Fibre by the Locks A Textile and Fibre Show in Merrickville - theHumm October 2025
Fibre by the Locks A Textile and Fibre Show in Merrickville - theHumm October 2025
By Deb Alexander
The Pews in Merrickville is opening its doors to a new fibre and textile show: Fibre by the Locks.
The idea started as a friendly “wouldn’t it be nice if...” conversation amongst several fibre enthusiasts at an event at the Pews in February. Now, six months later, a dedicated group of organizers is working hard to make this first-time event a reality.
As a fundraiser for the Pews, Fibre by the Locks is committed to welcoming artists, makers, suppliers and craftspeople of all ages as vendors. Equally important to the organizers is the opportunity to celebrate our local fibre and textile history, the community groups that are keeping these traditional arts alive (and thriving!), the people who joyfully gather in guilds and clubs to create, share and enjoy the love of their craft, and the hardworking farmers who provide the raw materials to convert into so many beautiful things.
Fibre by the Locks welcomes Ann Martin from the Merrickville and District Historical Society, The Kemptville Quilters Guild, Victoria’s Quilts, Rideau Valley Rug Hooking, The Merrickville Knitting and Crochet Club, Doug Savage and Carol Williams (sheep farmers), and Janet Stark of Janet’s Artisan Coats.
In lieu of admission, a by-donation table will be set up with gifted fibre and textile treasures for visitors to browse through and take home. All donations go to The Pews to support many more community events.
Thanks to Mrs. McGarrigles Fine Foods, Violets on Main Bakery, Alpaca Tracks T(h)read Lightly, and Healthily Ever After Health food Store for their kind and generous sponsorship.
The Pews and Fibre by the Locks cordially invite you to come and help celebrate this local tapestry of all things fibre and textile on Sunday, October 19 from 10am to 4pm at 100 St. Lawrence Street in Merrickville.
Linda Banfalvi —The Beauty of Chaos - theHumm October 2025
By Sally Hansen
Art… and Soul
Artist Linda Banfalvi delights in bringing a semblance of order to the chaos she creates with her paints. Working primarily with an oil and cold wax medium, she extricates vibrant landscapes and florals from her lavishly coated canvases that celebrate the ever-changing and always present beauty of nature. Her paintings are genuine expressions of the joy her passion for painting gives to her.
This is how she describes her muse: “My experience worki......
Rideau Roots A Musical Journey Inspired by the Rideau Canal - theHumm October 2025
In the spring of 2022, a group of songwriters, musicians and spoken word artists set out on an extraordinary journey: paddling the Rideau Canal from Kingston to Ottawa. Led by intrepid wilderness canoe guide and award-winning songwriter Kate Weekes kateweekes.com , the traveling residency invited artists to write music inspired by the river, the land, and the communities along the way. The project encouraged reflection on personal and cultural i......
Blues at The Cove Celebrating 18 Years with Another Stellar Lineup - theHumm October 2025
Blues at The Cove is returning to Westport for its 18th season, continuing a tradition that has become one of the area’s best loved live music series. What began as Blues on the Rideau has evolved into Blues at The Cove, enticing music lovers from across the region to enjoy outstanding Canadian blues and soul talent in the warm and intimate setting of the historic Cove Inn.
This season features an especially exciting lineup. Alongside returning artists, the series welcomes newcomers Bywater Cal......
Red Trillium Studio Tour - theHumm October 2025
By Wendy Clement on behalf of the RTST
A hidden gem in the Ottawa Valley, West Carleton has a thriving community of fine artists and crafts-people. Each spring and fall for the past 27 years, these talented folks have invited visitors into their studios as part of the Red Trillium Studio Tour, and we once again invite you to join us for the Fall 2025 Tour, which is taking place over the weekend of October 18 and 19 (from 10am-4pm each day).
Our 29 local and guest artists are ready to welcome you at 11 different studio stops locat......
Culture Days in Snow Road - theHumm October 2025
On October 4 and 5, come on up to Snow Road Community Hall for Culture Days — where tradition meets fun and every story comes to life. Taking place from 10am to 4pm each day, this inspiring event will focus on many local artists displaying their work, cultural awareness, and hands-on participation.
