Hello ORLÉANS!
Welcome to the 42nd edition of Orléans Connect.
Happy Boxing Day Orléans friends! We sincerely hope you’ve had a wonderful last few days enjoying the ✨ holidays, warming your feet by the fire and enjoying the spoils of the season 🎁.
We’ll cut to the chase this week and just give you the goods on what’s happening in Orléans over the next little while and return with our regularly scheduled content next Thursday.
Here’s what’s happening in Orléans in the next week ⬇️
Here’s our roundup of upcoming events:
🕺December 26th - Dance off that turkey and avoid weird uncles (or bring them along!) at Boxing Day at the Brewery! Double header - Al Tambay from 1 - 5 PM, and Pav from 6 - 10 PM. No cover, all ages, full menu, cold beer and great tunes!
📍Broadhead Brewery, 1680 Vimont Crt
🔢 December 26th - Blackburn Hamlet Community Association is hosting Kids Bingo from 3 - 4:30 PM, for ages 8 - 17. There will be prizes for winners! Kids 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
📍190 Glen Park Dr
💗 December 27th - Rizk Law Office is hosting its 3rd Annual Food Fundraising Frenzy: Meals and Wheels at the Ray Friel Recreation Complex (Rendez-Vous Room), from 12 PM - 4 PM. Partnering with the Ottawa Food Bank and Helping with Furniture. The goal is to bring the community together and support families who could use a helping hand during the winter season. This year, they’re collecting non-perishable food items for the Ottawa Food Bank, and bicycles of any kind, which Helping With Furniture will repair and donate to children, students and adults in the community. Every donation receives raffle tickets as a thank you! There will also be warm drinks, treats and a welcoming space for families and neighbours to spend time together! Register online here.
📍Ray Friel Recreation Complex, 1585 Tenth Line Rd
✨ December 27th - Head over to the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum for their Winter Stroll Community Day from 5 - 9 PM! It’s a perfect way for visitors looking to take in the museum’s outdoor holiday decorations and stroll the packed gravel pathways in a quiet, relaxed environment. Warm up around the bonfire. The canteen will also be open, offering warm drinks and snacks for purchase. (Note: all museum buildings will be close, except the Train Station (admission) and the washrooms).
📍2940 Old Montreal Rd, Cumberland
December 28th - ACE Art Studio is hosting a Parent and Child Family Painting Workshop (ages 5+), from 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM. Enjoy a fun and collaborative art session, where each member can express their creativity and leave with their own masterpiece! Class size is limitted to 10 participants - book soon!
📍2905 St Joseph Blvd
🎨 December 28th - Blackburn Hamlet Community Association is hosting Youth “Paint Night” from 1 - 3 PM, for ages 7 - 17. Register for free to participate in 1 of 2 guided painting sessions by emailing [email protected]. Kids 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
📍190 Glen Park Dr
🎤 December 28th - Open Mic Night at Moose McGuire’s (every Sunday)! Show up at 7 PM and get signed up, meet other musicians from across Ottawa, grab a drink and listen to an evening of great performances!
📍 4025 Innes Rd
🖼️ December 29th - ACE Art Studio is hosting a Vision Board Workshop from 2 PM - 4:30 PM. Discover the power of visualizing your dreams and goals in this creative and inspiring workshop. Walk away with a decorated canvas that will serve as a visual reminder of your intentions for 2026.
📍2905 St Joseph Blvd
🎲 December 30th - Do you like games? Let’s PLAY! For youth ages 9-17 years old, Blackburn Hamlet Community Association is hosting a Games night from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM.
There will also be video games (Nintendo Switch, N64 and Wii) and snacks for you to enjoy.
📍190 Glen Park Dr
🧠 Trivia Night at Moose McGuire’s (every Tuesday)! Pub trivia starts at 7 PM - prizes for 1st and 2nd place teams.
📍 4025 Innes Rd
🏃♀️Have young kids and want to get out of the house and active? Bri Fitt is hosting some Holiday Family Fitness classes! Classes are in small groups - come early and ready to move - classes are for adults as well! 📍1803 St Joseph Blvd, Unit 117.
