Pumpkins after Dark: A Halloween option without the scare

As a teen, I have realized that the Halloween season offers three options for activities in my demographic: horror movies, haunted mansions and extremely late stage trick or treating. While I love a good scare, it can get repetitive as October drags on. This weekend, I tried something different, with the Pumpkins after Dark Display. 

We arrived at Wesley Clover Parks out in Kanata shortly after sunset, where we showed our tickets at the booth and entered the place. Inside, there were stands for a variety of food and drink with a long orange-encrusted pathway ahead of us. On both sides of the path, there were a plethora of professionally carved pumpkins that depicted a variety of popular culture characters. Obviously, iconic horror movie villains were engraved in the illuminated pumpkins. There were also designs for characters across various franchises and genres, with a Jurassic Park section and even some Mexican Day of the Dead carvings. We walked through the display for several minutes, admiring the craftsmanship and effort put into it. After completing our tour of the pumpkins, we decided to grab some hot chocolate and donuts. This was an incredible way to get into the halloween spirit, even without the traditional scares.

What's good for teens

Pumpkins after Dark is an excellent Halloween activity for teens in Ottawa. It is a great evening activity to spend with friends, with many displays to look at. You can grab some hot chocolate or treats, or take a look at engravings of your favourite horror movie characters. It is also a great opportunity for employment, with many workers at the exhibit getting their first job as a helper there. Overall, this is a great place to visit (or work) this Halloween season for teens, families and people who are sick of haunted houses. 

If you want an engaging, jump scare-free Halloween experience, check out Pumpkins After Dark. They will be open until October 31st in Wesley Clover Parks from 6:30 to 9:30 pm. Dress warmly, as this is an outdoor event. It is wheelchair accessible, but a relatively long walk.

Ticket prices are as follows:

Adult (17+) starting at $18.95
Youth (4-16) starting at $15.95
Children 3 and under are free, no ticket required
Family packages (2 adult, 2 youth) starting at $64.80

Pumpkins after Dark is officially partnering with the Ottawa Senators Community Foundation. For more information, click here.

David is a fifteen-year-old aspiring adventure and travel writer living in Ottawa.  Skydiving is on his bucket list. He received a complimentary ticket for this post, but all views are his own.

Aero Gatineau - an interview with Carol Pilon

Our teen blogger David has been a fan of the snowbirds ever since he first saw them while visiting his grandparents in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. He is looking forward to seeing both the snowbirds and Carol Pilon perform during Aero Gatineau September 15-17. David is back on the blog with an interview of Canada’s first and only professional wingwalker.

With the annual Aero Gatineau show approaching, many will be watching as planes perform aviation acrobatics. I got to speak to Carol Pilon- a performer at the Gatineau Air Show and Canada’s first and only professional wingwalker- to learn more about her and her craft. Here’s what we talked about.

photo credit Eric Dumigan.

You’ve been a professional wingwalker for over 20 years. How do you become a wingwalker?

Well, for me, it was simple. I was at that point in my life when I did not want to go to college because I had no clear path ahead of me. I took a couple years off to really think about what the next step was, when I saw an ad for my local air show. I saw a wing walker on the screen and at that moment I thought “well that’s gonna be the rest of my life”. From that point on, I educated myself about the wingwalking industry and spent the next 7 years harassing all the teams in North America until they finally gave me the chance, and the rest is history. There are no wingwalking courses, it's all about independently getting a good mentor and joining an established team.

What all goes into the preparation and performance of wingwalking?

Really, it's as simple as attaching yourself to a harness and walking on the plane. I can teach you any number of theoretical tips and tricks on the ground, but as soon as you're up in the air, you’re on your own. The biggest safety protocol we have, believe it or not, is the pilot. Their job is to make the flight as smooth and suitable for your performance as possible. Getting the right pilot is 95% of the preparation.

You’ve been to many places, done many things as a wingwalker. What was the most memorable experience you’ve had in your career as a wingwalker?

How do you pick one? I’ve had many great shows, met many great people, and realistically, any day I get to go wing walking is an absolutely fantastic day for me. 

With all your travels, how does it feel to be performing at the Aero Gatineau show two weeks from now so close to where you grew up in Masham, Quebec?

This is a little known fact, but as an air show professional, you’re always warned about doing hometown shows. There will always be increased attention from the audience because of friends and family member’s being there, and it can be a distraction from the task at hand. I’m really excited to be back home, but I gotta balance that with being able to say “hey guys, I gotta go work now”. 