Highlights include pottery wheel and knife detailing demonstrations, painting make-and-take magnets, trying your hand at spin art or needle felting, finding out what your dreams mean,......
Get Cozy with our Fall Book Picks! - theHumm October 2025
By John Pigeau
Everything is going to be okay. I can say this with some certainty. And not just because it’s autumn, and the trees look pretty, and the weather is cooler for sleeping, and my mom is excited about Pumpkin Spiced lattes. Those are key indicators, yes, but for me what clinches it is that the fall books are coming, and they are splendiferous.
Case in point: November 4th, the day both Margaret Atwood and John Irving — two of the greatest storytellers of our time — each have......
Books, Books, Books! Friends of the Mississippi MillsPublic Library Book Sale - theHumm October 2025
By Barbara Carroll
Get ready to stock up! The Friends of the Mississippi Mills Public Library gigantic book sale is just weeks away, and our dedicated volunteers are ready for your donations. We’re looking for gently used books in good condition that you’d be happy to share. Please do not bring textbooks, encyclopedias, damaged or dusty items, outdated material, or magazines. Our volunteers sort through thousands of books and want each one to be able to find a new home.
Book drop-offs will be accepted inside the Rexall Mall on Ottawa Street in Almonte from October 1 to 16. Please follow the signs and le......
Cycle Tourism as an Economic Driver Cycle Tourism Event Moved to Friday, October 17 - theHumm October 2025
By Jeff Mills
I’ve always been amazed by bicycles. The same basic diamond frame design of the bicycle dates back over 100 years. Nowadays they are much lighter, faster, smoother and more comfortable to ride than ever, and I suppose a fair bit more expensive! They are the most efficient non-motorized vehicles in the world. Bicycles improve your physical, mental and emotional health and bring people together socially. These two-wheel wonders offer affordable, reliable and efficient transportation.
During the 1890s, often referred to as the golden age of cycling, the bicycle played a significant role ......
Corb Lund, Chantal Kreviazuk Coming to a Small Hall Near You - theHumm October 2025
Corb Lund will croon in your local hockey arena. Chantal Kreviazuk will dazzle at a historic church. Ashley MacIsaac will wow at the community rec centre. The Ontario Festival of Small Halls (OFOSH) is back with its twelfth edition and is set to enchant music lovers in a series of intimate settings throughout the Ottawa Valley this fall.
Since its inception in August 2014, when the team behind Ottawa Bluesfest first produced the concept, OFOSH has embarked upon an impressive journey. It be......
Get into The Zone Jazz at St. Andrew’s in Pakenham - theHumm October 2025
You may occasionally hear musicians talk about “being in the zone”. What is “the zone”, you ask? It’s that moment in live performance when the conscious mind surrenders to the unconscious and the music floods out of a musician without planning or effort. It feels to the performers as if they are merely the channel through which the music flows. For musicians, there is no better feeling.
The zone is a wonderful experience when performing alone, but utterly amazing when shared with other musicians.......
Sing for Change! A Fundraiser for Lanark County Community Justice - theHumm October 2025
Local vocal groups are coming together to raise their voices for change. This community event will be a positive Voice, bringing awareness to social justice. The first performance will be held on November 1 at 5pm at St. Paul’s Church in Perth.
So far, the list of participating vocal groups includes: Rubies in the Rough, River Resonance, Tay Valley Community Choir, St. Paul’s Choir, St. James Choir, and High Octane. Each will bring their own unique style and energy to this choral extravaganza!
All these beautiful voices will come together to perform a powerful new anthem cre......
How to Navigate a Studio Tour - theHumm October 2025
On Thanksgiving weekend, October 11 & 12, the Crown and Pumpkin tour invites you to explore the creative abundance of our community. Celebrating its 29th year, Crown and Pumpkin features 14 stops and over 50 artists and fine craftworkers. Sites are open from 10am to 4pm daily. So, how to make the most of this event?
The tour is spread throughout Mississippi Mills, with stops in Almonte, in and around Clayton, and one at Cedar Hill Christmas Tree Farm near Pakenham. Of course, you can foll......
