Peace & Joy with the Valley Voices - theHumm December 2025
Peace & Joy with the Valley Voices - theHumm December 2025
By Becky Schweizer
The holidays are here! While 2025 has been a challenging year for many, the Valley Voices invite you to reserve a night to put the world aside and enjoy yourself with music and stories. Our holiday concert entitled Peace & Joy will take place on Sunday, December 14 at 7pm the Almonte United Church. This year we are continuing a beloved part of our Christmas concerts — the stories. Stories of the season with hopeful and loving messages to charm and relax us as we prepare for the final rush of the holidays. Music of the season will be sung by the Valley Voices and promises to leave everyone with smiles on their faces. Unlike the music in the mall, you will not know all the music ahead of time! However, you might find yourself looking it up afterwards to add to your holiday playlist.
Tickets for the concert are $20, and are available at Baker Bob’s and Tickets Please (TicketsPlease.ca, 485–6434). This year you can also catch us at Light Up the Night, where we will be performing a tiny sample of the music to get the season started.
The Valley Voices are Almonte’s original community choir. We sing in harmony accompanied by the wonderful Kathleen Deck. We have two concerts a year, this Christmas one and another in June. We do have openings for new members, especially bass and tenor parts, so if you are interested in joining in January, email valleyvoicesofalmonte@gmail.com to arrange your audition.
Toonies for The Table Support Perth’s Good Food Bank - theHumm December 2025
The beloved community campaign “Toonies for the Table” is running again until December 19. 2023’s successful campaign raised $17,000 for The Table Community Food Centre — this year the need is greater than ever and the goal is to raise at least $20,000. As the season of giving begins, residents of Perth are encouraged to show their support for neighbours facing food insecurity by dropping their spare change, especially those handy toonies, into collection jars placed at local businesses throughout town.
With the rising cost of food and an increase in the number of people relying on th......
Sharing the Local Love During the Holidays - theHumm December 2025
By Kris and Rob Riendeau
Here at theHumm we’re big on local economies. The retail and service businesses in the small towns that we cover play a huge role in the cultural life of our towns. Each store, restaurant, or small enterprise attracts and serves a particular clientele — some inside the community, some from outside. Some businesses host their own special events; others join together with local festivals to make the whole experience more vibrant. Many provide support in cash or in kind to local initiatives. All of them add their own particular flavour to the delicious mix that is small-town Ottawa Valley. A......
Holiday Magic Returns to Mississippi Mills - theHumm December 2025
Mississippi Mills is set to sparkle with festive cheer from December 5–7 as the community welcomes Santa Claus for a weekend packed with music, parades, and joyful traditions.
Light Up the Night
The weekend kicks off on Friday, December 5 with the return of the enchanting Light Up the Night concert on Mill Street in Almonte. This open-air celebration transforms the downtown core into a winter wonderland, drawing thousands for an evening of music and......
The Magic Realismof Toller Cranston - theHumm December 2025
By Sally Hansen
Art… and Soul
The spotlight is back on Canadian icon Toller Cranston, but this time it is brilliantly focused on Toller’s amazing, fiercely original “Magic Realism” art. This is the second time his older sister (and Arnprior resident) Phillippa Cranston Baran is committed to ensuring that “Canadians remember Toller as a creative genius, who worked like a demon, chased his destiny without fear, and continues to inspire others to dream big.”
On January 25, Phillippa is celebratin......
St. Paul’s Presents A Musical Celebration of Christmas - theHumm December 2025
The Music Team at St. Paul’s United Church in Perth is presenting “A Musical Celebration of Christmas” on Sunday, December 21 at 2pm. The first half of the concert will feature the St. Paul’s Senior Choir singing Emmanuel, God with Us — a contemporary “Lessons and Carols” telling the Christmas story through music and readings.
The second half of the program will feature a variety of vocalists and instrumentalists. Joel LeBlanc, long-time member of the St. Paul’s choir, will sing Hu......
Star So Bright - theHumm December 2025
Fifteen years ago, singer/songwriter Jackie Bennett was approached and told that her song Star So Bright from her first CD should be made into a story. Ten months later the story was completed along with ten original pieces of music. The story, although occurring during the birth of Jesus, tells of a woman’s journey of faith that is relevant today as we all search for where we belong and how our faith leads us there. This storyline undoubtedly captivates your attention, while the enchanting musical score draws you to a spiritual place.
Jackie Bennett currently resides outside of Orill......
