June 26 news: Canada Day, water circus, art walk
Also, alpaca yoga, Outaouais summer fun and the RCMP Musical Ride
Yoga with alpacas and a new VIA Rail deal. The RCMP Musical Ride in Ottawa and fun in the Thousand Islands. A water circus, a multicultural potluck and a new café. The scoop on Canada Day events across Ottawa and far beyond. And the chance to win a trip for four to Whitehorse! It’s all in this week’s newsletter.
Calendar of events: Water circus, Musical Ride, alpaca yoga
Check out this week’s overflowing calendar of events! There’s something for just about every taste, interest and budget: yoga with alpacas, a thrift shop sale, hydroplane racing, a multicultural potluck, chainsaw carving, a water circus, a Merrickville art walk, free Ottawa performances by the RCMP Musical Ride and so much more.
This week's featured contest
Here’s a sweet prize: a four-day trip for four to Whitehorse, Yukon, valued at over $13,000. This contest is open to all Canadian residents of legal age, with some restrictions. Enter by December 31, 2025.
Where to celebrate Canada Day
Wondering which communities are launching fireworks, what bands will be performing and where all the bouncy castles are? My big roundup of Canada Day celebrations across Ottawa, Eastern Ontario and the Outaouais has links to events big and small, from modest pancake breakfasts to downtown Ottawa’s massive shindig.
Heads Up: Thousand Islands tips, Outaouais fun, a new VIA deal
Looking for things to do in Gananoque and the Thousand Islands, details on which local parkways are closed to vehicles (and when), a deal on Ottawa museums and other attractions, or cool spots to enjoy summer in the Outaouais? This week’s Heads Up post has details on all that and more. I’ll also point you to a cool-sounding new café in Cornwall and give you the discount code for another VIA Rail deal (yes, this differs from the VIA deal announced last week as part of the Canada Strong Pass … but you have to book by July 1).
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And before I sign off for this week
It’s prime time to check out some of the region’s many farmers’ markets or to plan ahead for upcoming artists’ studio tours (including one this weekend!).
Trying to find something from an earlier newsletter? You can read previous issues of on the Ottawa Road Trips Substack page.
That's it from me for now. I'll be back in your in-box next week with more road tripping ideas!
As the owner of Ottawa Road Trips, I acknowledge that I live on, work in and travel through the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be present on this land. Ottawa Road Trips supports Water First, a non-profit organization that helps address water challenges in Indigenous communities in Canada through education, training and meaningful collaboration.