It is another busy weekend full of holiday fun! Can you believe we are less than two weeks away from Christmas? Here is my list to help you plan for the weekend of December 14 and 15.

Saturday:

• Breakfast with Santa – St Mother Teresa Highschool, Barrhaven, 8:00 am – 12:00 pm (There will be two seatings, one at 8am and the other at 9:30am. $20 per family (up to 5 members) or $5/ticket.)
• Breakfast with Santa – Stittsville Legion Branch 618, 8:00 am – 11:00 am (there is no charge for breakfast but please bring a donation for the Stittsville Foodbank. Pancakes, juice and coffee with be served. Santa will be on site for photos)
• Metcalfe Farmer’s Christmas Market – Greely Community Centre, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm (a great place to get that last minute holiday shopping done)
• Ottawa Farmer’s Market Annual Christmas Market – Aberdeen Pavilion, Lansdowne, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm (farmers market, new vendors, gift wrapping station, live music, horse and wagon rides and visits from Santa)
• OGP Holiday Sale – Horticulture Building, Lansdowne, 9:00 am – 6:00 pm (over 30 potters will be filling their booths with gorgeous handcrafted ceramics.)
• Cheerfully Made Saves Christmas – Bell Sensplex, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm ( 140 local area handmakers and a WHOLE lot of holiday cheer. $5 entry, kids free, parking free)
• Ottawa Christmas Market – Lansdowne, 10:00 am – 11:00 pm (Inspired by European-style Christmas markets, this FREE outdoor event will be the first of its kind here in Ottawa. With 20+ vendors, performers, a site-wide liquor license and lots of twinkly lights)
• The Christmas Palace – 11 Gore St East, Perth, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (enjoy a variety of music from area school choirs, surrounded by beautifully decorated Christmas trees. Kids can work on a craft for the children’s Christmas tree while they listen.)
• How the Grinch Spied on Christmas – The Diefenbunker, 10:00 am – 4:30 pm (Bring your entire who-family, the tall and the small. Uncover Grinchy tricks from tunnel to vault wall. There’ll be who-crafts, who-hot cocoa and who-movies. Drop in anytime during regular museum hours)
• Kidsmas Traditions – Nepean Museum, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (build your own handmade toy, decorate your own mini Christmas tree, have your face painted and visit with Santa from 11 am – 2 pm)
• Kintail Country Christmas – Mill of Kintail Conservation Area, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm ( Stories by the fire, tractor & wagon rides, music, crafts, bon fire, refreshments, children only gift shop)
• Signatures Originals 2019 Christmas Craft Sale – EY Centre, 11:00 am – 6:00 pm (Meet over 200 top Canadian artists, artisans, makers, and designers from coast to coast. Admission $7)
• Carp Santa Claus Parade – Carp Rd, 12:00 pm (the parade starts at the Diefenbunker)
• Christmas in the Byward Market – Byward Market, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm (Complimentary wagon rides starting at 1 pm and Christmas Choirs at noon)
• Public Skating at Rideau Hall – Rideau Hall skating rink, 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm (grab your skates and enjoy a free skate at this historic rink)
• Glow Ottawa – EY Centre, 1:00 pm – 10:00 pm (indoor light up holiday display with kids activities, vendors, licensed, buy tickets online ahead of time, limited tickets)
• The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition – Meridien Theatres at Centrepointe, 1:00 pm and 4:30 pm (a distinctly Canadian Nutcracker set in Algonquin Park – where Klara meets lumberjacks, Mounties and woodland creatures in her dream journey. )
• The Polar Express 3D Experience – Ottawa Family Cinema, 2:00 pm (For Christmas Back by popular demand.. Experience it in 3D plus free gifts, buy your tickets ahead of time)
• A Mid-Day Messiah – Southminster United Church, Aylmer, 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm (A Handel’s Messiah for the whole family, featuring the Christmas portion, ‘Hallelujah’ Chorus, ‘Worthy is the Lamb’, ‘The Trumpet Shall Sound’ and other favourite numbers. Concert is 90 minutes long with an intermission)
• Stanley’s Christmas Village – Stanley’s Olde Maple Farm, 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm (buy tickets online to reserve your spot at this Santa’s village where you can ride in a horse drawn carriage to the elf village, meet the elves, visit the cookie kitchen, sing carols, play games and visit the barn animals)
• Vintage Village of Lights – Cumberland Heritage Village Museum, 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm (As you stroll through the lit up village, enjoy activities including: receiving a Santagram; decorating gingerbread; taking a horse-drawn wagon ride (weather dependent); singing along to Christmas standards; decorating ornaments; a cozy campfire; and more)
• Alight at Night – Upper Canada Village, 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm (the entire village is alight with more than one million lights, enjoy a horse drawn carriage ride, eat dinner at a restaurant, sing carols and more)
• Magic of Lights – Wesley Clover Parks Campground, 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm (drive through holiday light display, $20 per vehicle, recommend buying tickets online ahead of time)
• Smiths Falls Santa Claus Parade – Smith Falls, 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm (The Parade will start at the arena and travel up Elmsley Street N, to Beckwith St, ending at Settlers Ridge Mall. There will be free hot dogs and hot chocolate, activities and games at the mall following the parade.)
• Christmas Lights Across Canada – Parliament Hill and Confederation Park, 5:30 pm – 11:00 pm (see the holiday show projected on Centre Block, loops every 15 minutes, and check out the lights at Confederation Park)
• Holiday Hits with the NAC – NAC, 7:00 pm (Hum along with your best-loved Christmas carols in this evening of music from Canada and around the world – from sacred favourites like “O, Holy Night” to popular hits like “White Christmas” to classical wonders like “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.”)

