We are into the middle of November and the Christmassy festivities are starting to kick off. Santa is making an appearance at a number of parades and shopping malls, be sure to check out my links for more info if you need it. Here is your list of weekend family events around Ottawa for November 17-18.

Saturday:

• Carp Christmas Craft Sale – 3790 Carp Rd, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm (gifts and holiday decor on sale for the whole family, secret Santa for kids under 12 years old, lunch special $5)
• Christmas Bazaar – Julian of Norwich Anglican Church, 9 Rosalind Ave, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm (tea room, bake sale, holiday decor, gift baskets, stocking stuffers, silent auction)
• Kanata Santa Claus Parade – starts at Castlefrank and moves along Abbyhill to Hazeldean Mall, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (please bring cash and food donation to the parade, firefighters will be collecting along the route)
• Money Slime – Bank of Canada Museum, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (Let your kids dig into slime and discover Canada’s coins. They’ll learn to recognize them and add them, all the while dabbling in slime. For 5 to 10-year-olds. FREE)
• Craft and Vendor Market – Meadowlands Public School, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (holiday shopping, food and raffle)
• Christmas Sale – The Olde Forge Community Resource Centre, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm (includes a bake sale and cookie walk)
• Glebe Craft and Artisan Fair – 175 Third Avenue, The Glebe Neighbourhood Activities Group, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (free admission, more than 50 vendors)
• Cairine Wilson Craft Fair – Cairine Wilson High School, 9:00 am – 3:30 pm (student volunteers run a craft room for the kiddos while the parents shop, over 100 vendors, lots of baked goods)
• Canada Science and Technology Museum 1 Year Anniversary – Museum of Science and Technology, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (included with admission, circus performers, face painting, magic show and raffle prizes)
• Help Santa Toy Parade – starts at City Hall, down Laurier, along Bank to Lansdowne, 11:00 am start (a great parade in downtown Ottawa, bring new, unwrapped toys and/or cash donations to be collected along the route)
• Ottawa Holiday Comiccon – 4899 Uplands Dr, 11:00 am – 6:00 pm (free admission, comic books, collectibles, cosplay)
• Santa’s Arrival Parade – Carlingwood Mall, 1:00 pm (Santa starts at Centre Court, tours the mall and arrives in his chair for photos)
• Ottawa Family Dance – Churchill Rec Centre, 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm (Geared towards kids ages 0-7 and the adults with them, no experience necessary, always live music and all dances taught and guided by callers. Optional community potluck after.)
• Magic of Lights – Wesley Clover Parks, 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm (drive thru holiday light display, cars $20 each, money goes to Sens Foundation)
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – Meridien Theatres at Centrepointe, 7:30 pm (musical based on the much-loved 1968 film of the same name.)

Sunday:

• Breakfast with Santa – St. Mother Theresa High School, Barrhaven, 8:00 am – 11:00 am (Tickets still available for breakfast sitting at 8 am, tickets MUST be purchased in advance and stay for some free family fun with Santa! Do some crafts with student elves, listen to your favorite holiday songs)
• Awesome Forts – Canadian War Museum, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (free with admission, learn about and make defensive fortifications. Young engineers-in-training and accompanying adults can help construct a giant fort out of Mega Bloks, also enjoy a hot chocolate and build a fort out of gingerbread)
• Money Slime – Bank of Canada Museum, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (see above for more)
• Old Fashioned Christmas and Outdoor Market – Goulburn Museum, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm (Write letters to and pose for a photo with Santa, watch a blacksmith at work, enjoy free hot chocolate and apple cider, roast marshmallows, and buy one-of-a-kind handmade gifts from local artisans. Free admission.)
• Glebe Craft and Artisan Fair – 175 Third Ave, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm (see above)
• Ottawa Holiday Comiccon – 4899 Uplands Dr, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm (see above)
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – Meridien Theatres at Centrepointe, 2:00 pm (see above)
• Magic of Lights – Wesley Clover Parks, 5:00 – 10:00 pm (drive thru holiday light display, $20 a car, purchase online ahead of time, money raised goes to Sens Foundation)
• Barrhaven Santa Claus Parade – Strandherd Drive heading west, 5:30 pm (light up holiday parade, remember to bring non-perishable food items or cash donations for the Barrhaven Food Cupboard)