Spotlight on MerrickvilleA One-Act Theatre Extravaganza! - theHumm October 2025
This November, the charming village of Merrickville will transform into a vibrant hub of theatrical talent as it hosts an unforgettable weekend of drama, comedy and creativity. From November 7–9, nine theatre groups from across Eastern Ontario will gather to perform nine different one-act plays during the highly anticipated Eastern Ontario Drama League (EODL) One-Act Festival, proudly hosted by Theatre Night in Merrickville (TNIM).
This year is particularly special, as TNIM is celebrating its 50th anniversary — a milestone that speaks to the organization’s enduring passion for commun......
Putting Your Garden to Bed for the Fall - theHumm October 2025
By David Hinks
How do you feel about the garden in October? I find that I have very mixed feelings. It can be really hard to let go of warm weather. One eye is on the coming blast of winter, but to be fair there are many fine fall days in October… and the bugs are gone.
These fine days offer the opportunity to finish gardening tasks. I am always in favour of doing as much clean-up as possible in the fall. Our spring is such an incredibly short period of time to get all the gardening chores done — espe......
Sandy Toes & Salty Kisses - theHumm October 2025
This fall, Rural Root Theatre is delighted to present Sandy Toes & Salty Kisses, a romantic comedy by Michael and Susan Parker, from October 21–26 at the Constance and Buckham’s Bay Community Centre. Directed by Ron Gardner, this lively comedy promises plenty of laughs, misunderstandings, and unexpected twists, all set against the backdrop of a seaside hotel in disarray.
The story takes place at the Lovers’ Landing Beach Hotel, a venue advertised as the perfect destination for we......
Murder on the Rerun - theHumm October 2025
Jane finds herself at the bottom of the stairs surrounded by “friends”, and realizes that her death was not accidental — someone pushed her and she was in fact murdered! She submits a request to come back to earth and figure out who did the dastardly deed and why. Jane (Katharine Coleman) is given permission to return; however, there is one hitch: Kitty (Kathryn McKeigan), a celestial being who is on the verge of going through the gates, will be her helper, and the two of them will try t......
Blame Jane Austen… - theHumm October 2025
By Glenda Jones
Perfect for a Sunday afternoon, Jane Austen Wrecked My Life is the movie choice of the Mississippi Mills Film Society for October 19 at the Almonte Legion. This light-hearted story of love and literature will resonate with book fans who’d like to work in a bookstore like Shakespeare & Co. in Paris or take up residence in a writers’ retreat. When the heroine embraces the notion of writing a novel, she must first rid herself of her fantasy world built around Jane Austen and get o......
A Choral Concert in Perth River Resonance Choir Joins Capital Chamber Choir - theHumm October 2025
On October 4 at 3pm, the Capital Chamber Choir (CCC) will be performing at St. Paul’s United Church in Perth! CCC is an auditioned ensemble of experienced choral singers from the National Capital Region, committed to bringing a diverse range of choral music to audiences. CCC is proud to sing in Perth for the first time, and to present Northern Elements, a concert of music that they are preparing for their upcoming live recording project on October 19 in Ottawa. You’ll hear choral favourites by emerging and established contemporary composers from Canada and beyond. Find more information an......
A Day of History,Music & Community - theHumm October 2025
Come for a memorable day filled with history, music, and community spirit! The Lanark County Genealogical Society, in partnership with the Middleville Museum, is excited to present this special event, taking place on Saturday, November 8 from 10:30am to 3pm at the Middleville Community Hall.
Start your day at the Middleville Museum by exploring fascinating exhibits and uncovering the rich heritage of the area. The entrance fee is $5, with all funds going towards museum maintenance.
Next, enjoy a delicious catered hot buffet lunch with friends and neighbours in the warm, welcoming ......
Come to Christmas in the Valley! 35 Years of Exceptional Gift Choices - theHumm October 2025
The Christmas in the Valley Artisan Show is thrilled to be back again this November 1 and 2 from 10am to 4pm at the John Levi Community Centre/arena upper hall, located at 182 Bridge Street in Almonte. At the Valley Artisan Show you are sure to find gifts with originality, quality and attention to detail. Forgo the gift cards, big box stores and stressful malls, and make this your first holiday shopping destination. Over 30 artisans, crafters and food vendors will be presenting their original creations ......
