With the hopeful end of lockdown coming soon, I reached out to some of the surrounding towns to find out what kind of Covid-19 friendly events are being planned this summer.
There is an abundance of things for all ages to do in small town Smiths Falls, Ontario! The first covid friendly activity is Picnic Smiths Falls, starting on Friday, May 21st. This program helps businesses to sell picnic boxes full of their food and then customers are encouraged to take their picnic to one of the many parks in Smiths Falls. The parks are full of fun activities to do after your picnic: play in the splash pad, play some basketball, or tennis, workout with the outdoor equipment in Lower Reach, or play some bocce ball! Next up on the list is the places to visit in Smiths Falls this summer. Hit the beach at Murphy Park; it has a water trampoline, and as soon as you are finished swimming and have worked up an appetite, head over to Sweet Scoops in the Basin for some ice cream. Another fun thing to do in Smiths Falls is to check out the two museums in town, The Heritage House Museum and The Railway Museum. Both museums are full to the brim with history, and this summer The Railway Museum is launching a monthly Supper Club in their dining car. At the Railway Museum you can also stay overnight in one of their cabooses; fun for all ages. Outerbridge Magic is back at the Station Theatre, just stay tuned for capacity and safety protocols. Looking for a fun day activity with the family? Check out the Cataraqui Trail, Ottawa Valley Rail Trail, or the Rideau Trail, which are all perfect for hiking. Wanting to get out and travel? Rent a Le boat, with which you can explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Rideau Canal, a 200-year-old engineering marvel. Want something that will make you feel somewhat normal again? Check out Music by the Basin. This occurs every Friday night during the summer months under the water tower. Listen to great live music and do some ‘chair dancing.’ In the same park on Saturday mornings at 10am, check out the free yoga in the park.
In the town of Perth, Ontario, there are more offers of movie-like scenery and great picturesque spots! Start with a self-guided walking tour which takes you all around heritage Perth. Pick up your map at the Perth Visitor Information Centre or print off your own on the Town of Perth’s website. Hike through Tay River Trail which is a historic pathway that dates back to a military settlement in 1816. The well-known Perth Maple Festival will be operating a bit differently this year with online events but is still sure to be a blast. The Rotary Club has started its planning of a drive-thru rib fest in August. The Perth Fair is hoping to run in August as well, stay tuned on their website for updates. Want to learn about some of Perth’s history? Check out the Perth Museum, just keep an eye on their reopening dates. Check out the Perth Farmer’s Market this summer and pick up some local goods starting on May 8th. Last, but certainly not least, check out Perth’s brewery and their distillery and pick up some beverages for your back deck visits.
Just a small jump over to Carleton Place, although they are not scheduling events until they know when the lock down is over, there are still many fun things to do outside! Take a walk through town and enjoy beautiful waterfront views as you check out the Mississippi River. The town is also full of scenic trails; take the self-guided walking tour, do the Mississippi River Walk, which is perfect for people who are interested in the town’s history, or check out the Riverside Trail and learn all about the downtown core. Carleton Place is filled to the brim with restaurants and shops. Take a walk downtown, pick up some takeout, and explore the shops.
There are so many Covid-friendly activities to do in the surrounding areas this summer with your family and friends. Be sure to get out this summer and attend some of these events or support some of your awesome local businesses!
Article by Catherine Poag