Finally, what does the future look like for you? Any goals, is retirement on the horizon?

You will see at this show that I have developed a new routine in order to hire and incorporate two new wingwalkers. My goal right now is really to educate and mentor the next generation of wingwalkers to carry on the craft. In fact, we will be hosting one young lady to try out wingwalking at this air show to see if she likes it and possibly have her join the team. I’m really focused on growing the field right now. As for retirement, that's not happening any time soon. 

Carol Pilon will be performing at the Aero Gatineau Legends of the Sky show from September 15-17. Tickets must be bought online and are $35 for adults and $15 for kids. For more information, visit Aero Gatineau Ottawa.

Green Corners Farm

A visit to Green Corners Farm is one of my family’s favourite activities during Spring, Summer and even into Fall. We’ve been making trips to the farm for the past 3 years and find ourselves there at least once or twice per season. Green Corners Farm is Ottawa’s largest pick-your-own flower farm and is found on York’s Corners Road. The farm is the official floral supplier for the Canadian Tulip Festival. The owners, Manja and Al are always on site to help welcome guests and provide tips on picking the best blooms for a beautiful bouquet.

Green Corners Farm is perhaps most well-known for its incredible fields of tulips that burst into bloom early May but while the tulip season is short, the following flower seasons shouldn’t be missed. My daughters absolutely love heading to the farm to wander between the rows of various types of flowers. We often pick a few bouquets to share with family and friends and the kids are in charge of which flowers they’d like in their bouquet as well as the arrangement of the bouquet.

Upon arrival, you’ll be welcomed by a staff member who will check you in. It is recommended to pre-purchase your “picking” ticket through the Green Corners Farm website https://greencorners.ca/product-category/u-pick-bouquets/ or if you’d prefer to take in the views and enjoy the flowers, you can select a “looking” ticket. Tickets may also be purchased on site but you’ll save a bit of money by purchasing online (and entry is not guaranteed if they are full.) Each “picking” ticket has a value of 25 points, with all flowers worth 1 point except for the sunflowers, which are 2 points. You can mix and match your flowers to create a unique bouquet.
Every guest ages 5+ must have either a “Picking” ticket or a “looking” ticket.

Once checked in, you’ll get a quick lesson on how to cut your flowers (you’ll need a certain length of stem) and then you’ll pick up a basket and clippers and be off to explore the many fields of various types of flowers. If you’re looking for photo ops, you’ll find colourful benches and chairs throughout the fields. The flowers provide a spectacular backdrop! After you’ve selected your flowers, you’ll head over to the white tent where you’ll find tables with buckets. This is where the creativity happens! You’ll remove the extra greenery from your flowers and make your arrangement. There’s fresh basil on hand to add to your bouquet (it smells divine!) and when you’re happy with your arrangement, you’ll tie it off with twine. The final step is to admire your beautiful bouquet! 

If you are looking for a beautiful field of sunflowers, this is the place to be! There are several different types of sunflowers to be picked or photographed whether you’re looking for bright golden petals, pale yellow or even a rusty red. Sunflowers are currently at their peak and are available until the first frost in September. Snapdragons, zinnias, marigolds, calendula, statice, strawflower, celosias and strawflowers are just a few of the seasonal flowers available for picking. There is a Bouquet Stand on site that is stocked with seasonal bouquets.

For those who love tulips, daffodils and other spring bulbs, they are available for purchase. Bulbs can be pre-ordered over the summer and are ready in the Fall for pick-up or delivery. Green Corners Farm also offers flowers for Valentine’s Day and Easter. My family purchases the forced tulip bulbs that we grow in vases on stones. They are a lovely addition of colour during the snowy months!

Green Corner Farm
Hours: Thursday to Monday - 9am to last entry at 11:30am and 4pm to last entry at 6:30pm.
Bouquet Stand hours: Friday-Monday 9am-7pm

Candace is a mom of 4 who loves exploring the city and trying out new activities with her adventurous kiddos. Note: the family were gifted their bouquets but all thoughts are their own.

50+ things to do with kids in Ottawa

This is the most popular post we’ve ever had on this blog and if you’re landing here from Google we want you to know that we are currently working on updating this post-pandemic. Please check all attraction web sites to make sure information is still accurate.

Ottawa has so many amazing things to see and do with kids! We wanted to put together the ultimate list, so that you can grab loads of ideas from one spot.

From museums, indoor activities, outdoor activities and parks - there's always something to do in Ottawa, no matter the season!