To the Manor Born - theHumm October 2025
By Glenda Jones
Who wouldn’t love to live in a mansion, servants at hand, and social events filling the calendar? Local author Arlene Stafford-Wilson gives us the opportunity to peek through the windows at mansions of the past in her latest book, Lanark County Mansions. From Perth to Almonte, Carleton Place to Smiths Falls, Stafford-Wilson has carefully chosen an array of beautiful homes, many still standing, to highlight the fascinating stories of thirty houses.
Most built by industri......
Forty Strokes to Freedom: Gesture, Structure, and Discipline in Painting - theHumm October 2025
By — Kim Lulashnyk is the owner ofStone Manor Studios in Newboro<stonemanorstudios.ca>
When designing painting experiences, I often think about the different ways artists approach their craft. Some devote themselves to control and discipline, while others lean into freedom of expression, embracing spontaneity, accident, and flow. There is no single right way to paint; each approach teaches us something valuable. But in a workshop setting, balance matters. Too much discipline can leave students feeling intimidated, while too much freedom can make them question what they are truly gain......
New Players Join the Humm Team! Humm Team Productions Joins Forces to Present Three Locally Written Shows - theHumm October 2025
After a short hiatus following their 2024 musical comedy The Wizard is…Odd!?, Humm Team Productions is gearing up for a busy 2026/27 season, with three locally written shows on the roster. With all that activity planned, founders Kris and Rob Riendeau are happy (and relieved) to announce several new players on the production and writing team. “This is the first time we’ve planned several shows in advance,” explains Rob, “so we wanted to get the word out and encourage people to sign up for our newslet......
Almonte’s First Annual Highland Haunt & Harvest - theHumm October 2025
By Submitted Destination Almonte
Mark your calendars and prepare to experience Almonte like never before. This October, our charming town becomes a destination where autumn magic meets community spirit, and everyone’s invited to be part of the spooktacular festivities.
The idea for the Highland Haunt & Harvest was sparked by the beloved Mid-Winter Milling making its official return earlier this year. The energy from that weekend got us dreaming bigger, and we wanted to bring that same excitem......
Fibre by the Locks A Textile and Fibre Show in Merrickville - theHumm October 2025
By Deb Alexander
The Pews in Merrickville is opening its doors to a new fibre and textile show: Fibre by the Locks.
The idea started as a friendly “wouldn’t it be nice if...” conversation amongst several fibre enthusiasts at an event at the Pews in February. Now, six months later, a dedicated group of organizers is working hard to make this first-time event a reality.
As a fundraiser for the Pews, Fibre by the Locks is committed to welcoming artists, makers, suppliers and craftspeople of all ages as......
Autumn DaysAre Here Again A Local Craft Show with Heart in Renfrew - theHumm October 2025
By Andrea Caillier
The Renfrew Armouries will be filled with creativity and community spirit on Saturday, October 18, when Autumn Days Are Here Again takes place from 10am to 3pm.
Hosted by the Curious Crafters Collective, the show will feature 75 vendors offering jewellery, knitted and crocheted items, woodworking, cards, wreaths, candles, and food.
Admission is free, but visitors are encouraged to bring donations for the Arnprior District Humane Society. Items most needed include paper towels, bleach, Tempta......
Fall in Love with Books! Autumn Events at Mill Street Books in Almonte - theHumm October 2025
By Ann Shea
As the fall season approaches, Mill Street Books is delighted to announce a number of exciting literary events, with several popular authors heading to Almonte to share their stories. On Thursday, October 2, author Merilyn Simonds returns to the Almonte Branch of the Mississippi Mills Public Library for the local launch of her beautiful new memoir entitled Walking with Beth: Conversations with my Hundred-Year-Old Friend. Through a series of very personal and inspirational conversations taking ......
Perth Autumn Studio Tour Come Experience the Warmth and Creativity! - theHumm October 2025
The colours of Autumn have emerged and the ground is painted with fallen leaves. These are sure signs that the Perth Autumn Studio Tour is just around the corner. This Thanksgiving weekend, on Saturday October 11 and Sunday October 12 (from 10am-5pm each day), come explore the art and beauty of the Brooke Valley countryside. Celebrating its 32nd year, this cherished tradition highlights the creativity and talent of 30 local artists across five unique stops. It offers an inspiring array of art and hand-craft......