The Father of the Christmas Bird Count - theHumm December 2025
By Lise Balthazar
Frank Michler Chapman was born on June 12, 1864, in Englewood, New Jersey. His father was an attorney for an important bank on Wall Street. His mother was a gardener, piano player and artist. Although he had no musical talent, Chapman always maintained that his mother’s love of music made him “deeply responsive to the songs of birds.” His lifelong love affair with birds started at eight years old, when he encountered a bright red cardinal.
After graduating......
A New Chapter for Jeff Banks of JB Arts - theHumm December 2025
By Kris Riendeau
For the past fifteen years, JB Arts has been a creative anchor in Almonte — a place where kids and adults alike have learned to “dress for a mess,” embrace mistakes, and discover their own artistic voices. As owner and founder Jeff Banks prepares to close the business and sell the building on Mill Street, I sat down with him to talk about how it all started, the special relationship JB Arts has had with the community, and what he hopes people will remember.
theHumm: When you think back t......
Have Yourself a Merry Literary Christmas - theHumm December 2025
By John Pigeau
In my time owning a book and music shop in Perth, many of my favourite memories are from the holiday season. What still stands out in my memory, after all these years, is that most everyone who walked in the door was smiling and rosy-cheeked and happy. It didn’t matter if they had just stumbled in from a blustery snowstorm. When folks are thinking about finding a special gift that will be make their loved ones happy, their default is cheerful. They look lit from within by joy. And that joy is con......
A Christmas Story: The Musical Riversong Players Bring Holiday Magic to Almonte in December! - theHumm December 2025
This December, Riversong Players invites audiences to relive the warmth, laughter and nostalgia of the beloved holiday classic A Christmas Story, brought to life as a full-scale musical!
This intergenerational production features a talented cast of local children, teens and adults from across Mississippi Mills, capturing the heart of community theatre: neighbours, families, and friends coming together to create something joyful for all ages.
Set in 1940, A Christmas......
The Heart of Christmas Holiday Concerts by the Carleton Place Town Singers - theHumm December 2025
By Nancy Higham
The Carleton Place Town Singers look forward to sharing another season of beautiful choral music with you — our community! From Christmas favourites to rich choral arrangements, you will leave with your spirits lifted and your soul singing…
Our holiday concert, entitled “The Heart of Christmas” offers a matinée on Sunday, December 14 at 2:30pm, as well as our regular evening performance at 7pm on Tuesday, December 16. Both shows take place at Zion-Memorial Church in Carleton Place. As always, children 12 and under have free admission, and our ticket price remains a bargain at $15. Tic......
Neda’s Creation Book Launch by Local Artist at Carleton Place Library - theHumm December 2025
Neda Laketic is a multidisciplinary artist and author whose work encompasses sculpture, painting, and contemporary multimedia forms. Drawing on her heritage from the former Yugoslavia, and Canada, her art reflects a deep engagement with both cultural history and modern expression. On Saturday, December 13, she will be at the Carleton Place Public Library at 2pm to speak about her new fine art book entitled Neda’s Creation.
Neda holds Master’s and Bachelor’......
Peace & Joy with the Valley Voices - theHumm December 2025
By Becky Schweizer
The holidays are here! While 2025 has been a challenging year for many, the Valley Voices invite you to reserve a night to put the world aside and enjoy yourself with music and stories. Our holiday concert entitled Peace & Joy will take place on Sunday, December 14 at 7pm the Almonte United Church. This year we are continuing a beloved part of our Christmas concerts — the stories. Stories of the season with hopeful and loving messages to charm and relax us as we prepare for the final rush of......
Back Forty Cheese Holiday Open House - theHumm December 2025
Back Forty Farm, known for its award-winning artisan cheeses, invites the community to its annual Holiday Open House, a festive day to enjoy the season and shop for local products. Specializing in unique raw sheep milk cheeses, the farm will offer free samples, seasonal treats, and special holiday sales on select cheeses.
Owners Jeff and Jenna Fenwick, along with their daughter Beatrix, will be on hand to greet guests and share the holiday spirit on Saturday, December 13 from 11am to 4pm.
Kanata Choral Society Presents Magnificat! - theHumm December 2025
The Kanata Choral Society will open their 39th season with a performance of Vivaldi’s Magnificat. In contrast to Bach’s Magnificat, Vivaldi’s arrangement is somewhat more subdued, although no less intense.
The concert features many other wonderful composers such as John Rutter, Morten Lauridsen, Bob Chilcott and Mark Sirett, as well as lovely arrangements of The First Noel by Dan Forrest, and When a Child is Born by Fred Jacobson and Zacar. The audience will also get a chance to sing along with well-known carols.
