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Whether you want to feast in a field, learn about LGBTQ history, visit an island, or gaze at the stars, this week’s Heads Up post will point you in the right direction!

Tickets for the Oxford Mills Farm Feast are selling fast

Hurry if you want tickets to Soirée in the Field, a farm-to-table dinner at Oxford Mills on Saturday, September 14. Tickets only went on sale on August 12, and according to Eventbrite, there are only a few left.

Some St. Lawrence Islands are easy to visit

Maybe you’ve taken a bridge over the 1000 Islands or observed some of them from a scenic drive or tour boat and wondered, “How can I visit them?” This post from the Southeastern Ontario Tourism Organization has all the details you need to visit five islands in the St. Lawrence River and at the eastern end of Lake Ontario, including Amherst Island, Wolfe Island and Hill Island.

Walking tours focus on Ottawa’s LGBTQ history

Queer History Tours of Ottawa offers a 4km walking tour of downtown Ottawa on several dates in August. The two-hour tour includes monuments, murals, nightspots and more and ends with a picnic. And pets are welcome on the Sunday, August 18, tour.

The Brockville Tall Ships Festival is back

If you like to plan well in advance, you should mark the date in your calendar: The extremely popular Brockville Tall Ships Festival will take place again in Brockville from June 20 to 22, 2025.

Some areas of Gatineau Park remain closed

Last Friday’s heavy rains caused severe damage in Gatineau Park. As I write this on August 14, part of the Champlain Parkway is still closed, shuttle bus service has been suspended until further notice, and the NCC is recommending that everyone avoid the trails until the full damage can be assessed. Other closures include the Meech Lake boat ramp, O’Brien and Blanchet beaches, and parking lots P10, Dunlop, P11, P12, and P13. Check the NCC website for the latest updates.

CityFolk and Small Halls Fest have announced their lineups

CityFolk music festival, taking place in Lansdowne Park from September 11-15, has announced its full lineup. Headliners include The Beaches, Greta Van Fleet and Rise Against. The above video of Greta Van Fleet isn’t exactly the folkiest song you’ll hear this year, but then again, Bluesfest headliners don’t necessarily play blues either.

The Ontario Festival of Small Halls has also announced its fall program, with most shows taking place in October. Concerts include Sarah Harmer in Russell and Almonte, Ron Sexsmith in Spencerville and Harry Manx in Manotick, Burritts Rapids and Griffith.

The Outaouais is a great place for stargazing

To truly see the night sky, you need to escape the light pollution of big cities. Luckily, there are plenty of remote places in Western Quebec where you can do just that, and Tourisme Outaouais has written a blog post that will take you right there.

Parc Oméga offers cocktails with wolves

I have heard of the dance with the wolf, but Cocktails? You read that right. Parc Oméga, the drive-through animal park in Montebello, is offering an event called “Cocktails with the Wolves.” Led by a naturalist, the two-hour experience offers the chance to watch wolves being fed. And you’ll get something to eat, too, as the event includes both appetizers and cocktails. Offered on select nights through mid-October.

Man travels from Vancouver to Mexico … in transit

Now The is a road trip! Vancouverite William Hui traveled from Vancouver, BC to Tijuana, Mexico using only public transportation. As an added challenge, he didn’t use Greyhound buses or Amtrak trains, sticking exclusively to local or regional transit. It took him nine days.

See me on CBC or in OBJ

If you missed my chat about local road trips with host Amanda Putz on CBC Radio In the city and outside last Saturday you can hear it on the CBC website. And if you Ottawa Business Journalyou can read my latest road trip column for them. It’s all about self-driving food trails. (I have a just updated post on the same topic on the Ottawa Road Trips website.)

Looking for more tips on what to see and do in and around Ottawa? Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter or order a copy of my book. Ottawa Road Trips: Your 100km short break guide.

As the owner of Ottawa Road Trips, I know that I live, work and travel on the unceded, unabandoned territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation. I am grateful for the opportunity to be on this land. Ottawa Road Trips supports Water First, a nonprofit organization that helps solve water issues in Indigenous communities in Canada through education, training and meaningful collaboration.