A trip to the National Gallery is fun and FREE for kids aged 11 and under

MUSEUMS

Having lived in other cities in Canada, I think the best thing about Ottawa is our amazing museums. There are many options that will please young and old!

National gallery

Explore art and make your own creations at the National Gallery

You wouldn't think an art gallery, with really beautiful, expensive art, would be a great place for kids, but if you follow some tips, it can still be a fun outing. You can also take a walk around with your baby.

Billings estate

Visit the historic estate of one of Ottawa's founding families and spend the day enjoying one of their special events (including awesome themed teas!) or kid-friendly programs.  

Bytown museum

The Bytown Museum offers plenty of interactive activities for our young and young at heart visitors!

Canadian Agriculture and Food Museum

Snuggly animals, food demonstrations, and special events - the agriculture museum has it all!

Canadian Aviation and Space Museum

Aviation is the third museum, along with Agriculture and Science and Tech (which is currently being rebuilt!), that makes up a great 3-in-1 membership for families. This museum is perfect for the little ones that love planes, space and so much more. There are daily kids activities, camps and a special play area for the kiddos!

Canada Science and Technology Museum

We’re so excited to finally be adding this one back into our “50 things” post! Completely renovated, this museum offers SO much for all ages. The best part for little ones (under 8) is the new Zoom exhibit!!

Canadian War museum 

When you think "kids," you may not think the war museum - but the little ones still get a kick out of looking at all the exhibits. And if you have older children, you may all get lost in there reading and exploring!

Children's museum

My kiddos LOVE this museum, and we make it a special treat. Their main attraction changes every few months or so, but the regular exhibits are a huge hit. And don't forget to try to check out a movie at the Imax theatre!

Cumberland Heritage Village Museum

My daughter's Sparks group recently spent the day at the Cumberland Museum, and we had SO much fun! What a fantastic way to teach our children about the past, with many activities and displays scheduled throughout the day. Also check out their special events, including the Village of Lights in the winter!

Diefenbunker

Check out Lara's trip to the Diefenbunker with her kids! This giant underground bunker was built during the cold war to house government officials in the event of nuclear war. It's sure to be a fun place for kids to explore.

Museum of Nature

The first time I visited the museum, I didn't allocate enough time. Floors of amazing exhibits, activities for kids young and old, and an Imax theatre. The special exhibits that arrive every six months or so are always a big hit!

Vanier museopark

What's better than a park and sugar bush smack in the middle of an urban neighbourhood? A great place to walk your dog too!

ATTRACTIONS

Governor General estate

Whatever season, Rideau Hall is a beautiful place for a visit. Special events are often held there, and winter is great for a skate or celebration!

High tea at the Chateau Laurier

Your kids will love you forever if you take them for high tea at the superb Chateau Laurier. Who doesn't love tiny sandwiches?

The Mint

Call ahead to book a tour at the Mint! Our experience has been that tours are great for children ages 5 and up, although most kids will get a kick out of the facility that produces Canada's investment and collector coins. 

Parliament Hill

The free sound and lights show on Parliament is SPECTACULAR, and a must-see if your kids are able to stay up until 10pm in July, 9:30pm in August and 9pm in September. Check out our blog post from the Mosaika show.

Changing of the guard

Not for the wee ones, the changing of the guard would be great for your tweens and teens who have the patience and interest to sit for the show. If you have little ones they may still enjoy watching a few minutes! 

SHOWS

NAC children's events

The National Arts Centre has some fantastic children's programming, and you can read about French Youth Theatre here! 

Broadway Across Canada is also really popular with the kids, teens and tweens.

Outerbridge Magic - Mysteries of the Keyhole House

Renowned illusionists and Magic Castle headliners, Ted and Marion Outerbridge, are touring their captivating new, Magic show, Mysteries of the Keyhole House, perfect for the entire family (ages 8-108)!  The show is inspired by the couple's home restoration of the historic Keyhole House in the Ottawa Valley, a journey that unearthed a trove of artifacts whispering tales of past lives, not to mention a friendly ghost!

FESTIVALS

Children’s Festival

Winterlude!

Award-winning programming from Canada and across the world! Check out one of our reader's past experience at the festival.

Ottawa International Buskerfest

The ultimate live performance event, Buskerfest is a huge crowd pleaser! 

PuppetsUp

Looking for a creative outing for your crafty kids? The brains behind Almonte's beloved Puppets Up! festival are hosting PuppetCon August 11-13 and they've got some amazing workshops for kids and families. Learn how to turn an umbrella into a dragon or make your very own puppet head out of foam or latex! Then relax and enjoy a hiliarious family-friendly puppet show about pirates! Check out www.puppetsup.com for more information!

