25 things to do in La Petite-Nation this fall
A Notre-Dame de Paris organist in Montebello, a square dance in Saint-Sixte, punk in Ripon and a hundred watercolours on Thanksgiving. Our list for October and November.
Seasons
Fall in La Petite-Nation
An easy 86 km three-wheeler loop through La Petite-Nation
Routes 323, 315, 321 and 148, nothing else. An 86 km loop for Spyders and trikes, with stops right on the route, gelato, lunch on a terrace and the 75th meridian.
The best motorcycle loop in La Petite-Nation, 155 km from Montebello to Duhamel
Route 321 up to Duhamel, then the 315, the 317 and the 148 back. A loop of about 155 km with four places to fill up, maple-smoked barbecue and ice cream to finish.
The 12 best hikes in La Petite-Nation
A lookout tower on Mont Grand-Pic, 400-year-old trees, a cable raft across the Preston River. Our 12 favourite trails, from easy family loops to the Sentier national.
A day in La Petite-Nation from Mont-Tremblant
An hour south on Route 323, coffee in Namur, a picnic under the Montagnes Noires shelter, Montpellier's pies and Lac Simon from above. No lineups.
Where to see fall colours in La Petite-Nation
A lookout tower above the maples, a free viewpoint over Lac Simon, Route 321 heading north in red and gold. Our favourite lookouts, drives and trails for fall.
Butchers, charcuterie and game processing in La Petite-Nation
Tourtière in Chénéville, woolly pigs in Montebello, the hunters' butcher in Lochaber. Where to buy your meat and get your deer processed this fall.
Our tips for visiting Parc Oméga
Twelve kilometres by car among elk, bison and wolves, plus walking trails, a heritage farm and tube sliding in winter. How to get the most out of Parc Oméga.
Breweries, wineries and cideries in La Petite-Nation
Natural wine from a south-facing slope in Ripon, wild-apple cider in Chénéville, a brewery in an old bank in Montebello. What to drink around here.
Hunting in La Petite-Nation in 2026, the dates and rules to keep in your pocket
Zone 10 East or West, bow or rifle, where to register your animal and who'll cut it. The 2026 rundown for moose, deer, bear and turkey in La Petite-Nation.
The five golf courses of La Petite-Nation
A 1929 Stanley Thompson cut through old forest, an 18-hole course built without blasting a single rock, a 9-hole club running since 1963. The five golf courses of La Petite-Nation.
Farmers' markets in La Petite-Nation, from summer to Christmas
Saturday morning in Ripon, the little market huts in Bowman, Fridays in La Salette, then the fall and Christmas markets. Where to do your market run in La Petite-Nation.
Farms, farm stands and pick-your-own in La Petite-Nation
Blueberries by the bucket, saffron grown in Saint-André-Avellin, a self-serve stand on the back road, Swiss goat cheese in Papineauville. Where to buy straight from the farm.
Outfitters and the Papineau-Labelle reserve, a practical guide
Over 760 lakes in the reserve, 26 at Chevreuil Blanc, 65-plus at Kenauk. Who offers what, how you get in, and the rules that change the moment you pass the gate.
Events
Culture
Jean-Yves Guindon Fall Exhibition
Saint-André-AvellinOctober 9–11, 2026About a hundred original watercolours, plus prints and cards, in the painter's gallery and outdoor pavilions. 14th edition in 2026, rain…
Community
Disco Skate
Saint-André-AvellinOctober 10, 2026Skating to music at the arena, costumes welcome. A Saturday-night outing that works for teens and parents alike.
Market
The One-of-a-Kind Experience
PapineauvilleOctober 10, 2026A market of 50-plus culture-minded vendors (makers, artists, authors, musicians) with workshops all day for kids and adults. Free entry.
Festival
Pumpkin Ball
RiponOctober 10–11, 2026Ripon's harvest party: family activities around the village and a special market at the Place du Marché.
Community
Boileau Western Méchoui Supper
BoileauOctober 10, 2026A western-themed méchoui (spit-roast) supper, posted on the municipality's citizen portal.
