It’s a big weekend! School is out and it is the final weekend before Christmas, as well as Sunday evening marks the start of Hanukkah! I hope that you all have a wonderful holiday with your families and wishing you a healthy and peaceful (is that even possible?) time together. Here is my guide to making the most of the weekend of December 21 and 22.

Saturday:

• 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)
• Me and My Microbes – Museum of Nature, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (opening weekend for this new exhibit which explores the tiny organisms inside us which affect our digestion, fight off disease and even influence your mood.)
• Winter Stories and Maker’s Space – National Gallery of Canada, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (All are welcome to this community celebration of the Winter Solstice with fireside storytelling and festive art-making. Craft your own ornament, share tea and bannock around the fire, free event)
• Christmas at the Farm – The Log Farm, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm (christmas shop and tree sales, wagon rides, bonfires, lots of different farm animals, historic farm house in holiday theme, a sneak peak at one of Santa’s Workshop and more)
• Ottawa Christmas Market – Lansdowne, 10:00 am – 11:00 pm (final weekend for this European-style Christmas market, 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)
• Gingerbread Barn Raising – Osgoode Township Museum, 10:00 am – 3:30 pm (create and decorate your very own Gingerbread barn, $20 for family of two adults and two kids)
• 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)
• Jingle Boots: The Splash N’ Boots Big Heart Holiday Show – Studio Theatre Perth, 1:00 pm (oin the entire Big Yellow Boot Family as they celebrate the HOLIDAYS! Get dressed up in your favourite festive attire, and get ready to sing and dance)
• Holly Jolly Christmas Program – The Smiths Falls Heritage House Museum, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm (for ages 6-12 yrs, create Holiday crafts and play games, $10 each, pre-register by following link and instructions)
• 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)
• Great Christmas Movie Party – Ottawa Family Cinema, 2:00 pm (Dress-up for a party and have a chance to win one of the 25 big door prizes. There’s a free gift to all boys and girls, a Christmas treat for everyone and tons of fun. A personal appearance by Santa and Mrs Claus plus stage show with Spiderman and the Princesses and Christmas songs and a seasonal favourites Sing-along!)
• 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)

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)
• 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)
• 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)
• Holiday Family Skate – Cardelrec- Goulburn, 2:15 – 4:14 pm (free holiday skate, they will be collecting donations of new and lightly used winter gear for the Ottawa Snowsuit Fund)
• 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)