The choir will be under the direction of Scott Auchinlek and accompa......
Miracle on 34th Street Experience the Magic at The Station Theatre! - theHumm December 2025
The Smiths Falls Community Theatre truly believes in miracles, so they’re bringing this timeless holiday classic to the stage beginning on Friday, December 5 for two joyous weekends!
Susan Walker (played by Emery McLean) doesn’t believe in Santa Claus. Her mother Doris Walker (Laura Robinson) works at Macy’s and hires someone to play Santa Claus every year. This year is no different, except the person hired to play Santa has big problems. Fortunately, a man named Kris Kringle (Mich......
Christmas Sale at Pine Ridge - theHumm December 2025
On December 6 and 7, come to Pine Ridge Studio at 6114 Carp Road for the Christmas sale you have been waiting for! All handmade Pine Ridge Studio pottery — mugs, bowls, teapots, platters, plates and more — will be 50% off the regular prices. Find those special pieces for yourself or for gift-giving at super low prices. The sale runs from 10am to 4pm both days.
Three artist friends will be bringing their special Christmas offerings as well. Janice Johnston will be offering h......
A Lion of a King! - theHumm December 2025
By Jane Stott
Who will you encounter in Studio Theatre Perth’s production of The Lion in Winter, written by James Goldman and directed by Chrystine Williams? A lion of a king unleashed with a resounding roar. A queen uncorked from her prison and overflowing with deceit. Three ambitious sons so dysfunctional and conniving that you won’t know who to trust, along with a beautiful princess and her young brother the King of France. These characters will all be on stage to welcome in the Christmas......
Art Works Perth Pop-Up - theHumm December 2025
The artists of Art Works Perth are delighted to offer a very impromptu pop-up Art Show for the first two weeks of December in one of the most historic locations on the main street of Perth. From Thursday through Sunday, December 4–7 and 11–14, five artists will be showing (and possibly painting!) at 40 Gore Street East, from 11am to 4pm each day. Stop by and indulge in a little eye candy, and find perfect Christmas presents for lovers of local art!
Participating artists include C......
It’s The Perfect Time… to Audition! - theHumm December 2025
When Almonte residents James and Kelly Torck set out to write a musical, they didn’t quite know what they were getting themselves into. Says Kelly, “James had written a couple of gorgeous character-centred tunes that sounded like they belonged in a musical. Our initial instinct was to shop them around to other artists and producers. It wasn’t until we got involved with the creative team behind The Wizard is… Odd!? that we thought — heck, why don’t we just make a home for those songs an......
Perth Citizens’ Band Christmas Concert - theHumm December 2025
The Perth Citizens’ Band, Canada’s oldest continuous town band, will be holding its annual Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 14 at 2pm at the Perth Legion, located at 24 Beckwith St. E.
This 31st annual event continues the long tradition that started in the mid-1920s and was later revived by bandmaster Brian Tackaberry. The concert will also feature readings by Brent McLaren, Perth Town Crier, and will include a variety of popular and sacred Christmas music for all ages, in......
Craft Cycle — Creative ReUse New Organization Offers Workshops and Diverts Craft Supplies from Landfill - theHumm December 2025
Everyone seems to have craft supplies collecting in a drawer, box, closet or even a craft room. For many people, these items have been left underutilized, unused or forgotten. Often during a clean-out, half-used materials are disposed of when they are no longer seen as useful. Most of these products can’t be curbside recycled, and small quantities do not sell in online marketplaces. That’s where Craft Cycle — Creative ReUse becomes part of the equation. Committed to reducing waste by consolidating......
CHIP’s “Raise the Walls!” Campaign Affordable Housing Fundraising Campaign in Full Swing - theHumm December 2025
Backhoes and bulldozers have been busy at work on construction of Perth’s newest affordable housing project at 63 Halton Street. Crews from the Saumure Group, the project’s contractor, have completed foundation work on the 15-unit structure located in the Perthworks neighbourhood, across from the Perth Fairgrounds. With approval of final permits, workers hope to complete the building shell before the heavy winter weather arrives. The plan calls for a 2-storey structure consisting of 11 one......
Perth’s Festive Skies Festival of Lights & Drone Show on December 5 - theHumm December 2025
Perth Tourism invites the community to celebrate the magic of the season at the annual Festival of Lights and Drone Show on Friday, December 5 at the Tay Basin. This free evening event brings together families, friends, and visitors for music, warmth, and a stunning aerial display lighting up Perth’s night sky.