Culture
Traditional Dance Evenings
Saint-SixteOctober 16, 2026Live musicians and a caller, and the figures get explained on the spot. No experience needed. Capped at 70 people, so book online.
Concert
Paris comes to Montebello: organ concert
MontebelloOctober 23, 2026Thibault Fajoles, assistant organist at Notre-Dame de Paris, plays Bach, Franck and Saint-Saëns on the church's restored hundred-year-old…
Fair
Plaisance Fall Fair
PlaisanceOctober 23–25, 2026A new fall fair, first held in 2026: growers, makers, farming, exhibits, shows and a karaoke night. Three days celebrating Plaisance's…
Concert
Ripunk shows
RiponOctober 24, 2026The Ripunk collective brings alternative music to Ripon: punk, funk, nu-metal, poetry and emerging art. October 24, 2026: Dekora and…
Food
Autumn Harvest at Château Montebello
MontebelloOctober 30, 2026Wines from five Canadian producers and a harvest-themed standing dinner from the Château's chefs. Limited spots; book ahead.
Holiday
Halloween in Chénéville village
ChénévilleOctober 31, 2026Shops, groups and residents hand out candy on the church grounds and along rue Principale. Costume up and walk the village.
Market
Papineauville Christmas Fair
PapineauvilleNovember 7–8, 2026The Christmas fair at the community centre behind Louis-Joseph-Papineau high school. First of the holiday-market season around here.
Market
Ripon Christmas Market
RiponNovember 20–22, 2026A Christmas market in Ripon village, with the Place du Marché at the heart of the weekend.
Market
Montebello Christmas Market
MontebelloNovember 27–29, 2026The region's big European-style Christmas market in front of the church: 40-plus growers and makers, a dozen shops along the main street…
Culture
Manoir-Papineau National Historic Site season
MontebelloOn now until October 12, 2026Louis-Joseph Papineau's manor is open mid-May to Thanksgiving: Wednesday to Sunday in summer, weekends in the fall. A new outdoor…
Culture
Exhibitions at Centre d'exposition Napoléon-Bourassa
MontebelloOn now until November 15, 2026The MRC's art centre runs four exhibitions a year in visual arts and fine crafts, always free. Until November 15, 2026: Mishtamishk 2…
Market
Place du Marché Saturday Market
RiponSaturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Victoria Day weekend to ThanksgivingRipon's co-op farmers' market: seasonal vegetables, lots of organic, crafts, and brunch at the café-bistro. It's where the village runs…
Music series
Market Fridays
RiponFridays, show at 6:30 p.m.Supper at the market bistro and a concert on Friday night, with styles that change week to week. Saturday shows get added now and then.
Music series
Salle Desjardins show season
PapineauvilleSeptember to April, mostly Fridays and SaturdaysComedy and music in a 357-seat hall at Louis-Joseph-Papineau high school. Les Productions Les 2 Vallées book plenty of tryout shows…
Culture
Cinémaboule
PapineauvilleEvery other Thursday, 7 p.m.The Petite-Nation film club screens a movie every other Thursday at Salle Desjardins, plus a few nights at Ripon's Place du Marché.
Music series
Shows at Le St-André
Saint-André-AvellinMostly Saturday nights, fall lineupA pub with a real stage. Lots of tribute nights (AC/DC, Tragically Hip, Bob Marley, Pink Floyd) plus known names like Bernard Adamus…
Music series
Shows at Le Bankeur
MontebelloSeveral Saturdays a monthMontebello's microbrewery doubles as a music room: tributes, rock, duos. You drink beers named after the old Petite-Nation seigneury while…
Music series
Friday singer nights at Café Bistro Léo
ThursoEvery Friday at 6 p.m.A singer-guitarist every Friday night at Café Bistro Léo in Thurso. An easy way to end the week.
