Looking to save a bit of money on your summer road trips? Read on to find out about a culinary package deal at a Kingston hotel, and savings “passports” in Montreal and Ottawa. I also have the scoop on tickets to a Shakespeare festival in Prescott, a music festival in Bath and the upcoming season at Centrepointe. Plus, you’ll find out where to rent outdoor gear in the Outaouais and which local cheesemaker is reopening for the season this weekend.
Events
- Single-day tickets to the FMG (Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival) go on sale on Monday, June 1.
- Tickets for the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival in Prescott (July 16 to August 7) are on sale now.
- You can also now get tickets for the Blue Door Gala, a fundraiser for the Ottawa Mission taking place on November 12.
- Registration is open now for the weaving, felting, knitting and other craft workshops at the Twist Fibre Festival in Saint-André-Avellin (August 5 to 9).
- Tickets are available now for shows in the first half of the 2026–27 season at the Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe. Choices include a taping of the CBC comedy show “The Debaters” and Pierre Brault’s popular one-man version of A Christmas Carol.
- You can get tickets now for a touring production of a new musical version of The Great Gatsby, coming to the National Arts Centre from September 8 to 13.
- Tickets are available now for Sunset on the Riviera, a gala fundraiser for BCG Ottawa (formerly the Boys and Girls Club) on Thursday, September 3.
- You can also get tickets for the always-popular Back to the Farm music festival at MacKinnon Brothers Brewing in Bath. It’s happening on Sunday, August 16, this year, with headliners Goldie Boutillier, Sloan and Yukon Blonde.
Discounts and deals
- The Frontenac Club hotel in Kingston is offering a two-night food experience package that includes Kingston Food Tours tickets, a $50 credit to Bobbi Pecorino’s Italian Wine Bar, welcome wine with charcuterie, breakfast for two, parking, and more. (Wondering what the Frontenac Club is like? Read my review.)
- Heading to Montreal? The Passport MTL gives you discounts and deals (an average of 35 percent off) on lots of events and attractions.
- Doing a staycation this year? The Visit Ottawa Pass offers discounts on lots of Ottawa attractions, and if you buy an adult pass, you get a kids’ pass for free.
- Speaking of Ottawa deals: Did you know that you can borrow museum passes for free from the Ottawa Public Library, if you have an OPL card?
Other news
- Back Forty Artisan Cheese in Mississippi Station reopens for the season on Friday, May 29.
- Tourisme Outaouais has a good guide to outdoors centres across the Outaouais, including lots of places where you can rent kayaks, bikes and more.
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.
