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Turtlehead Events
for December 5/6
Ottawa area events for families and kids
'Tis the season to go to a show! Lots of musicals, plays, and concerts start this week, as well as a few different options for seeing lights.
Header image: At the Mayor's Christmas Party, my own pic.
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The CHEO Trees of Hope opens today, Monday, November 30. It's an annual tradition where various companies and organizations decorate a tree and place it in the lobby of the Chateau Laurier. Tonight from 6:30 to 8:30 there's a decorating party and silent auction (for some reason you have to preregister if you want to bid on anything, here). Any time from tonight through January 8 you can drop by to have a look and vote for the People's Choice Award.
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The musical Anne and Gilbert opens Wednesday, December 2, at the NAC, and runs through to Saturday, December 19. Children's tickets are $29.50 and adults are $55, and there are matinees at 2 p.m. on the Saturdays.
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Ottawa Little Theatre presents A Christmas Story, the stage adaptation of the well-known film about a boy who wants a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas. The show runs Tuesday, December 1 through Saturday, December 19, with Matinees on Sunday the 13th and Saturday the 19th. Tickets are $25 adults, $12 kids or $60 for a family four pack.
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Also at the NAC this week, The Nutcracker is starting, running from Wednesday, December 2 through Sunday, December 6. It's the Royal Winnipeg Ballet production and is sure to be lovely. Tickets run from $39.50 through $85 and best act quickly if you want some, as they're almost sold out; there are 1:30 p.m. matinees on the Saturday and Sunday.
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The annual Christmas Lights Across Canada display will open Wednesday, December 2, on Parliament Hill. It's a gorgeous light display using the Parliament buildings as a backdrop, combined with lights in the trees all along Sussex and into Confederation and Major's Hill Park. The opening is at 7 p.m. and features free Beaver Tails and hot chocolate; every other night until January the lights will be turned on at 5:30 p.m.
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The History Museum's newest exhibit opens on Wednesday, December 2 - on Vikings (cool!).
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The Ottawa Jazz Festival and the Jerry Granelli Trio bring you music from A Charlie Brown Christmas, at Dominion Chalmers Church, on Thursday, December 3 at 7 p.m. The performance will include a partial screening of the special while the trio plays along, which is pretty cool, although it's a late night for little ones. Tickets are $41.50.
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Centrepointe brings us The Music Man, starting Thursday, December 3 and running through to Sunday, December 6. There are matinees on both weekend days and tickets start at just $23.75 (it's a Suzart production which I think means it involves teens in some way).
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Alight at Night opens this Friday, December 4 at Upper Canada Village. The whole village gets decorated with gorgeous lights, plus there's hot chocolate, horse and buggy rides, and a carol sing in the chapel. My kids never get tired of it, but some tips: dress really warm, no matter what it's like out, as it gets cold there; bring a stroller or wagon for little ones; remember it's an hour long drive so leave lots of time to get there and get home; and buy your tickets online in advance if at all possible.
The village is open on various days from the 4th through to January 2, so check their website for individual days and times.
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A little closer to home, the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum in the east end is hosting its own Vintage Village of Lights, running Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from Friday, December 4 to Sunday, December 20. Cost is just regular admission, which I think is something like $20 for a family, and it's open from 3 to 8 p.m. each night.
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There's still a couple of parades in the area if you missed out on seeing Santa these past few weekends. You can head out to Almonte for Light up the Night, which is really more of a festival than a parade - it's a big party all along Main Street starting at 7 p.m. on Friday, December 4.
Over in Richmond, their Santa Claus Parade is on Saturday, December 5 starting at 5 p.m. at South Carleton High School and ending at the area for the Lighting the Park event at 6:30 p.m.
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Also at Centrepointe this week, Les Petits Ballets performs Sleeping Beauty. There's two shows on Saturday, December 5, including a matinee at 1 p.m., and tickets start at just $17.
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It's time for the Mayor's Christmas Party! It's this Saturday, December 5 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at City Hall. There's skating on the Rink of Dreams (which...I guess is open now!), crafts, treats, and horse drawn wagon rides. It's a really lovely time, but so crowded, and they shut it down promptly at 6, so try to get there as early as possible so you have time to get through all the lines. Admission is a donation to the food bank, and kids heading to City Hall during the time of the party can ride the city bus for free when with a paying adult.
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The Library and Archives has a really sweet event every year called Letters to Santa, and this year it's on Saturday, December 5. There's crafts, cookies, and of course, letter writing, and it's all free. It's at the Archives headquarters at 100 Tallwood Drive and runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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The Ottawa Food Bank is running its Fill the Bus campaign on Saturday, December 5 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Drop by participating grocery stores to help fill a city bus full of food for needy families for the holidays. If you're really keen, you can head over to the food bank after the drive closes to help unload the bus and sort all the food. The Kanata and Stittsville food banks will be running a similar event on the same day and donated food stays local.
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It's time again for the Olde Fashioned Christmas in Manotick. There's events all weekend long on Saturday, December 5 and Sunday, December 6. See their website for a full schedule, including a Family Christmas Party, a parade, breakfast with Father Christmas, and free roasted chestnuts by the fire.
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Over at the Aviation Museum, the Centralaires Concert Band is playing their 'Tis the Season concert on Sunday, December 6, starting at 2 p.m. It's included with admission.
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