The weather is getting cooler and the countdown to the holidays is on. Get some get holiday ideas in last weekend’s edition of the Weekend Roundup or read on for some new ones. It’s a tough time of year for many so if you’re able to spread some cheer, there are many great organizations in Ottawa that could benefit from your holiday magic!
All Weekend
Winter Lights Across Canada kicked off this Wednesday, bringing some warmth and light to these cool winter days, including a projection at Parliament Thursday through Monday (no shows Tuesday/Wednesday).
Tis the season for holiday markets! Check out some highlights below, or click here for a list of markets submitted to Apt613.
Visit Ottawa’s fairytale castle and check out the CHEO Trees of Hope (on view until January 2), enjoy a holiday high tea, or check out the new holiday pop up called Elf’s Pub.
Mādahòkì Farm is hosting the Pibòn (Winter) Festival this weekend, an opportunity for everyone to unite in celebrating the diversity and richness of Indigenous culture, the creativity of small Indigenous businesses and the fun of the winter season. Check out the full list of events online, including an Indigenous Night Market, paint night, caribou antler earring workshop, and live cultural performances and storytelling. Admission is pay what you can. Visitors must pre-register for morning or afternoon and should plan to spend 2 to 3 hours onsite. Vendors and shopping are indoors, but dress to enjoy outdoor winter fun.
Scrooge, Marley, Cratchit, The Ghosts of Christmas and more than 20 other characters are magically brought to life by Pierre Brault on stage in A Christmas Carol: Solo from December 10-18 at the Great Canadian Theatre Company.
The Breathing Hole/Aglu opened earlier this week to rave reviews at the National Arts Centre and continues through to Saturday. Read our review here.
Thursday
Arts Court is home to Art Battle Ottawa this Thursday with doors at 7pm, live painting at 8pm. Haven’t been to an art battle before? Artists compete in three timed rounds with votes from the audience to determine the winner. Tickets are available online or at the door.
Friday
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Great Canadian Theatre Company is hosting a Debate Match Smackdown this Friday – a (fundraising) evening of rowdy behaviour, wild debates, and a microphone swinging from the ceiling. Imagine your favourite sporting event – but in a theatre! Wear your jersey, scarf, hat, and pins and enter to win a prize as the evening’s Top Fan. Place your bets (aka donations to the theatre—no gambling is involved in these donations) on the upcoming debate, and grab a bag of popcorn. Wave your home-made sign to cheer them on. It’s all going down on the GCTC mainstage at 8 pm. Tickets available here.
The Ottawa Classical Choir is hosting a concert at Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre. Juno Award winner and Longueuil Symphony’s Music Director and Chief Conductor Alexandre Da Costa will accompany over 120 choristers on plays on a 300+ year-old Stradivarius violin, performing Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Gloria. Tickets are available online.
This Friday, support the Ottawa Food Bank with CBC Project Give. CBC Ottawa will be live at the NAC for a special day of Project Give programming, musical performances and more.
613flea is hosting a holiday market every Friday in December until Christmas at Lansdowne in the Aberdeen Pavilion. Visit the outdoor Ottawa Christmas Market then warm up inside with over 100 vendor stalls.
Saturday
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Dominion City Brewing Co. is hosting their annual Xmas Night Market from 2-8pm with a pop-up from Meatpress, indoor and outdoor market stalls, outdoor fire pits, holiday tunes, and of course, great beer.
The Big Soul Project will be performing its 25th Anniversary Christmas Concert accompanied by the Deep Groove Band, under the direction of Music Director Tahlia De Corso, this Saturday at Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre.
North American Irish Fiddle Champion Kyle Burghout, flute/whistle player Justin Thériault, and Celtic harpist Susan Toman will perform a collection of traditional and contemporary Celtic music from Ireland, Scotland, and Canada at the NAC on Saturday night for Masters in the Hall – Celtic Music for Christmastime.
Sunday
Digging Roots (ShoShona Kish and Raven Kanatakta) are on tour with Blackie and the Rodeo Kings in support of their album Zhawenim Sunday at the National Arts Centre. The band recently received 3 nominations from the Canadian Folk Music Awards for Contemporary Album of the Year, Indigenous Songwriter(s) of the Year & the Oliver Schroer Pushing the Boundaries Award. Tickets available here.
Out for a walk to round out your weekend? Pop into Happy Goat Coffee in Sandy Hill and check out Rescued: A Painted Story. Learn more about the artist, Clare Thorbes, and the subject of the exhibition, Spock, in this post.
Justin Case: The Enemy Within is the Diefenbunker’s 2022 Artist-in-Residence exhibition, featuring the work of Ottawa-based artist Christos Pantieras. Meet the artist during an Artist Walkthrough this Sunday from 1-3pm.
For more of what’s happening in Ottawa, stay tuned to @apt613 on Twitter. Out snapping photos? Tag us on Instagram @apt613 for a chance to be featured on our feed. Be sure to use the hashtag #Apt613 so we can share your photos!
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