Music series
Summer evenings in Saint-André-Avellin parks
Saint-André-AvellinJune to September: drum circles, 7 p.m. concerts, 9 p.m. moviesThree summer formats: drum-circle nights at Parc des Générations (bring your own drum), a few 7 p.m. concerts, and outdoor movies at the…
Music series
Music Wednesdays
PapineauvilleWednesdays at 7 p.m., July through AugustFree shows in Parc Henri-Bourassa, a different style every week: blues, disco, folk, singer-songwriters. The 2026 season, the ninth…
Holiday
The Haunted Dome
Saint-Émile-de-SuffolkAround Halloween · 2026 dates to be announcedSaint-Émile volunteers turn the Dôme, next to town hall, into a haunted house for Halloween.
Market
Bowman Christmas Market
BowmanLate November, a Saturday · 2026 dates to be announcedThe farmers' market huts come back out for Christmas in Parc du Centenaire: local products and a village feel.
Market
Plaisance Christmas Market
PlaisanceLast weekend of November · 2026 dates to be announcedPlaisance's Christmas market, announced by the town and on Facebook.
Holiday
Noël des Pins
RiponEvery night 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., late November to December 24 · 2026 dates to be announcedA Ripon couple turns their house and pine woods into a lit-up trail with a dozen life-size Christmas scenes. On weekends it can draw 350…
Market
Val-des-Bois Christmas Market
Val-des-BoisBefore the holidays · 2026 dates to be announcedA fixture on Val-des-Bois' calendar, often run together with Bowman. The date goes out in Le Valboisien and on Facebook.
Holiday
Trees of Hope
MontebelloHoliday season through early January · 2027 dates to be announcedOutaouais businesses decorate Christmas trees in the Château's great hall and visitors vote for a favourite. Money raised goes to the…
Culture
In Situ Art Symposium
MontebelloEvery two years; 2027 edition in Montebello, dates to come · 2027 dates to be announcedSeven to nine professional artists build permanent outdoor works in public, in a different village of the MRC each time. Past editions…
Sports
Colour Run
Saint-André-AvellinEarly September, a Saturday · 2027 dates to be announced2.5, 5 or 10 km, walking or running, with stations where you get blasted with coloured powder. Nobody cares about your time.
Sports
Equestrian Skills Games
MontpellierEarly September · 2027 dates to be announcedA day of horseback skill challenges, second edition in 2026. Riders can arrive the day before and camp on site, with stalls for rent.
Market
Campground Market
Lac-des-PlagesLabour Day weekend Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. · 2027 dates to be announcedAbout thirty artists, makers and growers from Petite-Nation and the Outaouais at the campground, plus a food truck. Fourth edition in…
Festival
Plaisance Clay Festival
PlaisanceMid-September, one weekend · 2027 dates to be announcedAround twenty ceramics, pottery and glass booths inside the national park, with demos and workshops. Free admission.
Festival
Festival Ripon Trad
RiponThird weekend of September, Thursday to Sunday · 2027 dates to be announcedTrad music under the big top, but mostly some thirty acoustic shows inside villagers' homes. There's also a bus tour of the back roads…
Community
Petite Nation Car & Truck Show
Saint-André-AvellinMid-September, a Saturday · 2027 dates to be announcedClassic cars on one side, big 4x4 trucks on the other. The show that closes out car-show season around here.
Community
Car show at Camping Lac des Plages
Lac-des-PlagesMid-September, a Saturday from 10 a.m. · 2027 dates to be announcedVintage, modified, sporty or high-end: anything out of the ordinary is welcome. Run with the Outaouais antique vehicle association (AVAO).
Sports
Parcours on court
PapineauvilleMid-September, a Saturday · 2027 dates to be announcedA family obstacle race through the woods behind the high school, with a zone for kids 0 to 5. You'll get a bit muddy; that's the idea.
Music series
Swing Tes Couleurs
Notre-Dame-de-la-PaixMid-September, 10:30 a.m. until late · 2027 dates to be announcedLindy hop on a wooden floor in a forest clearing, with a live jazz band. First edition in 2026, on an organic farm. Camping on site, kids…
Festival
Montpellier Medieval Festival
MontpellierLast weekend of September · 2027 dates to be announcedJousting, knight fights, a Viking camp, a forge, a craft market, a banquet and fire shows at dusk. The 2026 theme was Caravans & Street…
Sports
Montebello Mountain Bike Festival
MontebelloLast weekend of September · 2027 dates to be announcedRides for every level on Montebello Vélo de Montagne's 30 km of trails across the old seigneury lands, with a cultural side to the weekend.