🧘♀️ December 28th - Family Yoga (ages 3-6 years old) from 2:30 PM - 3:15 PM. Bring one yoga mat per person.
January 2nd - Family Fitt (ages 7-12 years old) from 12:30 PM - 1:15 PM.
Range of classes avaiable for Adults, Mom and Baby and Seniors! Check out their program info to learn more.
🪩 Looking for New Years Eve plans? Some events area already sold out, but here are a few ideas:
🎶 NYE at Stray Dog: Mixtape Magic is ringing in 2026 the only way we know how at Stray Dog Brewing Company - with the Ultimate 90s throwback party. Backstreet to Britney, Blink to Beyonce - it will be a night to remember. Dress to impress, and come ready to dance! Dec 31st, 9 PM - 1 AM. Get your tickets online now! 🎟️$40 - includes a champagne toast at midnight.
🍻 NYE Party at the PUB, at Royal Oak Pub. No cover charge, and no reservation required, but feel free to book a table today. Live music with Seven Dollar Sundress starts at 9 PM, with lead singer Mandie Clark! Complementary sparkling wine toast at midnight! Lots of specials, including half-price wings with the purchase of a beverage. Chef’s feature dinner menu, available after 4 PM.
🥂 New Year’s Eve Party hosted by the Cumberland Lions Club. Head over to Maple Hall for an evening of live music by The Classics, dancing and a finger food buffet! At midnight, ring in the new year with a complimentary champagne toast. Tickets are $30 / person.
🍾 And if you’re looking for something to do for NYE outside of Orléans, here’s a round up of some ideas! Note that OC Transpo and the LRT are FREE after 6 PM on December 31st. 🎊
❄️ January 1st - Head over to the Orléans Legion Branch 632 for a New Year’s Levee from 11 AM to 3 PM. Everyone is welcome to join for good company and a complimentary glass of moose milk!
📍800 Taylor Creek Dr
Feeling cooped up in this cold weather? The Ottawa Public Library offers a wide range of drop-in programs, including language learning courses, games, knitting and crochet, writers group, family activities, and homework help. Check out the upcoming listings for our two local branches:
Orléans Branch (1705 Orléans Blvd)
Cumberland Branch (1599 Tenth Line Rd)
Do you have an event you want to see featured here? Let us know!
📰 News you should know about…
Stay safe this 2025 holiday season with the Ottawa Police’s crime prevention and safety tips (Ottawa Police)
♻️ READ THIS IF YOU HAVEN’T YET!! Changes are coming! Here’s what you need to know about changes to blue and black bin recycling in Ottawa on Jan 1, 2026. (CTV News)
👩🏽 Do you know a woman and/or girl who makes outstanding contributions to our community? Call for Nominations are open for the annual Orléans Leading Women and Girls Recognition Awards! To obtain a nomination form, please email ([email protected]) or call (613-834-1800). Nomination deadline: February 9th, 2026.
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT 🔦
This week’s Orléans business spotlight is… 🥁 … Moose McGuire’s Pub & Grill. - located at 4025 Innes Rd.
Moose McGuire’s, as their name implies is a local and well-known pub & grill with multiple locations in the Ottawa area, Brockville, and of-course right here in Orléans. It’s also a venue known locally for featuring a lot of live music acts along with their terrific menu of delicious pub fare.
And as always, if you wind up visiting them, make sure to tell them Orléans Connect sent you.
Prior to amalgamation with Ottawa in 2001, Cumberland Township’s municipal government was centered in Leonard, a location about 10 km south of Orléans. In 1989, the township relocated its city hall to the newly completed Peter D.Clark Place in Orléans, marking the community’s growing importance as an administrative centre.
Many thanks to Jennifer C. for sending in a photo of Archie, going for a walk with his hooman, Tony L, at the NCC River House.
Submit a photo of your Orléans pet(s) by emailing it to: [email protected]
THIS WEEK’S POLL ❓
A new poll will return next week.
Here are the results of last week’s poll: Are you 💰spending more, less or about the same as last year on your Christmas / Holiday gifts?
🥇 About the same - 52%
🥈 Less - 34%
🥉 More - 14%
