Summer’s over, and that’s always a bit sad; but in its wake is our beautiful Canadian fall. In Ottawa and surrounding areas, there are many sweet ways to enjoy it to the fullest.
Fun, safe, environmentally friendly
If you’re a cyclist, rollerblader or walker, using a wheelchair or pushing a stroller, you can be right in the midst of changing leaves and fresh autumn air, thanks to the National Capital Commission’s Weekend Bikedays, closed to regular traffic on some of its parkways in the city.
Here are the locations:
Kichi Zībī Mīkan
It runs along the south side of the Ottawa River, just west of the downtown core, then winds its way past popular shoreline destinations such as Remic Rapids Park, Bate Island, Westboro Beach, Deschênes Rapids Lookout and Mud Lake.
- 8 am to 4 pm
- From Vimy Place to Carling Avenue (9 km)
Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway
This runs along the south side of the Ottawa River, just east of the downtown core. It’s connected to the Capital Pathway network, which leads to beautiful views of the Ottawa River and to the NCC River House.
- 8 am to 4 pm
- Both lanes, from Aviation Parkway to St. Joseph Boulevard in Orléans (8 km)
Queen Elizabeth Driveway
Along the west side of the Rideau Canal, this is also connected to the Capital Pathway network, which leads to nearby Patterson Creek Park and Commissioners Park.
- 8 am to 8 pm
- Both lanes, from Fifth Avenue to Somerset Street (2.4 km)
Pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins
Sept. 27 to Oct. 14 and again from Oct. 16 to Oct. 31
Upper Canada Village, 13740 County Road 2, Morrisburg, Ontario
Take a nighttime stroll at Pumpkinferno through a truly extraordinary outdoor exhibit of more than 7,000 handcrafted, lit-up pumpkins lit up along a 1-km path.
The pumpkins have been designed and carved by a talented group of young artists from the Eastern Ontario region.
You’ll need to buy your tickets online, here.
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October Frightfest
Note: For grownups only: Not recommended for children under 12. But there are lots of activities for little ones, too. See below.
September 21 – October 31
Saunders Farm, 7893 Bleeks Road, Ottawa, Ontario
Have fun as a family or a group at Pumpkin Season and FrightFest as you get spooked by street theatre and attractions such as “The Cemetery”, “The Haunted Hayride”, “The Coven” and “The Shambles”.
Advanced tickets for specific time periods are required. Buy tickets here.
For little ones, there is Pumpkinfest, 10 am to 5 pm. It includes a pirate ship, treehouse and woodland adventure play structures and hedge mazes. There is also a wagon ride through the pumpkin fields leaving every hour on the hour between 11 am and 2 pm.
Buy tickets here.
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Farmers’ markets in Ottawa and surrounding areas
It’s perhaps one of the most pleasant, leisurely things to do at Thanksgiving: buying fresh locally-grown vegetables and locally-handcrafted items.
Here are some of the best farmers markets you’ll find anywhere in the region. Watch the dates, however: most close on Thanksgiving weekend.
Saturdays, 9am to 1pm until Oct. 12
10km East of Place d’Orléans in between Orléans and Rockland.
A seasonal market with goods from local farmers’ families, bakers, artists, gardeners, and more.
Oct. 6, 8am to 1pm
Carp Fairgrounds, 3790 Carp Rd.
This is a one-day event called Market Day: Harvest Celebration. Several local vendors will be there as well as a fall-themed scavenger hunt for children.
Manotick Sunday Market Sundays until Oct. 13, 10 am – 4 pm, in the parking lot of the 692 Coffee and Bar along Manotick’s Main Street.
Ottawa Farmers’ Market This is an Ottawa-based producer-only organization that features more than 150 vendors from within 100 kms of Ottawa.
Lansdowne Farmers’ Market: Sundays Year-Round 9am – 4pm, Aberdeen Pavilion, 1000 Exhibition Way.
Main Street Farmers’ Market: Saturdays to October 26, 9am – 2pm, Grande Allée Park, 185 Main St
Westboro Farmers’ Market Saturdays to Oct. 26, 9 am to 3 pm, Byron Linear Park 579 Byron Ave.
Orléans Farmers’ Market Thursdays to Oct. 31, 11 am to 4 pm, Ray Friel Recreation Complex Parking Lot, 1675 10th Line Rd, Ottawa.
Barrhaven Farmers’ Market Sundays to Oct. 27 10 am to 2 pm, Nepean Woods Park & Ride, Strandherd Drive.
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The Rideau Canal
Fall hours to Oct. 14: Monday to Friday, 10 am to 4 pm; Saturday to Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm
If you haven’t taken a trip through this UNESCO World Heritage Site, or if you’d like to take another trip one last time before it closes for the winter, note its last day for the season: Oct. 14 at 5 pm. Some of the prettiest routes to see the colours of fall are from Westport to Jones Falls, a full day’s trip there and back, so if you take that route, start at Westport at the earliest scheduled morning hour (10 on weekdays, 9 on Sundays).
The Lagois team says farewell to summer, even though some of us wish it would stay a little longer. Here’s to beautiful October weather with rich autumn-blue skies and leaves of many colours.
Happy fall!