Winterlude

This festival is an essential part of Ottawan life, even if you're not too fussy about snow and ice! Whether you're snow tubing, skating, or maybe just enjoying a beaver tail, there is much to see and do! Check out our tips for heading down to the festival.

The Tulip Festival

The Tulip Festival is one of many great things to enjoy about Spring in Ottawa. There's nothing better than seeing the tulip bulbs pop up when the snow has melted!

INDOOR PLAY

Cosmic Adventures

Flying squirrel trampoline park

Kids of all ages can have a blast at Cosmic, an indoor play place in Gloucester (east end of Ottawa.) There are slides, climbing structures, ball pits and a smaller area for the wee ones. A place to go on really cold, hot or rainy days!

Kids Kingdom

With locations in the West and East end of the cities, this indoor play place is a local favourite - they also have daycare for parents looking for a fun and active centre for their child. Birthday parties and laser tag are other faves!

Funhaven

Perfect for those in the West end (or even if you're willing to make the drive!) The number of things you can do indoors at Funhaven is astounding - games, jungle gym, toddler play, laser tag, mini bowling, and so much more!

Flying Squirrel

Another great indoor trampoline park in the East end!

Altitude climbing gym

Lara got a chance to check out Altitude gym a few summers, and her three kids really enjoyed the indoor climbing walls.  They now have several other locations to check out as well.

Public swimming / wave pools / wading pools

There is nothing better than heading out for a swim when you're stuck for something to do with the kids. In the summer it's great to check out the outdoor pools and wading pools, but in the winter, sometimes we just want to imagine we're on the beach, getting hit by a huge wave. Happy swimming! 

Public skates

There are some great outdoor skating rinks to enjoy in the winter (including the free one at Lansdowne,) but it can be a fun summer activity to cool off on a sweltering day. Check out the City of Ottawa for public skating schedules, or maybe you have a local pond to discover when everything freezes over!

OUTDOOR PLAY

Zip Lines and Bat Caves at Arbraska Labfleche

With zip lines and ropes courses for kids and adults alike, Arbraska Lafleche is a fun outing. And they have a bat cave too!

Parc omega

Calypso Water Park

We visited Parc Omega for the first time last summer, and I was really impressed by the experience. The property is SO huge, but there are options to take nature walks and picnics if you don't feel like sitting in your car.

Peak to Peak Zip Line and Coaster at Camp Fortune

There’s a peak to peak zip line and a coaster that goes down mountain at Camp Fortune. You must be at least 8 for the coaster and 100lbs for the zip line.

Interzip

If you’re interested in a slower paced zip line, check out the Interzip and zip from Ontario into Quebec with beautiful views of the Parliament buildings. You must be at least 70lbs and under 250lbs for this zip experience.

Mont cascades

A lovely, small water park, nestled in the Gatineau hills. And you really can't beat the price when taking the whole family!

Eco odysee

A water maze adventure in the Outaouais region!

Calypso

A water park that invented the saying "go big or go home." This is the ultimate water park experience for your family, and just a quick jaunt just outside Ottawa!

Gatineau Park

THE best place in the Ottawa region to see the Fall leaves, head out for a nighttime snowshoe (yup, kids would enjoy this too!) or spend a bit of time there with both winter and summer camping. There are also great hikes for the older kids, and a short walk around Pink Lake for the younger ones.

Rideau canal boating or skating

Boating in the summer, or skating in the winter - everyone can enjoy this beautiful heritage site in the heart of Ottawa! 

Rideau canal Locks

Don't want to boat OR skate on the canal? Just head down with the kids in the summer to see a boat make its' way through the locks!

Kayaking

Yup, kids can definitely kayak, and it's easier than you think! Check out Lara's post on kayaking and SUPing (Stand Up Paddle Boarding) with her kids.

Pirate adventures

Take an imaginary pirate adventure along the Rideau Canal, and have a barrel of laughs! Arrrrr! 

Feeding the ducks near billings 

There are so many activities in Ottawa that don't cost an arm and a leg, and kids will have so much fun - feeding cute ducks is definitely one of those activities to file away for the days when your kids are whining "I'm bored!!" (According to wildlife experts, bread is actually dangerous for ducks and other water birds (like the swans.) We suggest these alternatives: lettuce, peas and sweet corn!

Geo caching

Who knew there were secret treasures hiding all around this city? And people are on the hunt to find them! 

