Hello ORLÉANS!

Welcome to the 12th edition of Orléans Connect.

It’s another very busy weekend of events, garage sales, markets and more in Orléans, so let’s get straight to it… but before we do, one small favour to ask:

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Are you looking for things to do in Orléans? Here’s our latest roundup of upcoming events:

• 👢🎶 Friday May 30th - Promises an unforgettable night of Live Music and Dancing at the Navan Fair Barn Dance! Experience the energy and excitement at the iconic Navan Fair Sheep Barn! 👢Line Dancing starts at 7:30 PM. 🎶 Live Music by Eastbound of Bytown (8:30 PM – 1:00 AM) Tickets: 🎟️ Advance (Online): $20.00 + fees 🎟️ At the Door: $25.00 + fees. This is a 19+ event, Valid ID required for entry.

  📍1279 Colonial Road

• 🇨🇦🐎 Saturday May 31st - The Metcalfe Agricultural Society is proud to present the iconic RCMP Musical Ride! A team of up to 32 riders and horses will bring a truly spectacular performance showcasing their equestrian skill through a variety of formations and cavalry drills set to music. Join for an afternoon and evening of family fun, entertainment, activities, displays and food. Proceeds to support the Metcalfe Agricultural Society. Entrance Fee: By Donation. 3 PM Opening Act, 4 PM Main event.

  📍Metcalfe Fairgrounds, in front of the Grandstands, 2821 8th Line Road, Metcalfe

• 🤣 Saturday May 31st - Comedy Night is back at Taproom260 with a killer lineup featuring Chris Quigley, Chris Borris, Lewis Hill and Simone Holder. 🎟️ $30 entry |🚪Doors open at 7 PM | Must be 18+. Get tickets online.

  📍Taproom260, 260 Centrum Blvd

• 🏎️✨ Sunday June 1st - Check out FullMoon Autoworks’ biggest event yet - the Really Good Car Show! There will be a tint competition, raffle & prizes, live DJ and a 50/50 draw with proceeds going to Water First 💧- a non-profit that partners with First Nations communities to address local water challenges. Bytown Catering will be serving food - fries, poutine, Beaverdogs and of course delicious Beaver Tail treats will be available. All are welcome! FullMoon Autoworks is a proudly Indigenous-owned and certified member of the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business. 10:30 AM - 3 PM.

  📍1439 Youville Drive

• 🎶 Sunday June 1st - Discover the beauty of harmonies and the power of the ensemble helping soloists shine at the Pleinchant Spring Concert: Choeurs! You won’t want to miss this concert that honours songs created specifically for choirs—operas, operettas, Broadway songs and movie themes—where the voices of many come together to create magical moments unlike any other. 🎟️Tickets are $25 (adults) or $10 (school-aged children) and can be purchased at the door or by emailing. Highly suggest purchasing tickets in advance - the last show had more than 500 people! 8 PM.

  📍Orléans United Church, 1111 Orléans Blvd.

• 🧠 Wednesday June 4th - Exercise your grey matter every Wednesday at Taproom Trivia! Reservations are a must to secure your spot. Send your team name and number of people to [email protected] (ONLY on Wednesday starting at 8 a.m.). Teams up to 6 people or play as an individual. 7 categories, 10 questions each category including picture and music, general knowledge, current events, and some pretty whacked out themes. Great prizes, lots of laughs. Smack talk encouraged! Bring in some food or order from our friends next door at BBCR.ca. Always free to play.

  📍Stray Dog Brewing Company, 501 Lacolle Way

🧑‍🌾 UPCOMING MARKETS 🥬

Market season is upon us and there are so many wonderful markets in and around Orléans! Get these dates in your calendar.

• 🫛 Every Thursday - The Orléans Farmers Market is back! From 11 AM - 4 PM, you can visit the 35+ local vendors in the parking lot of the Ray Friel Community Centre. Shop for the freshest seasonal produce, meat and dairy, baked goods, prepared foods, crafts and more! Get to know the farmers and vendors while you’re at it. Everything is authentic (no resellers) and produced within 100 km of Ottawa!

• 🧑‍🌾 Every Saturday - The Metcalfe Farmers’ Market kicked off their weekly market season last weekend. They have 45+ local producers, free coffee and cookies (9 AM - 10 AM - while supplies last!), live music, a petting zoo, pet-friendly vibes, and plenty of free parking! 📍2821 8th Line Rd, Metcalfe

• 🆕 The first Heart of Orléans Market will kick off on Sunday, June 1st! At the heart of this initiative is Amanda Watson, the powerhouse organizer behind the wildly successful Navan Market. We’re so excited that she’s bringing this magic to Orléans! 📍Orléans Town Centre, 250 Centrum Blvd, from 9:30 AM - 2 PM.

