KINGSTON: THE LIBRARY CHRONICLES
Planning an autumn road trip? Head down to Kingston for The Library Chronicles, an innovative production featuring four new Canadian scripts devised to interact with one another. Performed by five theatre companies, audiences will follow elaborately crafted storylines that move throughout the library. Featuring work by playwrights Ned Dickens, Jill Connell, Michael Payne, Alex Dault, and Governor General Award recipient Judith Thompson, each writer has a unique connection to the city of Kingston. Wednesday, October 3, to Saturday, October 6. $23.73, tickets include two shows per evening. Central Branch of the Kingston Frontenac Public Library, 130 Johnson Street, www.kingstongrand.ca.
PUMPKINFERNO
Halloween is just around the corner, so get inspired with this magical outdoor exhibit of thousands of hand-carved pumpkins, all set against the nighttime backdrop of Upper Canada Village. Kicking off this weekend, the all-ages event will feature an assortment of scenes that range from exotic places to historic ages. You’ll encounter forest animals, sea creatures, storybook heroes, mythical characters, cultural icons, and more, all carved from pumpkins! Friday, October 5, to Monday, October 8, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., plus other dates throughout October. $10, seniors and youth $7, five and under free. Upper Canada Village, Country Road 2 (Off Highway 31), www.uppercanadavillage.com.
HOW IT WORKS
Canadian playwright and director Daniel MacIvor (who won an award at the 1998 New York International Fringe Festival for his play Never Swim Alone) introduces us to four unforgettable characters (a father, his ex-wife, his new girlfriend, and his troubled daughter) in this story about a family in crisis. Opening this Friday at The Gladstone, How It Works is an insightful and witty family drama about reinventing family and the healing power of storytelling. Friday, October 5, to Saturday, October 20, 8 p.m. $39, seniors $34, students/artists/unwaged $23. The Gladstone, 910 Gladstone Ave., www.thegladstone.ca.
O-TOWN HOEDOWN
Take part in the second (and final) weekend of the O-Town Hoedown, a concert series that showcases the diversity of the local alt-country scene. Musical genres on offer range from rockabilly to cowpunk (that’s a thing?) to folk-rock to bluegrass, with everything in between. The Rainbow Bistro, Ottawa’s go-to for blues music, is host to this weekend’s event. Friday, October 5, and Saturday, October 6, 9 p.m. See website for line-up. The Rainbow Bistro, 76 Murray St., www.otownhoedown.com.
THE BOOM BOOMS
This Vancouver-based sextet has a fan base that stretches across generations. After opening for Sarah McLachlan and Bryan Adams last year, and performing at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, Shambhala Music Festival, and the Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival, The Boom Booms are taking their unique reggae/jazz sound on the road. Known for their energetic live performances and positive message, the band is set to perform in 50 cities across Canada and the U.S. They will take the stage alongside Panther & the Supafly at Zaphod’s on Friday, October 5, 8 p.m. $7. 27 York St., www.zaphods.ca.
THIRD WORLD BAZAAR
Third World Bazaar is a family-owned business run by Dick and Peggy Bakker and their two children. The pair purchases products from around the developing world, selling them to customers in their massive barn out in Manotick. The bazaar runs for a six-week period (Friday is opening day), and attracts those craving culture and a bargain (plus those trying to get the Christmas shopping out of the way). Exotic wares include a range of handcrafted items, home décor, art, musical instruments, furniture, and carpets. Open Friday through Sunday (plus Thanksgiving Monday). 6110 Mitch Owens Dr., www.thirdworldbazaar.ca.
THANKSGIVING WEEKEND: HARVESTING ENERGY!
It’s that time of year again when Canadian farms are harvesting crops that provide sustenance throughout the year. The Canada Agriculture Museum invites you to explore how energy is harvested by participating in their Thanksgiving Weekend event, Harvesting Energy. Special demonstrations include a bioenergy garden tour, grain grinding, bread making, and a grain elevator demonstration. Or warm up with an apple cider making and tasting session while perusing the museum’s newest exhibition, Energy Park: Nature at Work. Saturday, October 6, to Monday, October 8, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $9, seniors/students $7, children (three to 12) $6, children under three free. Canada Agriculture Museum, 861 Prince of Wales Drive, www.agriculture.technomuses.ca.
IN SEARCH OF B E A U T Y – NEW WORKS BY KATHERINE JEANS (FREE!)
Katherine Jeans’ most recent body of work, In Search of B E A U T Y, invites us to indulge in all things beautiful. Her third solo show, which is on display at the Wall Space Gallery, demonstrates her work as an abstract painter. Her ongoing search to bring beauty into (and out of) focus incorporates cinematic elements, which provide a glimpse into Jeans’ creative process. A highlight at Nuit Blanche, you have one more chance to catch Jeans’ exhibit, which concludes this Saturday, October 6. Wall Space Gallery, 358 Richmond Rd., www.wallspacegallery.ca.