This week’s Heads Up post has news for gardeners and campers, foodies and nature lovers, parents and runners. I even tell you how you can qualify to win $1,500 worth of theatre tickets!
You can learn about permaculture gardening in Wakefield
Éco-Odyssée Nature Park in Wakefield is offering a three-hour workshop on outdoor garden preparation on Saturday, April 25. Participants will learn the basic principles of permaculture gardening.
Algonquin Park closes two offices
Ontario Parks recently announced the permanent closure of two offices in Algonquin Park: the Lake of Two Rivers Campground Office and the Lake Opeongo Access Point Office. Both are about an hour’s drive from Barry’s Bay. No reason was given for the closures. Kevin Callan, who writes a column called The Happy Camper for Explore magazine, is far from happy about the decision.
Hurry if you’d like to join the Chef’s Table
The Chef’s Table—a series of dinner-plus-live-music events happening at the National Arts Centre, in partnership with the Ontario Festival of Small Halls—is popular. How popular? Well, six of the evenings are already sold out to pre-sale buyers. Tickets to five more evenings in August and September remain.
After the pre-sale ends at 11:59pm on Tuesday, April 14, tickets will go on sale to the general public. If you want a pair of seats (they’re only sold in pairs), you might want to hurry to avoid disappointment. All of the three-course dinners will take place at 1 Elgin, the NAC’s restaurant overlooking the Rideau Canal.
Kingston has a new soccer team
Did you know that Kingston now has a pro-am men’s soccer team? The Kingston Sentinels are part of the Ontario Premier League, and tickets went on sale on April 11.
Take a breath in nature
Feeling overwhelmed by computer screens, deadlines or the world in general? Then you might be interested in signing up for Nature in Bloom, a guided nature immersion walk at the Dominion Arboretum in Ottawa on Monday, April 20. Along the way, Andrea Prazmowski of Forest Therapy Ottawa will gently encourage participants to bring their awareness to the sights, sounds and fragrances of spring—and to leave their stresses behind.
Sépaq accommodation reservations open this week
If you’d like to book a chalet, yurt, fishing cabin or other accommodations in the Quebec parks operated by Sépaq, mark Saturday, April 18, on your calendar. That’s when reservations will open on a staggered schedule throughout the day, beginning at 8am.
Dine in a vineyard in Navan
Tickets are available now for Dine in the Vines, a dining event at Domaine Perrault Vineyard in Navan on Saturday, May 30. The dinner’s three courses will be paired with Domaine Perrault wines, and you’ll enjoy it all while overlooking the vineyard.
Let your kids run around in Renfrew
If you’ve ever done a road trip with young kids, you’ll appreciate the value of a rest stop where the little ones can burn off some of their endless energy. Renfrew has just gained a new such spot with the March 25 opening of Bee Happy Playland. With lots of play structures and arcade games, the indoor playground looks like the sort of place that will amuse kids for ages. You’ll find it at 409 Stewart Street.
The Long Sault Parkway is opening for the season
Attention, fans of scenic drives: The Long Sault Parkway will open for the 2026 season at 11am on Friday, April 17. The causeway stretches across 11 islands in the St. Lawrence River, which were formed during the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway in the 1950s. It’s just over an hour’s drive from Ottawa, near the communities of Ingleside and Long Sault.
Note that there will be some construction this year. Here’s the word from the St. Lawrence Parks Commission. “In 2026, SLPC is beginning a major infrastructure investment on the Long Sault Parkway to enhance guest amenities and long‑term environmental sustainability. While the Long Sault Parkway will remain open all season, users may encounter brief single-lane delays near active construction areas. SLPC is working closely with construction crews to minimise disruption by scheduling work primarily during weekday daytime hours, and limiting traffic delays where possible. Users are encouraged to allow extra travel time and follow posted signage.”
You could win $1,500 worth of theatre tickets
Yes, you read that right. On Monday, April 27, the Gladstone Theatre in Ottawa will be launching its 2026–27 season of plays by local theatre companies. If you go to the launch, you’ll be eligible for a draw for a pair of tickets to every show in the upcoming season. That’s 21 performances and a value of $1,500 … but you must be in the audience to win. Tickets to the launch night are free, and there will be snacks!
Sign up now for Prescott run
Registration is open now for the South Grenville Chamber of Commerce River Run, taking place on Saturday, May 16, in Prescott. You can sign up for a 1K, 5K, 10K or 15K run.
Meet cookbook authors at Lansdowne Park
The Literary Feast 2026—taking place in the Horticulture Building at Lansdowne Park on Wednesday, May 6—gives you the chance to meet cookbook authors and buy signed copies of their books. A portion of the proceeds will go to the St. Joe’s Women’s Centre.
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.