Centre for Creative Living Yesteryear: The Vintage Variety Show - theHumm October 2025
By — Sue Evans is the Coordinator of the Centre for Creative Living
Mississippi Mills is such a wonderfully vibrant and creative community, a place where people can find purpose and places to meet, work and play with others who share a desire to live life with joy. The list of opportunities in the area is long.
One small part of this web of activities is the Centre for Creative Living (CFCL). Newly incorporated, it is meant to be a “food bank for the soul” for ordinary folks who enjoy creative activity for its own sake. Located in the hospitable but modest spaces of ......
Celebrate Fall Colours Hike up Blueberry Mountain with MMLT! - theHumm October 2025
The air is turning crisp, the leaves are bursting into colour — it’s the perfect time to head outdoors and experience autumn in all its glory. One of the best places to do just that is Blueberry Mountain in Lanark County, where sweeping views showcase the spectacular fall landscape.
The Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust (MMLT) invites the community to join them for the annual Fall Colours Walk at Blueberry Mountain at cliffLAND on Saturday, October 18. Thanks to the generosity of Howard Clif......
The SamhainArtisan Market A Daytime Gathering of Craft and Community - theHumm October 2025
As autumn deepens and the veil between worlds grows thin, the Samhain Artisan Market emerges as both celebration and invitation. Held in the golden glow of a fall day with crisp air and forest leaves crunching underfoot, this gathering beckons you into a realm where craft, story, and spirit intertwine.
A Market of Mystery and Magic
Wander through paths lined with artisan stalls that feel like doorways into tradition and imagination. Each maker offers creations woven with intention: protective charms, seasonal remedies, ancestral art, jewellery inspired by m......
One, Two, Three, A-Larry - theHumm October 2025
By Glenda Jones
My prized possession when I was ten was a very hard black rubber ball, a lacrosse ball, although at the time, we had no idea what lacrosse was (B.C. kids… really!). We all had our favourite, and heaven help anyone who snatched it. We played this game where we’d throw the ball against a wall, sing this little ditty, and catch the ball under our leg.
It set me on a habit of counting things, a habit I keep to this day. I worked in a greenhouse popping seedlings into a tray: four, eight, twelve… I worked at my sewing business: two sleeves, four, six, eight... I even do it when we’re at e......
$200 and Under Sale Kanata Art Club Celebrates Community - theHumm October 2025
On the weekend of November 8 and 9, the Kanata Art Club (KAC) invites art lovers to their studio (630 Cameron Harvey Drive) for their popular $200 and under sale. Now in its seventh year, the non-juried sale will feature original works from thirty KAC artists working in a variety of genres and styles including watercolour, oil, acrylic and mixed media, to name a few.
Each artist will have nine ready to hang small- to medium-sized works on offer. It’s a perfect opportunity to find artworks by both ......
Happy Birthday,John Prine! The Maywoods Perform in McDonalds Corners - theHumm October 2025
A show honouring John Prine’s songwriting genius is an annual Nashville music event on October 10, the date of his birth. The Maywoods — the Lanark County quartet comprising Vicki Brittle, Tyler Craig, Nathan Sloniowski and Jessica Winskell — have transplanted this tradition in Canada. The band’s first John Prine Birthday concert last year at the Almonte Civitan Hall attracted a full house, and this year they’re bringing their show to the historic McDonalds Corners Agric......
Open House at the Museum of Nature Free Event Showcases Canada’sNational Natural History Collections - theHumm October 2025
Fall is a wonderful time to get outside and appreciate the wonders of nature. It’s also the time for another nature-inspired tradition, one that will amaze and delight anyone who marvels at the diversity of life and the evolution of the planet.
On Saturday, October 18, the Canadian Museum of Nature opens the doors to its national research and collections facility, the Natural Heritage Campus, located at 1740 Pink Road in Gatineau, Quebec.
This free event, which has taken place annually since 2013 (except for two years of “virtual video visits” during the pandemic), allows the pub......
