Hello ORLÉANS!

Welcome to the 22nd edition of Orléans Connect.

While the weather continues its hot summer streak 🥵, there’s definitely been a bit of a dampener on the sunshine by way of the forest fire smoke. 🔥🌳💨 Our thoughts are with everyone being impacted by the fires and the smoke across the province.

This year is shaping up to be the 2nd most destructive fire season on record, only after the record-breaking season of 2023. If you’re planning on outdoor activities, it’s always good to peek at this fire smoke forecast map and check out the air quality index.

Let’s get to this week’s Orléans events and happenings: ⬇️

Here’s our roundup of upcoming events:

• 🎡 August 7th - 10th - The Navan Fair starts TODAY! Fun for all ages - there are livestock shows, demolition derbies, truck and tractor pulls, a parade, a midway and more! 🚌 Shuttle bus info. 🎟️ Get your tickets online.

  📍 1279 Colonial Rd, Navan

• ☪️ August 9th - MuslimFest will feature live shows, comedy performances, kids activities, delicious Halal food, an art exhibit, Nasheeds, bazaar, free access to the Museum, and more! The event is free, but attendees must register in advance. Doors open at 12 PM, and from 8 PM - 9:30 PM there will be a Drone Show!

  📍Cumberland Heritage Museum, 2940 Old Montreal Rd

• 🔋 August 9th - It’s Hazardous Waste Drop Off time! Get rid of that hazardous waste in your garage and basement! Drop off items from 8 AM to 4 PM.

  📍2035 Trim Road

• 💫 August 9th - Stargazing: Perseid Meteor Shower on August 9th from 7:45 PM - 10 PM. There will be a bonfire (weather permitting).

  📍Bountiful Beaver, 2391 Pepin Court

• 🍕🍛 August 9th - A collaborative Double Pop-Up featuring Rude Pizza and Kevin in Kitchen. Pizza meets Indian comfort food - the possibilities are DELICIOUS!

  📍Stray Dog Brewing Company, 501 Lacolle Way

• 🏎️ August 9th - Metcale Farmers’ Market and Classic Car Show is on from 9 AM - 1 PM

  📍2821 8th Line, Metcalfe

• 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ August 10th - Orléans Pride is hosting a Pride Family Picnic! Bring your picnic and your rainbow spirit for an afternoon of fun, food and fabulousness with friends, family and neighbours!

  📍Queenswood Ridge Park (346 Kennedy Lane E)

• 💗 August 12th - Free Virtual Workshop: Self-Care for Busy Parents, from 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM. Sign-up here.

🗓️SAVE THE DATES! 🗓️

Upcoming dates worth grabbing tickets / registering ahead of time:

• 🌧️ Virtual Webinar: Planning and Planting a Rain Water Garden August 14th from 7 PM - 8 PM, hosted by Rain Ready Ottawa.

• 👠Drag Brunch is happening at Broadhead Brewery on August 17th. Doors open at 12:30 PM, show from 1 PM - 4 PM. Ages 19+. 🎟️ Tickets are $25 - ALMOST FULL!

• 👢The Navan Boot Scootin’ Line Dancers are hosting a Fundraiser: EO Stars Barn Dance on August 22nd at 7 PM and the Navan Fairgrounds, 1279 Colonial Rd, Navan. 🎟️ Tickets are $20.

🧑‍🌾 WEEKLY EVENTS 🥬 Summertime has so many great weekly events happening!

• Every Tuesday -

  • 🧠 Trivia at Broadhead Brewery. Free to play, no registration required. 630 PM - 830 PM 📍1680 Vimont Ct, Unit 106

  • ☀️ City Councillor for Ward 19, Catherine Kitts is hosting Pop Up Freezie Parties on Tuesdays from 2 PM - 4 PM (subject to change due to weather). August dates/locations:

    • August 12th - Provence Park, 2095 Provence Ave

    • August 19th - Vista Park, 720 Vistapark Dr

    • August 26th - Sweetvally Park, 180 Sweetvalley Dr

•  Every Wednesday: Get Outside -

  • 🛶 Try-In Out Evenings with Petrie Island Canoe Club - try canoes, kayaks and paddle boards. Reserve your spot online (Form opens on Mondays at Noon). From 6:30 PM - 8 PM 📍Petrie Island

  • 🧘🏾‍♀️Yoga in the Park from 7 PM - 8 PM. No registration required.📍Décarie Park (7883 Décarie Dr)

  • 🧘 Outdoor Yoga Classes from 630 PM - 730 PM. Register here.📍Alain Fortin (676 Lakeridge Dr)

• Every Thursday -

  • 🫛 The Orléans Farmers Market from 11 AM - 4 PM. 📍Parking lot of the Ray Friel Community Centre

  • 🟢 Bingo Night at Broadhead Brewery - starts at 6:30 PM. Free to play, prizes to be won! First come, first served.

  • 🎤 Open Mic Night at Stray Dog Brewing Company, from 7 PM - 10 PM.

• 🧑‍🌾 Every Saturday - The Cumberland Farmers Market from 9 AM - 1 PM📍1115 Dunning Road, Cumberland

• 🚲☕ Every Sunday - Community Café from 930 AM - 12 PM. 📍Voyageur Park, 6137 Voyageur Dr.

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

📰 News you should know about…

🤯 Mer Bleue Bog ‘filled with bombs’ according to new drone scans [CBC News]

🚧 Road closures and lane reductions to be aware of this weekend (August 9th and 10th) at Trim Road and Highway 174 [OC Transpo]

🚏 OC Transpo’s youth fare cancellation is receiving criticism. Effective Sept. 1, 11-19 year olds will pay the same fare as adults [Ottawa Citizen]

🔋City of Ottawa staff are seeing more fires at the Trail Road landfill and are blaming batteries [CTV News]

🫐 Although most berry picking is over for the season, there’s still some time for blueberries! Head over to Prouxl Farm to pick your own blueberries - while quantities last! They also have a kiosk at the Esso at the corner of Trim and Innes (open daily from 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM - weather permitting).

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT 🔦

This week’s Orléans business spotlight is… 🥁 … AQUA-TOTS ORLEANS SWIM SCHOOL - opening in late August at 110 Place d’Orléans Dr. Unit 1123.

Aqua-Tots Swim School is a great alternative to the city-run swim lessons. They offer swim lessons for kids as young as 4 months and as old as 12 years old. Aqua-Tots Orléans is now registering students for their Fall season (at a 10% discount if you register before their opening!)

So if you’re looking for a program for your kids of any swimming ability with small class sizes, Aqua-Tots Orleans might be a good option. Also, it looks like they are hiring for a variety of positions.

As always, if you wind up booking with them, make sure to tell them that Orléans Connect sent you.