Saunders farm

Boasting one of the best mazes in the city, along with fantastic activities all summer long (and check out their spooky Halloween activities!) this is a place you'll want to visit again and again. 

Valleyview Little Animal farm

A farm with a tiny train to ride and animals to pet, located in Southwest Ottawa. A great alternative to the Canadian Agriculture and Food Museum if you feel like switching things up!

Proulx Farm

We love this farm out in the East end, with their horse-drawn wagon rides, pancake breakfasts, pumpkin patch, strawberry picking and so much more! Proulx Farm is also a staple at some of the farmer's markets around the city.

Mer Bleue Boardwalk

The perfect walk for little ones, with ample snow and ski trails in the winter. Don't forget to bring the bird seed to feed the chickadees!

Mooney's Bay

The perfect place to cool off in the summer, check out Ottawa's Dragonboat Festival, or take a picnic to the park!

Sunday bike days

Each year from mid-May to early September you can cycle along some car-free roads in Ottawa every Sunday. Don’t forget your yearly bike tune-up! 

Petrie Island

In the East end, this beach is great in many seasons, with summer fun and beautiful Fall colours. For the avid naturalist, it's also a great place to spot turtles and participate in Nature Camps!

Ottawa Farmers' Markets

My kids LOVE the Ottawa Farmer's Market. There are locations all over the city, and we usually visit the Orleans location or the big Landsdowne location. My girls enjoy the free samples, picking out fruit and vegetables, and the occasional special events like face painting or balloon animals. 

 SPORTS

Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) in Ottawa

Take in a PWHL game in Ottawa!

PARKS

Canada-Themed playground at Mooney’s Bay

We have so many awesome parks in the city, and when we surveyed YOU, our lovely readers, you told us that these four were your favourites:

Canada-themed playground at Mooney's Bay

Brewer Park

Walter Baker Park

Andrew Haydon Park

Millenium Park

And that's a wrap on our 50 things to do with kids in Ottawa - what's YOUR favourite things to do?

Peak to Peak Zipline Tour at Camp Fortune

I have always enjoyed all sorts of thrill seeking activities. Bungee jumping, ziplining and roller coasters are all appealing to me. I also love the outdoors and being in nature. Combine the two, and I have the perfect weekend activity. Camp Fortune’s new peak to peak ziplines and mountain coaster fit the bill.

For this excursion, I brought a friend with me. My parents opted to only ride the mountain coaster. As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by our guide who took us to the chairlift. There, we went on a five minute scenic ascent to the peak, getting an incredible view of Gatineau park along the way. 

Once we reached the summit of the mountain, our guides took us up the stairs of a short tower. There, we attached ourselves to the ziplines and were ready to go. Because there were two zip lines next to each other, my friend and I were able to go at the same time. 

As soon as the guides let us go, we glided 150 feet above the forest at high speed. My friend had been somewhat nervous at first, but once we got going, he was ecstatic. From the zipline, I was able to see stunning sights all around me while flying through the air. When we arrived at the second tower, we were excited to do it again.

We waited for a few minutes for our guides to return and do the safety checks, and we were once again ready to go. Before going on the second zipline, our guides had told us that it would be a good idea to spin on this one. They were right. I let go of my harness and spun around, learning what it's like to zipline backwards. I made sure to get into my brace position in time.

After the second, we went on the third and final zipline. This one was a bit smaller, but it was still fun. At the end, there was an optional 50 foot free fall. I stood at the edge of the platform, staring straight down before going against my natural instincts and walking off of it. I plummeted for two meters before the cord slowly lowered me to the ground for a not-so-graceful landing. In total, I ziplined the distance of 4,478 feet in about an hour. 

Following lunch, we went back up the relaxing chairlift for one last activity- the mountain coaster. The mountain coaster consisted of one seat that rolled down a winding metal track through the trees. I used the lever to go at the maximum speed of 40 km/h, holding on tight as it made sharp drops and turns. It was a great adrenaline rush.

If you are interested in either of these activities, arrive 30 min ahead of schedule and check in at new customer service, lower level of the main lodge. Remember to dress for the weather, active clothing and running shoes. The ziplines have a minimum weight of 100 lbs and a max weight of 240 lbs. Pricing is $55 for youth 14 and under and $65 for those 15 and older. The coaster is $20 per ride and you have to be 8 years old or older to ride alone.  Safety equipment and instructional sessions are provided. For more information please visit https://campfortune.com. 

David is a fifteen-year-old aspiring adventure and travel writer living in Ottawa.  Skydiving is on his bucket list.