These events listings appear in the Summer edition of Ottawa Magazine. For more local events and July and August roadtrips, buy the magazine on newsstands or order your online edition.
Tubie Festival. Aug. 2 to 4. If you’re looking to beat the heat, build your best homemade watercraft and take it to Morrisburg for a weekend of fun. Though the weekend culminates in races on Sunday, plenty of other fun events lead up to them. Dances for teenagers and adults, a parade, and a children’s festival featuring a reptile show on Saturday are things to look forward to. There’s also a beer garden down by the water. $20 licensed dance, $8 teen dance, free admission for all other events. Waterfront Park, Morrisburg, 613-543-3532, www.morrisburglionsclub.ca.
Glengarry Highland Games. Aug. 2 and 3. You don’t have to be Scottish to enjoy the rich history of these traditional games. Their 65th anniversary last year featured 47 pipe bands, 235 Highland dancers, and fiddlers of all ages for a musical salute to their homeland. Expect similar events this year, plus folk rock band The Elders as a musical headliner. The popular heavyweight competitions include the caber, where a competitor must pick up the caber, run, and toss it so that it lands at the 12 o’clock position. Visitors can also show their pride at the clan parade and the Tartan Ball (tickets $50). $20 daily, children under 12 free. 34 Fair St., Maxville, 613-527-2876, 888-298-1666, www.glengarryhighlandgames.com.
Thousand Island Playhouse. Aug. 2 to 31: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a musical comedy that invites the audience right along with six awkward overachievers as they struggle both to stand out and to fit in. A performance packed with catchy tunes. Aug. 16 to Sept. 14: The (Post) Mistress invites audiences to step inside the world of small-town postmistress Marie-Louise. The talented post-mistress shares her uncanny ability to see the lives and stories within each letter through 12 hilarious tunes. $32, seniors $30, students and children $16. 690 Charles St., Gananoque, 613-382-7020, www.1000islandsplayhouse.com.
Williamstown Fair. Aug. 9 to 11. Described as Canada’s oldest annual fair, the Williamstown Fair is celebrating its 202nd year. With a myriad of activities each day, must-sees (and dos) include beach volleyball, karaoke, artisan displays, antique machinery, tug-of-war, foot races, midway games and rides, agricultural shows, and live performances. Day pass $10, weekend pass $20, children 12 and under free. Williamstown Fairgrounds, Williamstown, 613-347-2841, www.williamstownfair.com.
Classic Theatre Festival. Aug. 9 to Sept. 1: The Marriage-Go-Round. When a young Swedish bombshell throws herself at a brilliant, middle-aged academic, the ensuing mayhem creates many laugh-filled — and thought-provoking — scenes about the state of marital life. $30, youth under 30 $21. 26 Craig St., Perth, 877-283-1283, www.classictheatre.ca
Perth Garlic Festival. Aug. 10 and 11. Time to celebrate the “stinking rose.” This annual event was created in 1997 to promote Ontario-grown garlic. Proceeds from the festival are distributed to community initiatives supported by the Lions Club of Perth. With over 50 vendors, events, and activities to choose from, you won’t run out of ways to appreciate the aromatic herb. $5, children under 12 free. Perth Fairgrounds, County Road 10, Perth, 877-268-2833, www.perthgarlicfestival.com.
Puppets Up! International Festival. Aug. 10 and 11. Puppets Up! is a two-day international festival devoted to the art of puppetry and fun. Professional puppet troupes travel from around the globe to entertain the thousands of visitors who attend the festival each year. The theme for 2013 is Family Reunion, so get the family together and come check out these tricks and illusions. Performances take place along the banks of the Mississippi River in tented and storefront theatres. $20, children three to 12 $10, children under three free. Almonte Fairgrounds, Almonte, www.puppetsup.ca.
Calabogie Blues & Rib Fest. Aug. 16 to 18. All good things come together at Calabogie during this three-day festival. Attendees enjoy sticky ribs while listening to blues grooves by some of Canada’s best musical talent. For those looking to keep their costs down, camping is available for both tents and RVs. $65 weekend pass, day pass prices vary, children under 12 free, savings available for early ticket purchase. Calabogie Peaks Resort, 30 Barrett Chute Rd., Calabogie, 800-669-4861, www.calabogieblues.com.