Festivities begin at 5:30pm with a performance by Rubies in the Rough. The Table Community Food Centre will be offering refreshments, with donations welcome in support of their community programs. At approximately 6:15pm, dozens of coordinated lights will rise above the Tay Ba......
Give the Gift of Entertainment! Film Society Offers 2026 Subscriptions - theHumm December 2025
By Wendy O’Keefe
Looking for something for that hard-to-buy-for friend or family member? Read on!
The Mississippi Mills Film Society has been screening Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) films in the area since 2023. Our venue is upstairs at the Almonte Legion, 100 Bridge Street (there’s an elevator). It’s great — there’s a good-size screen and the sound system is terrific.
Our committee works diligently to choose a nice variety of films from TIFF’s “hot list” — an alternative to Hollywood. A lot of things have to line up — TIFF must release the films, the format must align with our equipm......
Puppets Up! 2026 Flash Sale for Holiday Gift-Giving - theHumm December 2025
The Puppets Up! International Puppet Festival will return to magical downtown Almonte on August 8 and 9, 2026. This beloved two-day celebration brings together master puppeteers, emerging artists, and families from across Ontario and beyond. With seven stages across indoor and outdoor venues, Puppets Up!, sponsored in 2026 by Minto, continues to grow as one of Canada’s most imaginative community festivals. More information about the festival and the performers will be shared in the coming week......
An Environmentally Friendly Message - theHumm December 2025
By — Steve Kotze, MMLT President
The Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust (MMLT) is a conservation organization taking direct action to legally protect and steward ecologically sensitive lands across the Mississippi River watershed, north to the Madawaska River. Some of their properties are open to the public to enjoy the trails and nature, while others are reserved for research and educational purposes. As 2025 draws to a close, President Steve Kotze shares his thoughts with MMLT friends, members, and potential suppor......
Growing Gardens, Growing Community - theHumm December 2025
By David Hinks
The 2025 gardening season presented many challenges, not least of which were drought and an early frost. Was the glass half-full? Being an incurable optimist, I’m remembering the successes and planning for greater success next year.
I have been reflecting on the role of gardening in my life. In many ways it has always been a constant, helping me through periods of major illness, relationship upheavals, and the everyday stresses of family and career. Putting my hands in the soil, planting and nurturing a seed or a young plant, engaging the senses of touch, smell and vision have always ......
Celebrating the Winners of the 2025 Lanark Lit Writing Competition! - theHumm December 2025
By Jessie Carson and Jenn Snider Cruise
We are thrilled to announce the winners of the 2025 Lanark Lit Writers Competition. But first, what is this competition about? Produced by Almonte Readers & Writers, the 2nd annual Lanark Lit Writing Competition launched in April of this year, with a focus on non-fiction for 2025. The goals of the competition are to connect with local writers of all ages to offer an opportunity to share their work in print and in person, as well as win a monetary prize. With the call for submissions f......
Exploring the Photographic Arts - theHumm December 2025
By — Sue Evans is the Coordinator for the Centre for Creative Living in Almonte
I am fortunate to live in downtown Almonte where it often takes me fifteen to twenty minutes to walk from my condo to the post office and back. Depending on what is happening, people (whether friends or not) often stop to chat. When this almost eighty-year-old (apparently crazy) lady says hello to their dogs and babies, they pause and smile without judgement or anxiety, and I am caught by the way their everyday beauty shines through. Would I like to record what I see on my camera? Yes, but i......
A Gift Goes Home - theHumm December 2025
By Glenda Jones
My father was proud of his Ontario roots. He’d tell us stories of his family in Owen Sound and how his father left home with seventeen dollars to go to B.C., only returning to Ontario to claim his bride. Ontario was far away when we were kids, and never did I think we’d actually get to Owen Sound one day. There was more though. On a visit to Upper Canada Village, we discovered that he was also related to the Loukes family whose remains are in the cemetery there, and who were the original owners of the ......
Holiday Events at Heritage House Museum - theHumm December 2025
The Smiths Falls Heritage House Museum invites you to take in the sights and sounds of the holidays at 11 Old Slys Road.
On December 7, the Holiday Heritage House welcomes you to explore the museum as it would be dressed up for a Victorian Christmas. Running from 1–3pm, you will find magical horse-drawn wagon rides, a special jolly old soul dressed in red and white, period actors in costume, baked treats and warm drinks, children’s crafts, and some good old-fashioned holiday cheer. The entry fee is a donation to the museum and wagon rides will once again be free. Please come equippe......