Sunday:

• Ottawa Farmer’s Market Annual Christmas Market – Aberdeen Pavilion, Lansdowne, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm (farmers market, new vendors, gift wrapping station, live music, horse and wagon rides and visits from Santa)
• OGP Holiday Sale – Horticulture Building, Lansdowne, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (over 30 potters will be filling their booths with gorgeous handcrafted ceramics.)
• Tot/Pre K Holiday French Class – Wild Child Coffee Project, 9:15 am – 10:00 am (not for profit event put on by 123 Petits Pas with proceeds going to support local families in need, it will include singing French holiday tunes, making a winter craft, playing with fake snowballs all while learning French, buy ticket online)
• Home for the Holidays – Billings Estate National Historic Site, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (Featuring kid-friendly storytelling, performances by the Dickens Carolers, ornament-making, a themed photobooth station, and more)
• Ottawa Christmas Market – Lansdowne, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm (Inspired by European-style Christmas markets, this FREE outdoor event will be the first of its kind here in Ottawa. With 20+ vendors, performers, a site-wide liquor license and lots of twinkly lights)
• How the Grinch Spied on Christmas – The Diefenbunker, 10:00 am – 4:30 pm (Bring your entire who-family, the tall and the small. Uncover Grinchy tricks from tunnel to vault wall. There’ll be who-crafts, who-hot cocoa and who-movies. Drop in anytime during regular museum hours)
• Capital Pop Up Holiday Edition – Glebe Community Centre, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm ( 50 very talented artisans and food makers, plus great music and warm drinks, entry is $2 with money going to CHEO)
• Lunch with Santa – Boston Pizza Barrhaven, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm (Snap some photos of your little ones with Santa while you enjoy a delicious lunch and Christmas crafts. No fee for the party, just your meal)
• Music in a Holiday Mood – Canadian Museum of History, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm (taking place in the Museum’s Grand Hall. Maestro Rocco Romeo will be leading seasonal melodies from pop standards and the cinematic screen to carols and sacred hymns.)
• Signatures Originals 2019 Christmas Craft Sale – EY Centre, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm (Meet over 200 top Canadian artists, artisans, makers, and designers from coast to coast. Admission $7)
• Public Skating at Rideau Hall – Rideau Hall skating rink, 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm (grab your skates and enjoy a free skate at this historic rink)
• Glow Ottawa – EY Centre, 1:00 pm – 10:00 pm (indoor light up holiday display with kids activities, vendors, licensed, buy tickets online ahead of time, limited tickets)
• Stanley’s Christmas Village – Stanley’s Olde Maple Farm, 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm (buy tickets online to reserve your spot at this Santa’s village where you can ride in a horse drawn carriage to the elf village, meet the elves, visit the cookie kitchen, sing carols, play games and visit the barn animals)
• Vintage Village of Lights – Cumberland Heritage Village Museum, 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm (As you stroll through the lit up village, enjoy activities including: receiving a Santagram; decorating gingerbread; taking a horse-drawn wagon ride (weather dependent); singing along to Christmas standards; decorating ornaments; a cozy campfire; and more)
• Alight at Night – Upper Canada Village, 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm (the entire village is alight with more than one million lights, enjoy a horse drawn carriage ride, eat dinner at a restaurant, sing carols and more)
• Magic of Lights – Wesley Clover Parks Campground, 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm (drive through holiday light display, $20 per vehicle, recommend buying tickets online ahead of time)
• Christmas Lights Across Canada – Parliament Hill and Confederation Park, 5:30 pm – 11:00 pm (see the holiday show projected on Centre Block, loops every 15 minutes, and check out the lights at Confederation Park)