Festival
Fall in Bass
PapineauvilleLate September · 2027 dates to be announcedTwo days of heavy bass music, camping and fall colours at La Forteresse. A different way to close festival season.
Market
Chénéville Fall Market
ChénévilleLate September, a Saturday · 2027 dates to be announcedLocal products, crafts, music and face painting to welcome fall.
Festival
Boileau Oktoberfest
BoileauLate September · 2027 dates to be announcedThe area's first Oktoberfest, in 2026: beer with a beer expert, a mechanical bull, tug-of-war, a singer and Les 3 Mousquetaires, Boileau's…
Fair
Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette Ploughing Match
Notre-Dame-de-la-SaletteLate September, a Saturday · 2027 dates to be announcedPloughers of every age, from here, elsewhere in Quebec and Ontario, cutting furrows in front of a crowd. A farm day for the whole family.
Sports
Knights of Columbus Golf Tournament
ThursoEarly September · 2027 dates to be announcedThe Thurso Knights of Columbus annual golf tournament, a fundraiser for their activities.
Things to do
IllustrationCafé
La Crémerie 321
Saint-André-AvellinIce cream shop opened in 2021 in a fully renovated house: soft serve, hard scoop, slush, and a small lunch menu. Seasonal, from late March into the…
IllustrationFarm
Ferme Vianney et Marguerite Turcot
Saint-André-AvellinPotatoes, cabbage and sweet corn, grown by the same family for generations.
IllustrationCampground
Camping Saint-André-Avellin
Saint-André-AvellinCampground right in the village on the Petite Nation River, with a pool, splash pad, mini golf and canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals, no booking…
IllustrationCampground
Camping au Petit Lac-Simon
Saint-André-AvellinBig family campground with 291 sites, a beach, pool, water slide and splash pad.
IllustrationFarm
Ferme À Sabourin
RiponSame land since 1927. Maple syrup in spring, chicken, lamb and turkey in the fall, ordered ahead and picked up at the farm.
IllustrationMarket
Coopérative Place du Marché
RiponRipon's farmers' market, Saturday mornings from May to October, with produce, local foods, crafts and brunch. Plus Friday 5-to-7s and game nights.
IllustrationService
Centre nautique Lac Simon
ChénévilleLac Simon marina with docking, fuel, and rentals of pontoons, motor boats, fishing boats, kayaks and pedal boats.
IllustrationCampground
Camping au Lac Schryer
MontpellierSeasonal and overnight sites with a lake view, fishing and a beach on site.
IllustrationCampground
Camping La Pinède
Lac-SimonTall pines, a fine-sand beach, trails and even a mini farm for the kids.
Campground
Camping Domaine du Canard Blanc
Lac-SimonForty-five lakeside sites, open May to September, pets welcome.
IllustrationCampground
Duhamel Camping & Chalets
DuhamelCampsites and cottages for rent near Lac Gagnon, with a beach and pétanque.
IllustrationService
Location Sport Duhamel
DuhamelPontoon, power boat, canoe and kayak rentals on the beach next to the Lac-Simon Sépaq resort.
IllustrationCampground
Camping Lac des Plages
Lac-des-Plages191 sites, 70 of them for overnighters, with a private beach and pool. From May to October, propane and a food truck on site.
IllustrationLodging
Camp Ozanam
Saint-Émile-de-SuffolkA charity family camp that hosts low-income families in summer and rents simple cabins the rest of the year. Beach, trails and a thrift shop.
IllustrationCafé
Crèmerie Les Délices d'Alice
ThursoThe ice cream stop on rue Victoria, with gelato and sorbet too.
IllustrationCidery
Verger Croque-Pomme
Lochaber-Partie-OuestAn organic orchard with about thirty apple varieties, fall pick-your-own and cider made on site.