years of forgotten matriarchs and political histories she never knew.
Taste whisky with paired food at the Diefenbunker
Tickets are available now for the Diefenbunker’s whisky tasting fundraiser on Saturday, November 22. Fine whiskies chosen by SFR Distillery will be paired with dishes from The Swan at Carp and desserts from Stella Luna Gelato Café, and there will be a silent auction, too. Tickets include a tax receipt for a portion of the ticket price.
Enjoy local food at an anniversary gathering
Urban Element, an Ottawa catering and events company, is marking its 20th anniversary on Saturday, November 29, with an “interactive culinary celebration” at Ottawa’s reStays Hotel. Guests will move among five food stations, where they’ll discover local products, learn cooking techniques and get recipe cards to take home. The evening will feature producers who have worked with Urban Element, including Juniper Farms, Enright Cattle Company and Mariposa Farms.
Make a wreath in Winchester
Tickets are available now for a two-hour afternoon wreath-making workshop at Yoga on the Farm Studio in Winchester on Sunday, November 23. Working with a 12-inch wire base, you’ll use dried and fresh greenery to create a one-of-a-kind wreath.
Play in the snow in Ontario
Now that we’ve had our first winter storm, some of you may be itching to get out and play in the snow. If that’s you, Destination Ontario has this list of 14 best places to visit in Ontario for winter adventure. Most of them are a bit of a hike from Ottawa, but now’s the time to plan!
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.