MMLT Secures More Wilderness in the Madawaska Highlands - theHumm December 2025
The Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust (MMLT) has permanently protected Aird Creek MapleCross Nature Reserve, an 80-hectare (198-acre) expanse of rugged wilderness in the heart of the Madawaska Highlands.
Defined by towering pines, mature hardwoods and stands of old-growth cedar, the property’s forested ridges are bisected by the meandering Aird Creek and a broad wetland valley. The diverse habitats, old-growth characteristics, and intact forest and wetland ecosyste......
He’s Getting Done What He Wants to Do - theHumm December 2025
By Sally Smith
He seemed a bit reticent when we first sat down, but he bought coffee for the two of us at The Lighthouse Café and we began to talk.
I already knew that Jim Ferrier’s family was the seventh generation on his Scotch Line Farm; if his grandchildren carry on, they will be the ninth.
The farm isn’t large by today’s thinking — 300 acres total. It’s hard to know, he says, “if anyone past this generation will actually farm because — in the grand scheme — that’s not really enough to support a......
Parkinson’s Group Provides Support and Education - theHumm December 2025
The Parkinson’s Support Group in Smiths Falls was founded in 2018 to provide support and education for people with Parkinson’s, as well as care partners and family members from the Lanark and North Leeds area.
The group provides a safe, welcoming space to share experiences and challenges, and connect with others who understand.
The group meets on the third Wednesday of most months, from 11:30am to 1:30pm at ConnectWell, located at 88 Cornelia Street West in Smiths Falls.
If you are interested in finding out more about this group, please contact Parkinson Canada at 1–888–664–......
Downtown Carleton Place Gift Card - theHumm December 2025
Last December, Downtown Carleton Place Business Improvement Area (BIA) launched a new Gift Card to support local businesses and help the community to thrive.
The Downtown Carleton Place Gift Card replaces the BIA Bucks paper program which operated until 2023. Cards can be used at multiple participating businesses downtown, including stores, restaurants and services.
Paisley Woods, Coordinator at Downtown Carleton Place BIA, says the Gift Card offers enhanced inclusi......
Ambre McLean’s Christmas Concert - theHumm December 2025
The holiday season in Smiths Falls wouldn’t feel complete without the return of a cherished local tradition: the Ambre McLean Christmas Concert. Now in its seventh year, the annual celebration will take over the Smiths Falls Station Theatre for two festive evenings on December 19 and 20.
Known for her warm, expressive vocals and intimate, heartfelt performances, Ambre McLean brings audiences a set of beloved holiday favourites alongside reflective seasonal songs that capture the quiet beauty......
Art by Tamara H Campbell Creation, Destruction, Re-creation - theHumm December 2025
The Corridor Gallery at the Almonte Library is pleased to present the work of artist Tamara Campbell until January 3, 2026. Tamara is an abstract artist, working primarily in mixed media. Her paintings are bold, colourful, and full of details. She is inspired by nature with its abundance of colours, textures and forms; these details emerge through the many layers that build upon each other as she creates her paintings.
She likes to work ......
Inspired Hummus - theHumm December 2025
By Petra Graber
When theHumm heard that Petra Graber was stepping back from The Good Food Co, we decided that a semi-regular column would be a perfect way for readers to get a taste of Petra’s signature dishes. If you have a particular hankering for one of her recipes, email editor@thehumm.com and we’ll pass on the request!
The Good Food Co hummus was inspired by my dad’s extra-garlicky concoction that he would occasionally whip up in a blender at home. I started selling it at the Carleton Place farmers’ market before opening the café and it ......
Christmas in the Gallery - theHumm December 2025
Sarah Moffat is excited to be hosting another edition of Christmas in the S.M.art Gallery, at 50 Bennett Street unit 1 in Carleton Place.
Taking place on Saturday, December 6 from 11am to 9p......
Dec 5 - 7 Chocolate Party
- Toonies for The Table Support Perth’s Good Food Bank
- Sharing the Local Love During the Holidays
- Holiday Magic Returns to Mississippi Mills
- The Magic Realismof Toller Cranston
- St. Paul’s Presents A Musical Celebration of Christmas
- Star So Bright
- The Father of the Christmas Bird Count
- A New Chapter for Jeff Banks of JB Arts
- Have Yourself a Merry Literary Christmas
- A Christmas Story: The Musical Riversong Players Bring Holiday Magic to Almonte in December!