Corn Roast and Music Night at Murphy’s Point Park. Aug. 17. Spend the day at Murphy’s Point Provincial Park. In the afternoon, lounge on the beach or hike the trails. Then gather round the campfire pit at 6 p.m. for a corn roast featuring local Lanark County corn. Stick around the amphitheatre for Music Night, which kicks off at 8 p.m. with songs, stories, and skits courtesy of special guests Sherryl Fitzpatrick and East Coast native Kimberley Holmes. The performers bring the rich heritage of the park to life on the fiddle, piano, whistle, and guitar. Daily vehicle permits from $10.75. 2243 Elm Grove Rd., Perth, 613-267-5340, www.heritagemicadays.ca
Pakenham Fall Fair. Aug. 17. After more than 100 years, this fair is still going strong. The traditional activities include horticultural exhibits, horse shows, dairy and beef shows, log skidding, craft shows, antique tractors and cars, and spinning and weaving demonstrations. Don’t forget to try country favourites from the barbecue, along with fresh lemonade and homemade pie. $3, children under 10 free. Stewart Community Centre, 112 MacFarland St., and Pakenham Community Park, Pakenham, 613-256-1077 ext. 22, www.mississippimills.ca.
Food Lovers’ Field Days. Aug. 17 and 18. Get a taste of the region as Upper Canada Village offers appetizing bits and bites of nature’s bounty. Local food and beverage artisans set up shop in the Village Fairgrounds. Visitors can also check out the heritage cooking demonstrations and learn how regional ingredients have been used historically. $17, youth and seniors $14, children five and under free. Upper Canada Village, 13740 County Rd. 2, www.uppercanadavillage.com.
North Lanark Highland Games. Aug. 24. Celebrating Scottish culture, athletics, and music on the banks of the Mississippi River. The 6,000 visitors enjoy 20 pipe bands, 100 dancers, and champion heavyweight athletes, along with mini games organized for kids. The grounds contain Scottish concessions, where visitors can buy traditional clothing, refreshments, souvenir items, crafts, and genealogical information. Join the ceilidh (a Scottish party) at the beer garden, and enjoy live musical entertainment by Corkery Road. $17, children six to 13 $6. North Lanark Agricultural Society Fairgrounds, 195 Water St., Almonte, 613-256-4144, www.almontehighlandgames.com.
Merrickville Artisan’s Show. Aug. 24 and 25. The show highlights 35 of the region’s premier artisans. On the bill this year: art, photography, spa products, food products, woodworking, textiles, jewellery, basketry, fabric, glass, and decorative metal painting. This exhibition and sale shares the grounds with the Merrickville Antique Show and Sale, so visitors can travel between the two events. $6, children under 12 free. Merrickville Fairgrounds, 104 Read St., Merrickville, www.antique-shows.ca.
Merrickville Antique Show and Sale. Aug. 24 and 25. Dealers from Ontario, Quebec, and every place in between show furniture, folk art, decorative items, glass, china, jewellery, and more. The outdoor booths offer an opportunity to purchase “furniture in the rough,” perfect refinishing projects. The event attracts more than 4,000 people every year. $6, children under 12 free. Merrickville Fairgrounds, 104 Read St., Merrickville, www.antique-shows.ca.
On Going Summer Events:
Sunset Ceremonies. June 29 to Aug. 31. One of Fort Henry’s most celebrated events is the spectacular Sunset Ceremonies. On select Wednesday and Saturday evenings, the Fort Regiment performs split-second bayonet drills and field manoeuvres, recreating exciting battle tactics from over a century ago. The ceremonies are more than a visual display of movement and colour — sound is also very much part of the experience. Listen to period military music, and prepare yourself for thundering gun salutes, complete with a fireworks finale. $20, seniors and youth (six to 12) $17, children under five free. 1 Fort Henry Dr., Kingston, 613-542-7388, www.forthenry.com.