Welcome to the first weekend of October! Fall events and the lead up to Halloween is in full force. Fall Rhapsody begins this weekend in Gatineau Park. I’ve been doing a lot of hiking in the park and the colours are just starting to change. Last week I blogged about my favourite hikes to take the family on and how to best to enjoy Gatineau Park. If you haven’t read it yet you can check it out here. Here is my guide to the best family events for the weekend of October 5 & 6.

Saturday:

• Harvest Celebration Market – Carp Farmer’s Market, 8:00 am – 1:00 pm (more than 95 vendors, pumpkins and gourds, beer tasting, maple taffy on the snow)
• Metcalfe Fair – 2821 8th Line Rd, 8:30 am – 8:00 pm (midway, farmer’s market, livestock shows, live entertainment and more)
• Saturday 5K and 1K – Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, 8:30 am – 10:00 am (runs open to everyone, young and old, register online)
• The Annual Biology Butterfly Show – H.H.J Nesbitt Biology Building, Carleton University, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm (1300 live exotic butterflies are released into the Nesbitt Biology Building greenhouses. The public is invited to come visit these beautiful creatures and learn more about them.)
• Daniel Tiger Neighbourhood Exhibit – Children’s Museum, 9:30 am – 5:00 pm (Based on the award-winning PBS KIDS television series, this brand new exhibit follows the adventures of 4-year-old Daniel Tiger and his friends, on now until January)
• Pumpkinfest – Proulx Maple and Berry Farm, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (wagon ride through the mysterious forest, Face-painting, Hay structures, tree house and slides, several giant outdoor play parks
  mazes & corn field mazes) 
• World Space Week – Canada Aviation and Space Museum, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (special programming and space demos included with museum admission, plus planetarium shows for $5 additional)
• Carlington Bike Park Opening – Carlington Ski Hill, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm (try out the new park, watch bike demos, hot dog and beverage served at noon to first 500 people)
• Haunting Season – Saunders Farm, 10:00 – 6:00 pm (hedge mazes, haunted house, haunted hayride, jumping pillows, play structures, puppet shows, food and more)
• Family Fun Weekends – Cannamore Orchard, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm (pick a pumpkin, ride the cow train, pedal cars, family activity area, hedge mazes)
• Grilled Cheese Festival – Ottawa City Hall, 11:00 am – 9:00 pm (lots of cheesy food trucks)
• Navan Fall Fest – Navan Fair Grounds, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm (decorated pumpkin contest, crafts, food and bake sale, bbq, games and races, silent auction, scarecrow making and more)
• Nature Days – Lac Philippe, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm (demos with birds of prey, guided hikes with interpreters, bring a picnic and enjoy)
• Pumpkinferno – Upper Canada Village, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm (spectacular display of more than 7000 carved pumpkins)
• Capital Pop Up Cinema: Fantastic Mr. Fox – Parkdale Park, 7:00 pm (final movie of the season, bring a blanket or chair, dress warmly and enjoy a free outdoor movie)

Sunday:

• Metcalfe Fair – 2821 8th Line Rd, 8:30 am – 6:00 pm (midway, farmer’s market, livestock shows, live entertainment and more)
• Camp Fortune Fall Activities – Camp Fortune, Chelsea, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (sunday brunch offered, plus chairlift rides over the trees)
• The Annual Biology Butterfly Show – H.H.J Nesbitt Biology Building, Carleton University, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm (1300 live exotic butterflies are released into the Nesbitt Biology Building greenhouses. The public is invited to come visit these beautiful creatures and learn more about them.)
• Pumpkinfest – Proulx Maple and Berry Farm, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (wagon ride through the mysterious forest, Face-painting, Hay structures, tree house and slides, several giant outdoor play parks
  mazes & corn field mazes) 
• World Space Week – Canada Aviation and Space Museum, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (special programming and space demos included with museum admission, plus planetarium shows for $5 additional)
• Haunting Season – Saunders Farm, 10:00 – 6:00 pm (hedge mazes, haunted house, haunted hayride, jumping pillows, play structures, puppet shows, food and more)
• Folk Picnic and Kites – Meech Creek Valley, 10:30 am – 3:30 pm (traditional folk music, kite flying, story telling, artisans and activities for children)
• Potager Eardley Fall Festival – Potager Eardley Farm, Gatineau, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm (pick apples and pumpkins, plus tractor rides and artisans and traders bringing in their goods, soccer demos and more)
• Family Fun Weekends – Cannamore Orchard, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm (pick a pumpkin, ride the cow train, pedal cars, family activity area, hedge mazes)
• Grilled Cheese Festival – Ottawa City Hall, 11:00 am – 7:00 pm (lots of cheesy food trucks)
• Nature Days – Lac Philippe, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm (demos with birds of prey, guided hikes with interpreters, bring a picnic and enjoy)
• Pumpkinferno – Upper Canada Village, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm (spectacular display of more than 7000 carved pumpkins)