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🆓 We’ll never know how we neglected to mention Bug Day in last Wednesday’s Food and Drink update, but if you’ve been longing to sample cricket ice cream, tomorrow’s your chance. On the other hand, if eating bugs isn’t your thing, you might enjoy the cockroach races, learn how to identify the critters you encounter, speak to an entomologist about all things bugs, and generally immerse yourself in the world of insects. Bug Day Ottawa is presented by Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids, and Nemotods. 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Experimental Farm, 960 Carling Ave., K1A 0C6.
Road Trip: The 2024 Akwesasne Powwow fills Lamoureux Park in Cornwall with two days of drumming, dancing, and great food and drink.
Road Trip: It almost sounds too good to be true, but the Harvest festival at Carleton Place Farmer’s Market will run both a Chili Contest and a Pie Contest. As exciting as those competitions are going to be, there’s a slight chance that all eyes will be glued to the 4H Rabbit Relay. You’ll only know for sure if you go to the event at 7 Beckwith St., Carleton Place.
Visit more than 50 vendors Square Lemon Ottawa’s Fall into Craft Marketat the Glebe Community Centre (175 Third Ave).
Kick up your heels at Barn Dance in support of the Navan Pavilion Project. The Young Bucks will supply the tunes, with Wooden Nickels opening.
Almonte Fibrefest weekend means shopping from more than 80 vendors selling completed pieces, fibres, and other supplies, and you can also register for the workshop series, which run until September 11. Until Sunday at Mississippi Mills Textile Museum and Almonte Community Centre.
Urban Art Collective’s Antique & Vintage Market 2 promises homewares, vintage clothing, toys, and vinyl records, alongside tasty food and drink from the onsite vendors. It's a pet friendly. Noon to 5:00 pm at 1088 Somerset St W.
One of the best things about Fall (even when it’s still technically Summer) is the chance to peek behind the curtain during artist studio tours. There are nearly 30 artists taking part in the Arteast Ottawa Fine Arts Studio Tour, today and tomorrow from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Stray Dog Brewing Company celebrates their 7th anniversary Saturday with a family-friendly Seven Year Itch Party. This celebration will have everything a good gathering needs: Beer, food, music, games, and dogs. 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Buy beer tokens in advance to save time and hassle.
Ottawa’s newest market and event space, Next Door, officially opens today with a shopping experience provided by 20 vintage retailers.
(Massive) Road Trip: Savour East Ontario – a network of food and agricultural businesses in Eastern Ontario – presents Savour the Field / Au coeur du champ: a one-day celebration of the agri-food community. From 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, enjoy unique experiences at one or more stops on the event's impressive list of participating farms, restaurants, and other producers. Each location has a QR code that you can scan, and once you’ve collected five or more you’ll be entered into a draw to win a gift basket with items from many of the participating businesses. the ottawan loves a challenge, and we want to hear from you if you make it to five or more stops on the trail.
One for the nerds, in the best possible way: Rogues & Reveals is a burlesque, drag, and music event based on fantasy table-top role-playing games. This event is brought to you by Toronto’s Nerd Girl Burlesque. 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm at Arts Court. Tickets $27.96
BeechFest is Vanier’s favourite street party, with live music, food and drink, a drag show, and MPCCC Pints in the Park.
Afrofestival celebrates African cultures with food, drink, fashion, art, dance, drum classes, and an incredible line up of live music by African-Canadian artists. Tickets $30 plus fees. Today and tomorrow at Mooney’s Bay Park.
We've entered the corn maze season. The 3-acre maze is ready at Log Farm, and once you and the kids have found your way out there’s plenty of other fun stuff to do. Take a wagon ride, go scarecrow spotting, visit the animals, turn the littles loose in Matilda’s Pioneer Play Kitchen, wander through the Enchanted Forest, and soak up the late summer sun. The farm is open rain or shine, so dress accordingly.
The gates open at 10:00 am at the Aero Gatineau-Ottawa 2024 show.
Road Trip: Ridge Rock Brewing in Carp is holding a fundraising concert for the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre. As I am Kentucky provides the live tunes, you can bid on the auctions offering fabulous prizes and enjoy the fine beer and food. While you’re at the brew pub, take note of the local touches like the steel around the bar, which was taken from the old railroad, and the tables made from area trees. Ridge Rock is a true community meeting place.
Road Trip: Art lovers will want to catch the artists in action at the Smiths Falls Heritage Museum Rideau Artist of the Year Competition 2024. Watch today and tomorrow (Sunday September 8) in Centennial and Murphy Parks as artists recreate the scene in front of them, live and in the open air. The finished works will be submitted for judging, and all pieces will be on display at the Artisan Village in Smiths Falls.
Road Trip: Today’s highlights from the Almonte Fair: after the gates open at 9:00 am check out the Light Horse Show. They say there’s an actual unicorn in the Agricultural Education Tent (let us know what you find!). Meanwhile the competition will be hot in the Chili CookOff at 4:00 pm.
What’s on your shopping list for the farmer’s market this weekend? Apples are in season, but so are beets, celeriac (they make delicious chips, btw), cucumber, garlic, new potatoes, Swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips and zucchini, along with many others. Stop by a market near you:
🥕 Ottawa Street Farmers’ Market at Grande Allée Park (Saturday)
🥕 Beechwood (Saturday)
🥕 Westboro (Saturday)
🥕 Lansdowne Market (Sunday)
🥕 Road Trip: Almonte (Saturday)
🥕 Road Trip: Carp (Saturday)
🥕 Ottawa Organic Farmers Market (Saturday)
🥕 Alta Vista (Saturday)
🥕 Elgin St (Sunday)
🥕 Road Trip: Carleton Place Farmers Market (Saturday)
🥕 Cumberland (Saturday)
🥕 Kanata Farmers Market (Saturday)
🥕 Road Trip: Kemptville (Sunday)
🥕 Road Trip: Metcalfe (Saturday)
🥕 Manotick (Saturday)
🥕 North Gower (Saturday)
🥕 Stittsville (Sunday)
🥕 Road Trip: Perth (Saturday)
🥕 Across the Ottawa River: Old Aylmer Farmers’ Market (Sunday)
ByTowne Cinema: 2024 Cat Video Fest, Saturday Afternoon Classic: It Happened One Night, Dernière Danse (Last Dance), Didi
Mayfair Theatre: Across the River and Into the Trees, Cuckoo
Gigs
Angelina Hunter Trio. Atomic Rooster
Barrelhouse Tribute Night. Rainbow Bistro
The Bushpilots, Ken Dirschl. Irene’s Pub
Big Newton Live. Conspiracy Theory Brewing
We Walk the Line: Johnny Cash Tribute. Centrepointe Theatre
Saravah Nights. Club SAW
Punk Frenzy: Sugar Bomb, Loch Nisse Monster, Victor Complex. Café Dekcuf
Sorry Snowman, Frown Line, Fleeting Colours. House of TARG
Bayash Sisters. Red Bird
Annam’s Family Jazz Project. Montgomery Scotch Lounge
Big Shiny Nite with the Social Distance Band. Bar Robo
Barrelhouse presents the Beatles: Abbey Road. Rainbow Bistro
Hadi Kubba: Dirty and Afraid Comedy Tour. LIVE on Elgin