🏘️ GARAGE SALE ROUNDUP 🏘️

Tis the season of community garage sales!

• 🏘️ Saturday May 31st, starting at 8 a.m. Queenswood Heights is hosting their 3rd Annual Garage Sale. Last year the turnout was amazing with over 70 homes participating! Check out the map online, which will be updated weekly.

• 🏘️ Saturday May 31st, from 9 AM - 2 PM will be the Greater Avalon and Avalon Encore Community Garage Sale. If you'd like your home to be added to the list of addresses for Garage Sale buyers, please fill in the registration form here.

• 🏫 Saturday May 31st, from 9 AM - 12 PM, Trillium Elementary is hosting a Community Yard Sale and Seedling Sale.

• 🏫 Saturday June 7th, from 8 AM - 1 PM, Cumberland’s Annual Community Carage Sale. Explore the map of participating households.

🗓️ If you want to easily find garage sale information or promote your own garage sale, join this Facebook Group: Orléans Garage Sale Listings!

🗓️SAVE THE DATES! 🗓️

• 🍺 Orléans Craft Beer Festival – June 6th - 7th 

• 😊 Blackburn Hamlet FunFair - June 6th - 8th

• 🌱 Big Give Garden Giveaway, at St Helen’s Anglican Church on Saturday June 7th

• 🎶 Barrelhouse - Beatles Tribute Band LIVE at the Blackburn FunFair! - June 7th

• 🏓 Orléans Pickeball Festival - Sunday June 15th

• 🎉 Orléans Family Fun Fest and Orléans Maker Market - both on Sunday June 15th at Pierre Rocque Park

Do you have an event you want to see featured here? Let us know!

📰 News you should know about…

Sadly, another Orléans business will be closing its doors soon. This time it’s Art of Bean Coffee Co. ☕️ - this gem of a coffee shop has been around for three and a half years and will be closing permanently with its last day of service on June 21st.

The weather is getting pretty glorious - this is the perfect time to get out there and get active! 🚣‍♂️🏃🏼‍♀️‍➡️

🚣‍♂️☀️Petrie Island Canoe Club 🌊

Did you know that the Petrie Island Canoe Club offers some fantastic programming, including summer camps for kids?! That’s right parents, if you’re looking for summer camp options, there are some Spots Left in Canoe Kids | Canoë P’tit Ado! 🎉 Looking for a summer adventure for your 7–12-year-old? 🌊 Canoe Kids | Canoë P’tit Ado is a one-week, fun-filled paddling program where kids can kayak, canoe, dragon boat, and even try stand-up paddling — all under the guidance of qualified, friendly coaches! No experience needed — just a willingness to get a little wet and have a whole lot of fun! 😄 

✅ Daily on-the-water fun (weather permitting)

✅ Learn safety, equipment handling, and basic paddling skills

✅ Certificate of completion on the final day

✅ Perfect for kids who want a safe, exciting week outdoors!

🌟 Come paddle, play, and make memories — it’s the summer highlight your child won’t forget! 📍Spots are limited — grab one before they’re gone! 📩 For more info or to register, visit: https://petriecanoe.ca/programs

They also offer a range of programs for adults too - explore the options on their website.

🏃🏼‍♀️‍➡️🏃🏿‍♂️‍➡️Blackburn Fun Run 🏃🏃🏿‍♀️💨

Come out and take part in the Blackburn Fun Run on Saturday, June 8th! This family-friendly event will be offering 1K and 2K cross-country routes - a great way to get active, enjoy the outdoors and support local charities and organizations. Whether you’re running, jogging or walking, this event is open to everyone!

Register Online - deadline is June 7th. All registered participants will receive finisher medals, and medals will be awarded to the first, second and third male and female who cross the finish line for each event.

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT 🔦

This week’s Orléans business spotlight is…. 🥁 …. COMMUNITY ALLEY TRAPPERS - located at 64-4338 Innes Road.

You see those two cats sleep-snuggling? They came from Community Alley Trappers, a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to improving the lives of abused, abandoned, feral, stray and injured cats in Ottawa. CAT (clever!) takes in homeless cats and kittens, gives them the care they need to recover and finds them loving homes.

So if you’re looking to adopt a cat, volunteer or foster, or donate, now is a good time to do so.

Also, they are holding a kitten adoption event this Saturday May 31st from 11:00am to 2:00pm at PET SMART (2002 Mer Bleue Rd)

If it weren’t for Community Alley Trappers, we wouldn’t have our sweet new kittens, Nova and Cooper.