Folkus 2026 - theHumm October 2025
By — Steve Wildesmith is Folkus’s Artistic Director
Almonte’s Folkus Concert Series is back again for 2026 with a stellar lineup from near and far. As usual, our concerts will be held on the last Saturday of January, February, March and the second last Saturday of April. This year’s dates are January 31, February 28, March 28 and April 18.
We are truly honoured to have the use of the incredible Almonte Old Town Hall as our venue again this season. Our series is a “listening room” seated format, with refreshments available before the sho......
An Open Letter to Prime Minister Carney on the EV Pause - theHumm October 2025
By Sue Brandum
Dear Mr. Carney,
I’m writing this as I sit in the waiting room of my auto dealership, having brought my car in for its 60,000km service.
A month ago, you paused the implementation of the mandate requiring auto manufacturers to sell a certain number of EVs by certain dates in Canada. You did this in part because of pressure from the Canadian auto manufacturing sector, and in part because China had put tariffs on Canadian canola exports in retaliation for Canada’s tariffs on Chinese EVs.
I ......
A Lifetime of Collecting - theHumm October 2025
A new exhibit is coming to the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum on October 18. Entitled A Lifetime of Collecting Part 2: Canadian Handwoven Overshot Coverlets from the Dennis and Sylvia Mills Collection, this exhibit is guest curated by Danielle Marshall. Coverlets from the MVTM’s collection will be displayed from October 18 to December 20, and the show opening will take place on October 18 from 1–4pm.
Dennis and the late Sylvia Mills can trace their roots back to long-established Ontar......
Learning Again in Almonte Musical Offerings Answer Common Questions - theHumm October 2025
By Jane Ellens
Last year Dr. Mark Wilkinson presented a course on the human voice for Learning Again in Almonte (LAIA) that I, quite frankly, thought would never interest me in a million years. Since others on the committee were keen, I arranged to meet with him. On being exposed to his enthusiasm, charm and mindboggling depth of knowledge, all my reservations were set aside and, like everyone who attended the course, I was mesmerized. The clamour to have him back was deafening, so this fall he will return with one workshop and one course to answer the following questions:
I love to sing, but find t......
Entertainment on Tap at Puppets Up! Fall Chautauqua - theHumm October 2025
By Susan Macaulay
The line-up for November’s Puppets Up! Chautauqua Variety Show looks exactly as producer Jane Torrance and director Kris Riendeau had hoped it would: diverse, predominantly local, energized (and energi-ZING) and, most important, full of fun.
“We’ve got singers (a barbershop quartet, a couple of soloists and a small choir), highland dancers, stand-up comedy, a local poet reciting one of her favourite poems by a famous Canadian, and, not surprisingly, a couple of outstanding puppeteers,” K......
Fall FlingFibre Art Show - theHumm October 2025
On Friday, October 24 and Saturday the 25th, from 10am to 4pm, the Out of the Box Fibre Artists are holding their popular Fall Fibre Fling Art Show at Kitchissippi United Church, located at 630 Island Park Drive in Ottawa. Admission is free, with monetary donations gratefully accepted for the Ottawa Food Bank.
The two-day art show and sale will showcase the fibre art of nearly 100 artists from Ottawa and the surrounding areas — offering a range of works including embroidery, felting, wall hangings, purses, silk scarves, and cards.
“Visitors feel a personal connection to our artwor......
Duck Tales: A Double Bill A Theatrical Evening to Quack About - theHumm October 2025
Studio Theatre is serving up an evening that’s witty, wise, and unexpectedly feathered. Duck Tales: A Double Bill brings you not one, but two acclaimed one-act plays where ducks take centre stage......
Nov 1 - 2 Christmas in the Valley Artisan Show
- Linda Banfalvi —The Beauty of Chaos
- Rideau Roots A Musical Journey Inspired by the Rideau Canal
- Blues at The Cove Celebrating 18 Years with Another Stellar Lineup
- Red Trillium Studio Tour
- Culture Days in Snow Road
- Get Cozy with our Fall Book Picks!
- Books, Books, Books! Friends of the Mississippi MillsPublic Library Book Sale
- Cycle Tourism as an Economic Driver Cycle Tourism Event Moved to Friday, October 17
- Corb Lund, Chantal Kreviazuk Coming to a Small Hall Near You
- Get into The Zone Jazz at St. Andrew’s in Pakenham
